Ricasso

A ricasso is a part of a some sword and knife blades. It is an unsharpened and unbevelled section just above the guard or handle.

A claymore with a ricasso and quillons, as represented in Mel Gibson's Braveheart.

The first ricassos (or first labelled as such) were found on larger Western swords beginning in the Late Middle Ages. In use, this allowed the swordsman to choke up, shorten his grip, or half-sword, enabling better control and manipulation of the blade and allowing the weapon to be more effective in thrusting against both armoured and unarmoured opponents. Later longswords, claymores, rapiers and other large blades often had this feature. Many modern knives also include an unbeveled section referred to as a ricasso.

Ricasso in swords (contrary to knives) usually end up with quillons or flukes, which is to the ricasso what the guard is to the hilt.