Bat'leth

The bat'leth (Klingon: betleH, pronunciation: [ˈbɛtʰlɛx]) is a double sided scimitar/hook sword/deer horn knives hybrid-edged weapon with a curved blade, four points and handholds on the back. It was designed and created by Star Trek: The Next Generation visual effects producer Dan Curry for the Star Trek franchise, where it is the characteristic melee weapon of Klingons. Curry has called the bat'leth "one of the iconic images associated with the show". It has spawned a smaller version, which became known as the "mek'leth" (Klingon: meqleH). Bat'leths have become an enduring symbol of the franchise among fans and are occasionally referenced in other media.

A bat'leth is a curved blade approximately 5 feet (1.5 m) long, with two spiked protrusions at each end and three handholds along the back which can be used to twist and spin the blade rapidly.

Dan Curry created the bat'leth in 1990 for Worf, a character played by Michael Dorn in Star Trek: The Next Generation after receiving approval from producer Rick Berman. Curry based it on the "Chinese fighting crescent". Curry—a martial artist—also developed a fighting style similar to t'ai chi ch'uan for the use of the weapon. In 1995, he developed a smaller version of the bat'leth, the "mek'leth"—which is based on a Northern Tibetan cavalry sword. He designed the weapon for Dorn to use when Worf joined the crew of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Mek'leths are intended for one-handed use and shaped like a scimitar; it is about half the length of the full-size bat'leth.

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