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Typically to finish off an animal which had be downed by a quarrel or pellet, in immediate defence in a pinch from boars or other ornery critters, fashion, a deterrent against brigands, and if need be to clear brush like a machete.
The hunting sword, often favoured by peasantry and outlaws, evolved into the cutlass style we associate with pirates. In German they were called hangers or messers.
I love a good slight tapered sword, especially the Hussar/Cossack szabla and Polish karabela.
The Soviets inherited the sabre style so there's NKVD shashka's with the Red Star or Hammer and Sickle on the hilt, if I was a bigger nerd that would be a cool replica.
