A short sword, a basic and age-old melee weapon, was generally disregarded by modern combatants. Nevertheless, it remained a potent tool in the hands of an expert. This sword could deflect incoming close-quarters strikes and was frequently paired with another weapon, as its size allowed it to be held in the off-hand without disrupting the user's balance.
During the Jedi Civil War in 3956 BBY, a conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire, both sides employed this weapon, though vibroblades and vibroswords saw greater use. Certain Sith troopers utilized short swords when they attacked and boarded the Republic Hammerhead-class cruiser Endar Spire in orbit above the Outer Rim planet Taris. On the ecumenopolis itself, certain individuals within the Black Vulkars swoop gang also made use of short swords. Krath war droids used short swords as weapons for melee combat.