The bat’leth might seem like an ordinary weapon, but the meaning it has for Klingons goes beyond the battlefield. This melee weapon was introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation back in the 1990s, making it a relatively new addition to the lore of a species that has been in the franchise since the late 1960s. Klingons have undergone many changes since their first appearance. Most of them have been physical, but there have been cultural changes as well.
That’s where the bat’leth comes in. Fans were introduced to the weapon as a familial symbol of honor among Klingons in season 4, episode 7, “Reunion.” Worf (Michael Dorn) shows one to his son Alexander Rozhenko (Jon Steuer) that has been passed down their lineage through the House of Mogh. While other characters are seen wielding the bat’leth, it is purely a Klingon-based weapon. Naturally, it’s not the only combat tool used by the warrior species. Their love of fighting means they can make a weapon out of almost anything – even a nearby glass of blood wine. The bat’leth holds a deeper meaning, though, and is more likely to be used in serious combat than, say, a brawl at Quark’s bar.
What Is The Bat'Leth?
When Klingons want to do damage, Star Trek has shown their willingness to use anything they can get their hands on. When Klingons perform hand-to-hand combat as a ritual, however, they turn to the bat’leth. The curved weapon is around 46 inches (1.17 meters) with a sharp blade along the inside and multiple cushioned hand-rests on the outside. According to Klingon lore, Kahless the Unforgettable forged the first bat’leth in the 9th century by burning a lock of his own hair in the Kri’stak volcano before dropping it into the Lake of Lusor.
Season 6, episode 23, “Rightful Heir,” features the Boreth Monastery in the Beta Quadrant dedicated to honoring the memory and accolades of Kahless. When Worf visits it, he has a vision of the great warrior and learns about the history of the Klingon weapon. In it, Kahless describes how he used the first bat’leth to defeat Molor, the tyrant who ruled the Klingon homeworld Qo’noS.
The weapon was forever immortalized as the Sword of Kahless, and was the closest to a religious relic the Klingons have in the Star Trek universe. It even had a special cloth it was wrapped in, which was revered as the Shroud of the Sword. When both were stolen around 500 years later, Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) and Worf joined Dahar Master Kor on a mission to retrieve the sword in Deep Space Nine.
Who Uses The Bat'Leth?
The bat’leth is such a significant part of Klingon culture that their language is reflected in the spelling of its name. The word itself means “sword of honor” and those who die by its blade are seen as having been ‘bat’lethed,’ as established in Star Trek: Voyager. Klingons are as much known for these distinct weapons as Worf is for the shoulder sash he pairs with all of his uniforms.
Yet, other characters have been known to wield a bat’leth with just much skill and grace. In Voyager season 6, episode 3, “Barge of the Dead,” Tuvok (Tim Russ) uses the bat’leth to try and reconnect B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson) with her Klingon heritage. Even in a vision, he wields the weapon with expertise.
Tuvok is almost as good with the weapon as Jadzia Dax, a Trill who proves her mettle in Deep Space Nine. In season 2, episode 19, “Blood Oath,” it’s her prowess with a bat’leth that convinces Dahar Master Koloth (William Campbell) to allow her to fulfill the blood oath she made as Curzon. She was good enough with the weapon to stand up to a legendary Klingon Warrior and even good enough to best Worf, who had previously earned the first-place title of Champion Standing in the Bat’leth Competition. Still, wielding the Klingon weapon requires permission from the Klingons themselves and should never be used lightly.
What Other Melee Weapons Appear In Star Trek?
A melee weapon is handheld and used in close combat. In Star Trek, they’re mostly used by Klingons and include the D'k tahg (dagger), Qutluch (“the ceremonial weapon of an assassin”), and Mek'leth (short sword). However, Klingons haven’t completely cornered the market on melee weapons.
For example, the Jem’Hadar have bayonets that they attach to their phaser rifles. They also use the kar'takin (similar to a pole axe) against their enemies. Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) uses a melee weapon in Voyager in the form of a KaBar combat knife. Romulans have the Teral'n, shaped like tridents with retractable blades. Even the science-forward Vulcans have the ahn'woon and the lirpa. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) used the lirpa in his iconic fight to the death against James Kirk (William Shatner) in the season 2 premiere of The Original Series.
Still, no other species honors their weapons the way Klingons do with the bat’leth. Their reverence for these weapons goes into the realm of faith. They have the Order of the Bat’leth for elite Klingon warriors whose skill with the bat’leth has spanned many battles. Joining this group is an honor put on the same level as being accepted into the Order of Kahless.
In a way, the Klingon’s violence-based practices are similar to the Prophet-based practices of Bajorans. They have rituals to help guide their dead into the afterlife. They have specific practices surrounding that which they honor, like ceremonies and other special events. But where Bajorans put their faith in non-corporeal beings, Klingons put their faith in elder warriors within their communities. They have high respect for the battle as well as those who fight it and those who have passed on.
More importantly, they respect the weapons used during these fights. In Picard, Worf uses a bat’leth to defeat an enemy in retaliation for their crimes against a fellow Starfleet officer. Star Trek fans are always excited to see these Klingon weapons in action. They force opponents into close quarters, and the sounds they make when they clash only make things more thrilling.
When Klingons run headfirst into any fight, they shout: "Qapla' batlh je!" It means success and honor, but it represents the heart of the Klingons just as much as the bat’leth.