Maybe it reallly was "the right to bare arms", and someone spelt it wrong...

But the point I raised before interests me, is this bizarre provision understood to cover swords as well? And if not, why not?

After all, swords were still pretty commonly worn at the time. Is there a National Sword Association which is keeping a low profile?

Does the provision cover blowpipes and catapults and battleaxes as well? And how about 12 foot pikes? Or knobkerries? Boomerangs? Those nasty little star-shaped things they throw around in Kung Fu movies? Klingon battlars, or whatever they're called - now that's what I call a real tough guy's weapon. Guns are for wimps.