Defining when the practical use of Bronze Age swords changed from stabbing to cut-and-thrust weapons would have a huge impact on Bronze Age research. The change was accompanied by other changes in the whole of Bronze Age society. Current research (including work on skeletal injury patterns) dates the shift in sword-usage to ca. 1200-1100 BC, but based on new morphological and metallographic studies, we propose dating it earlier. The primary use of the sword to either stab or cut ought to be reflected in working at particular points along the blade. We have selected 8 swords from 1500-950 BC contexts to analyse their mechanical treatment using 5 texture measurement 'cross-sections' (from blade edge-to-centre of sword) on each of the swords. It is very important to look at a chronological spread of objects: analysing just one or two swords would not clearly pinpoint the shift in usege.