Sihil

A Sihil is a dwarven sword made with use of advanced metallurgy and swordmaking technology.

In the Witcher novels, Zoltan and Percival Schuttenbach were quite passionate in their descriptions of why sihils, and indeed all dwarven blades, were superior to elven or human weapons.

“

'The blade,' he explained in a patronising voice, 'should cut, not make an impression, and it shouldn't be judged on first impressions either. The point is that your sword is a typical composition of steel and iron, while my sihil's blade was forged from a refined alloy containing graphite and borax... 'It's a modern technique!' Percival burst out, a little excited, since the conversation was moving inevitably towards his field of expertise. 'The blade's construction and composition, numerous laminates in its soft core, edged with hard — not soft — steel...'

”

— pg(s). 91, Baptism of Fire (UK edition)

Spoiler warning: Significant plot details follow.

In Baptism of Fire, Zoltan gives Geralt his own sihil, which is used by the witcher until the Rivian Pogrom. It was inscribed with Confusion to the whores' sons! sentence written in ancient dwarven runes.

“

The sword measured a little over three feet, but didn't weigh much more than two pounds. The blade, which was decorated along much of its length with mysterious runes, had a bluish hue and was sharp as a razor. In the right hands, it could have been used to shave with. The twelve-inch hilt, wound around with criss-crossed strips of lizard skin, had a cylindrical brass cap instead of a spherical pommel and its crossguard was very small and finely crafted.

”

— pg(s). 90, Baptism of Fire (UK edition)

Significant plot details end here.

In The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

A Mahakaman rune sihil named G'valchir is earned as a reward for a quest in The Witcher computer game. It can be imported into The Witcher 2 as Mahakaman rune sihil; there are also Mahakaman sihil and short elven sihil available.