The blade breaker is a famous Renaissance parrying dagger. The teeth along the back edge of the blade were designed to catch an opponent's rapier and, well... break it, disarming them in the process. It's debated how frequently blade breakers were actually used, since they would have been expensive to produce and their practical advantage was probably overstated.
That said, I do think there are times throughout history when the shape of a weapon was designed as much to intimidate as it was to function. This was especially true during the Renaissance, when many duels ended before they ever began. Human beings generally want to live more than they want to settle petty disputes.
Even so, the blade breaker is famous for a reason: its distinctive and practical shape language. So I thought, why not put blade-breaker fangs along the spine of a falchion? Even if they wouldn't be especially practical, I love the intimidating silhouette they create.
This is also an orcish sword. In my world, orcs are a civilized people who draw heavy inspiration from the cold regions and cultures surrounding Russia. Heavy coats and layered cloth armor help keep warriors warm, so I imagined they would favor weapons capable of cutting through thick clothing. A falchion felt like a natural fit.
I've also always loved the look of Damascus steel, so I wanted to incorporate that flowing pattern into the blade. More broadly, I like the idea of orcs being cultured rather than portrayed as mindless brutes. Just because they have tusks doesn't make them any less intelligent. In fact, some of the most famous tusked animals in our world, elephants, are remarkably intelligent.
There's much more to come on the worldbuilding behind the orcs in my setting, but I think this sword offers a good glimpse into the themes I'm exploring and the environment they inhabit.

Today, Vault Keeper, our exhibit, takes us to the Northeastern regions and the home of the Orcs.
This blade was forged on those harsh, frigid plains. It was designed for battle against foes who needed thick layers of hide, cloth, or fur to stay warm, and its brutal edge shears through those layers with disturbing efficiency.
The teeth on the back of the blade are the bite, crafted to break the longswords of their foes.
The orcs are a somewhat literal species, but no less poetic than any other ancestry, and the warlord who wielded this famed falcion wrote this:
From my bite, blood will drip; I will break your mind and spirit. Together we’ll weave my will within time’s tapestry.
