Question:
I was curious about the laws behind using a sword (or any blade in excess of, say, 20 inches in length) as a means of take, primarily as a secondary line of defense against another predator (or an extremely angry wild pig). I know it sounds odd, but curiosity abounds!(Mark S.)

Answer:
Swords and knives are not a legal method of take for big game and are thus illegal, including when hunting an extremely angry wild pig. Legal methods of take for big game (such as wild pigs) are defined in the 2011-2012 California Mammal Hunting Regulations booklet under sections 353 and 354.