Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through TimesMachine. A duel ing sword and a rapier are not the same thing, though they are often confused.

Find out how you can unlock all the weapons in Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag. To unlock you will either need to progress the story, complete challenges or purchase them.

Learn all about the Black American Heritage Flag as we look at the details of what the flag stands for, who designed it and why it needed to be created.

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag has received a new batch of screens, courtesy of Ubisoft Montreal. They show Kenway and chums raising bloody hell across the Caribbean like the scurvy scallywags ...

The descendents of the Shaw family found it -- engraved with an American flag, along with the initials "RGS" -- among other swords in the attic.

The screenshots suggest Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag will feature naval battles, missions set in lush, tropical settings, and that players will wield pistols and swords.

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag has received a new batch of screens and concept art, revealing more of its dense, island jungles and Edward Kenway's cutlass kills.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Freedom Cry is an expansion for the original Black Flag release and is available for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Need more info?

The boy's two siblings were also pictured smiling in front of the black flag, it is reported. In the older brother's case, he, too, was wielding a sword, while donning a Kermit the Frog T-shirt.

A suit of armour for a pikeman, rapier swords and a dented helmet - caused by a sword blade - will go on show at the National Civil War Centre, in Newark.

A suit of armour for a pikeman, rapier swords and a dented helmet - caused by a sword blade - will go on show at the National Civil War Centre, in Newark.