I find this whole sword business extremely confusing. My questions, among others include...

1. Why is the sword a long curved blade when Hawkwing's sword was clearly names as a greatsword?

2. Why on earth would Hawkwing have the symbol of the Dragon on his own blade? It's an ancient symbol, and even those who know it consider it to be a cursed icon. Rand even says that the sword seems to have been made for him. It makes almost no sense to have Hawkwing walking around with a sword covered in a Dragon, and also to name him as the False Dragon Amalasan's great rival.

3. Why would Rand recognise it from his own memories? Rand is not an educated scholar despite his recent quest for knowledge. How is it possible that no scholars could identify this rare artifact and yet Rand says that he can. He clearly says that they don't know the value of what they've discovered.

4. Why would Rand place value on any of the High King's old equipment? Hawkwing wasn't nearly as great as Lews Therin, and Hawkwing is the direct ancestor of another of Rand's greatest enemies, the Seanchan - and yet Rand values the sword greatly.