Minecraft wiki entry for Sword, associated text: The sword's texture came from Notch's abandoned RPG, Legend of the Chambered. The iron sword's texture was created first, as it was from the game, and the other swords followed.
With the introduction of netherite swords, it is possible to one-hit kill undead mobs in the game (except withers and zombies/skeletons with random armor) using a sword with the Smite V enchantment, without the need to perform a critical hit (this was previously possible only with a Smite V stone, iron, or diamond axe).
Plastic diamond and enchanted swords are official Minecraft merchandise.[3][4]