meqleH

The meqleH is a smaller weapon that lends itself to warriors with quick hands.  It is lighter, more agile, and easier to carry than the traditional betleH'.   It is also ideal for tight shipboard fighting.

Reference: Worf - Numerous DS9 episodes
 

This shot shows the three meqleHs together to point out the differences in both size and blade design that will develop from custom fitting the blade to the warrior. It is important to remember that all warriors are different and will, out of necessity, have different tastes in weapon design.

The history of the meqleH

"The history as it was told to me - Behind the Bird Of Prey's interior
bulkheads are support brackets to hold the conduits that contain wiring,
and hoses,cables, etc. When the BOP would get into a battle, the
bulkheads would occasionally collapse, spilling the supports and the
conduits, into the hallways and compartments. Once the ship was
boarded, the crew would generally be too busy to go get their bat'leths so
they would pick up the support brackets that were lying around and use
them against the usually bat'leth armed invaders. A few ingenious
Klingons decided to wrap leather around the handle , keep it and honor it
by calling it meqleH."