Sprites $38 to $3F are one sword drawn at eight angles, a compass point apart. This does not cycle them: SIGN_TO_DIRECTION picks the one that matches the signs of the weapon's velocity, so the sword points where it is going and turns only when it bounces. (The axe, SPIN_AXE, is the one that spins.)

This is the serf's weapon. Each character throws its own: firing as each in turn and reading the type out of the player record's upper half gives $3E for the serf, $41 to $47 for the knight's axe and $36 for the wizard's spell.