People may say the pen is mightier than the sword but tell that to the guy who nearly lost his left arm because of a sword attack in Davenport, Iowa.

A Chicago man sustained life-threatening injuries early Tuesday when another man attacked him with a sword outside a bar, according to police.

Ricky Johnson, Jr., 26, and Willie Terrell, 36, got into a verbal argument outside Boozie's Bar & Grill, and that argument allegedly escalated into a physical fight. Local authorities say both of the men threw punches and fell to the ground.

At some point, though, Terrell reportedly went to his car and retrieved a "sword-like weapon."

Who carries a sword around with them?

Terrell attacked Johnson with the weapon, nearly severing the victim's left arm and inflicting additional wounds to the torso and right arm, police said.

Johnson was taken to a local hospital, where he was stabilized, and then airlifted to University Hospitals in Iowa City, reports the Quad-City Times.

Terrell was arrested and charged with willful injury. He was released from the Scott County Jail after posting bond, reported by WQAD.com to be set at $10,000.

So remember: the next time you travel to Iowa (though really, why would you), invest in a shield.

Matt Bartosik is a Chicago native and a social media sovereign.