Knockdown is crazy. I personally think swords look cooler, so I use those, but if I wanted to be as effective as possible one of the things I'd carry around is a +3 Bar Mace. As soon as you get a knockdown on some dude you can smack him while he's on the ground, kick him as he gets up, smack him a third time, and if he's lucky enough to survive but unlucky enough to get knocked down again, you get two more free hits. It's insane. Saw a Fallen clan archer do it once. Five hits for one.