قال العُتْبِي: بَعَثَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الخَطَّابِ إِلي عَمْرِو بْنِ مَعْدِيْكَرِبَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ إِلَيْه بِسَيْفِهِ المَعْرُوْفِ بالصَّمْصَامَةِ. فَبَعَثَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ. فَلَمَّا ضَرَبَ بِهِ وَجَدَهُ دُوْنَ مَا كَانَ يَبْلُغُهُ عَنْهُ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ فِي ذَلِكَ. فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّمَا بَعَثْتُ إِلي أَمِيْرِ المُؤْمِنِيْنَ بِالسَّيْفِ. وَ لَمْ أَبْعَثْ بالسَّاعِدِ الَّذِي يُضْرَبُ بِهِ

Translation:

Utbi reports - Umar b. al-Khattab (may Allah Almighty be pleased with him) sent for 'Amr b. Ma'dikarib that he send to him his sword known as Samsamah. So he sent it to him. When he struck with it, he found it less than what had reached him regarding it. He wrote to him regarding this. He retorted back to him, 'I have sent Amir al-Mu'minin the sword. I have not sent the arm with which it is struck'.

Summary: The value of a sword (or any tool) is determined by one who wields it.