to unsheathe the sword

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Unsheathe \Un*sheathe"\, v. t. [1st pref. un- + sheath.]
   To deprive of a sheath; to draw from the sheath or scabbard,
   as a sword.
   [1913 Webster]

   {To unsheathe the sword}, to make war.
      [1913 Webster]