Meaning of Swords Tattoos

The ace of spades has always been one of the most significant cards in card games. It is the highest card of the highest suit in many card games.
It was also used to display the name of the playing card companies, a practice that originated in the 17th century, when King James I created a law that required the spade aces to bear the symbol of the printing house as confirmation that they had paid the production fee, and is practiced by many brands to this day as part of the tradition.

Ace of Spades by Motorhead

The symbol also became very popular with the Motorhead song Ace of Spades, one of the greatest classics in world rock music. With striking riffs and the voice of Lemmy Kilmister, the song, released in 1980 as part of the album of the same name, became a reference to Anarchy and for many is linked to Heavy Metal.

Meaning of the Ace of Swords in tattoos

Because of its importance in the deck, the symbol of the Ace of Spades in tattoos is often seen as a symbol of luck. During World War II, soldiers (particularly from the airborne infantry division) would paint their helmets with the symbol.
Years later, during the Vietnam War, the symbol of the Ace of Spades was also used, but this time as a form of psychological terror, since in Vietnamese culture the card represents death and bad luck.

Some of the other meanings of Ace of Sword tattoos are:

Good luck
Prosperity
Power
Courage
Wealth

Ace of Spades tattoos are still popular today, especially in the Old School style and also by fans of the band Motorhead and bikers.

Common Ace of Spades tattoo designs

The most common variation of the tattoo is the card from the Ace of Spades deck. It can be tattooed on its own or as part of other cards in the deck, representing some move, such as the Poker Royal Flush (which includes the K,Q,J, and 10 of spades).
It is also common to see the Ace of Spades tattooed with other gaming elements, such as dice, money, poker chips, or even cherries.
As a symbol of good luck, tattoos can also feature the four-leaf clover, horseshoes or swallows next to the symbol of the Ace of Spades.

Because of its association with death, it is also common to see the Ace of Spades tattooed with elements such as fire, skulls, roses or hearts blacks.