The lirpa is a Vulcan melee weapon consisting of a metal staff with a fan-shaped blade on one end and a club on the other.
One of the traditional weapons used by the V'Ket, the ceremonial lirpa can be ornate and somewhat heavier than the regular combat lirpa.
Deadly in close quarters, the combat lirpa has greater range than the traditional Vulcan swords and the added benefit of the blunt end inflicting considerable damage in skilled hands.
Lighter, sturdy lirpas with wooden staffs and wider blades also have traditionally been used by travelers to fend off the local wildlife, most importantly the le-matya as its poisonous fangs should best be kept at a fair distance; though sehlat are known to give the staff weapons a wide berth as well on account of not wishing to incur a headache.
Lirpa-tal is taught at the Institute of Defensive Arts.
The lirpa is used by combatants in the kal'i'fee (marriage challenge)