Is this a polygon or nurbs model... with polygons you can automatic mapping under edit polygons -> texture -> automatic mapping

you can than edit the UV of the texture in UV texture editor
Window->UV texture edi...

If this is a nurbs model I probably would project a 3d texture to the sword.. Correct me if i'm wrong. I do more poly model than anything else.

Polygon Tut
https://www.mtmckinley.net/tut5

Nurbs
https://www.mtmckinley.net/tut7.html