So this mod already has a combat improvement - the attack timer. But what about having another mechanic - being able to draw/sheathe your sword?
Basic idea is that the sword would occupy a seperate slot in the hot bar, in which anything that boosts attack damage can be placed (for compatability with other mod swords). Pressing a key while holding the sword equips it in this slot, kinda like the offhand slot in the new updates/snapshots. Pressing another key, maybe R by default, draws whatever weapon or tool is equipped in the sheathe, with a short delay and maybe an animation before the player can attack with it.
Could have different sheathes be craftable for different bonuses (draw speed etc.) or just for aesthetics, with faction-based textures, like the shields. Maybe have certain unique weapons have their own sheathes.
Slot to equip a crafted sheathe into would be maybe beside the armour bar in the inventory, and have an option in the LOTR menu to select the position of the sword (left hip, right hip, strapped to the back etc.)
This could be made to be purely aesthetic, could be made to be gamechangingly useful, just thought I'd put this out there.