Forum:Damage, speed and deflect numbers?

I need some help. In all of Assassin's Creed saga, I purchase weapons, and they display the details of the weapons such as:

- Common Sword: Damage 1, Speed 1, Deflect 2

- Notched Cinquedea: Damage 4, Speed 4, Deflect 2

or like Sword of Altair: Damage, Speed and Deflect 5

Still, these numbers confuse me. They all show the same effects - hitting an enemy and a square of health drops, the speed were pretty much the same, and deflections speeds were also the same. I didn't see much difference in all these weapons. It's not like when it's "Damage 5" and with one hit drops 5 enemy health.

What changed? Could someone please clarify that for me? Thanks.