The meaning of 言うなら返しのついていない


I was reading 化物語 and came across this paragraph:

> 貫通していないということは、針は、極端に変形していないということだ……ほとんど、コの字形の直角状態を保っているはず。 **言うなら返しのついていない**
> 形、ならばそれほどの抵抗なく、力任せに引き抜けるはずだ。

I can understand most of this just fine, but the only part I'm confused about
is the meaning 言うなら返しのついていない.




  * This 言うなら (or 言わば, 言うならば, 言うなれば) is a phrase meaning "so to speak".

  * This 返し refers to a _barb_ , the following part of a fishing hook, harpoon, etc:

[![返し](https://i.stack.imgur.com/emux7.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/emux7.png)

When a needle (or hook, stinger) hits a hard object (e.g., a wall), the tip
will be crushed and bent like a barb.

So the sentence is saying that since the needle has not fully penetrated and
hit something hard, its tip should still be sharp like a barbless fish hook.




  * This 言うなら (or 言わば, 言うならば, 言うなれば) is a phrase meaning "so to speak".

  * This 返し refers to a _barb_ , the following part of a fishing hook, harpoon, etc:

[![返し](https://i.stack.imgur.com/emux7.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/emux7.png)

When a needle (or hook, stinger) hits a hard object (e.g., a wall), the tip
will be crushed and bent like a barb.

So the sentence is saying that since the needle has not fully penetrated and
hit something hard, its tip should still be sharp like a barbless fish hook.

