h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I do have a minor, perhaps, correction. I believe that longswords and broadswords do weigh more than a couple of pounds, my recon broadsword (and it's a beaut) is about average for a reconstruction and that's 7lb (about 3.5 kilos). A double handed would weigh more. As a recon it's not edged, and I suspect that an edged blade would carry a few more pounds. However , I've never handled a genuine one (what with most of them being kept under glass), so am not 100% on this, but I suspect the guy who forged it would've known what he was about.

You think it's hard to find fencing clubs? Try getting a guild of maisters to admitt a twelve year old girl.

Where did you get the broadsword from? Sounds like it may be a wallhanger rather than a battle-ready weapon.

The information about the weights of the longsword was contributed by me to replace the erroneous statement that they were blunt and could only be lifted by the strongest people. I study longsword fighting as a martial art and can tell you that they definitely only weigh about 3-4 pounds.

Sharps are actually lighter than blunts as the act of sharpening the blade removes a surprising amount of material.

Fair enough - I suspect you're right then. No it is battle ready. Not fancy or anything, just a plain Viking style broadsword, I've never used it in real recon, but it's clearly been used by a previous owner. someone once told me sharpened swords had a thicker middle so that you could get greater momentum when swinging it. Incidently, I got in a shop that used to be in Canterbury, they sold all kinds of that sort of stuff. Can't find it anymore - suspect it's closed.

If it's a Viking-style sword then 7lbs is way too heavy, as Viking swords were all single-handers. At that weight it would have to be a true two-hander (such as the six-foot weapons carried by the German Doppelsoldners)... for context the longsword was typically about 48" from tip to pommel and is also known as a hand-and-a-half sword as it can be used single-handed or two-handed.

But it's easy to use single-handed... (okay, not when I was twelve, perhaps) Maybe the scales were wrong, but half a stone, 7lbs, right?

Yup, half a stone = 7lbs... but I still reckon that's too heavy for a single hander.

I certainly couldn't use a 7lb single hander comfortably... even a well-balanced 3lb longsword used in both hands causes achiness and cramp after a while.