http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un1M7xbCCIs

:)

That's just insane. He can barely avoid dropping the thing.

okay, is this for real. considering theres been plenty of people saying what I think I'll make this quick. you can't compare modern *casted* weapons with old medieval *iron* swords. even so, have you ever held a 5lb book in your hand with your arm outstretched for more than thirty seconds this whole topic would have to be reconsidered.

Wikipedia has less mistakes then the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

after 3 months of light circuit training I could hold a 30lb weight out for a minute... but a weapon would have the center of mass much farther out and result in a greater feeling of weight. a 5 lb blade extending 4 ft from my hand would probably feel like a 20lb hand weight. I think the 'misguided' posters are thinking in terms of hand weights where the center of mass is MUCH closer to your body, thus making them much easier to hold and move around.

after 3 months of light circuit training I could hold a 30lb weight out for a minute... but a weapon would have the center of mass much farther out and result in a greater feeling of weight. a 5 lb blade extending 4 ft from my hand would probably feel like a 20lb hand weight. I think the 'misguided' posters are thinking in terms of hand weights where the center of mass is MUCH closer to your body, thus making them much easier to hold and move around.

I just read some more reply's, someone actually used a movie prop(Conan Sword) to try to claim weapons are heavy, wow. :facepalm:


No wonder we get some of the absurd topics we get here, I mean people don't even know how to do basic research, nor under stand the use of proper sources.

there were two swords in conan. they both looked the same. one was actually made out of steel, the other was just a rubber prop (or what ever material, it was obviously light) the real steel conan sword; arnold couldnt even hold it for more than a few minutes. that being said, conans sword was not realistic as most combat swords would not have been that thick.

That was my point, it not a real weapon its a movie prop. Using Conan as a source to make a claim about medieval weapons is absurd.

yup. +1 assist to mirglof. asides from the conan thing. I can't stress enough that all this information about swords be so easy and light is based on the assumption by some people who go out and buy the cheapo swords an renessance fairs or where ever and say hey, this isn't heavy. thats because you spent 30 bucks on a cheapo recycled aluminum sword. (if I used emoticons I would use a face palm one)

lol [censored] facts swords were not made of magnesium or alluminium they were made out of iron and steel

thats true. actual swords are made out of iron and steel (steel: which actually iron so you know, with carbon added) and thats the point why those arguing that swords are not heavy are wrong, based on the fact that the 4-5 lb swords their talking about aren't real (quality) swords. most swords you can buy are manufactured with inferior metals (becase they are lighter and less of which is needed thus its cheaper to make) and alot are purely sold for the purpose of decoration and are made out of aluminum. since no one sells swords any more thinking that some one is intending to hack some one.

I don't know who brought up magnesium, while no swords are purely made out of magnesium, the mineral is used in the making of some swords.

Umm, dude, you need to get your facts straight.

REAL authentic swords WERE light. Historical examples of swords from museums and historical manuals are proof of how light swords were back when people actually used them to fight. The majority of "replica" Swords (and cheaply made ones at that) are usually heavy, because to many people heavy = better and they think it means more quality. The process of making a sword back in the middle ages vs today is VASTLY different and no one knows exactly how it was done, the closest anyone got was the late Paul Champagne who sadly passed away just a short time ago.

Your "carbon folded" katana would probably break if you actually used it on anything in real life.

Umm, dude, you need to get your facts straight.

REAL authentic swords WERE light. Historical examples of swords from museums and historical manuals are proof of how light swords were back when people actually used them to fight. The majority of "replica" Swords (and cheaply made ones at that) are usually heavy, because to many people heavy = better and they think it means more quality. The process of making a sword back in the middle ages vs today is VASTLY different and no one knows exactly how it was done, the closest anyone got was the late Paul Champagne who sadly passed away just a short time ago.

Your "carbon folded" katana would probably break if you actually used it on anything in real life.

besides, you mean to say that swords in museums are examples of how they are "actually light" then you need to explain to me how some one goes about getting museum curators crack open highly prized and protected artifacts to be held by any common person who walks in. btw, what do you mean no one knows how it was done, my granpa and my step dad make knives and swords by hand. just because you don't know of any blacksmiths doesn't mean that the art is dead.

For example, the lengthy catalog of swords from the famed Wallace Collection Museum in London readily lists dozens of fine specimens among which it is difficult to find any weighing in excess of 4 pounds. Indeed, the majority of specimens, from arming swords to two-handers to rapiers, weigh much less than three pounds.

check some of the earlier sources in the thread. Ancient weapons in museums have been weighed by the museum staff, and if the weight is known it may be displayed as part of the information about the weapon.

http://www.thearma.org/essays/weights.htm

yup. +1 assist to mirglof. asides from the conan thing. I can't stress enough that all this information about swords be so easy and light is based on the assumption by some people who go out and buy the cheapo swords an renessance fairs or where ever and say hey, this isn't heavy. thats because you spent 30 bucks on a cheapo recycled aluminum sword. (if I used emoticons I would use a face palm one)

One thing that has bothered me lately, is reading all of the posts describing how heavy medieval swords and weapons are. I read that blocking with a two handed sword is impractical because the weight of the weapon would make it entirely to slow. This is entirely false. Swords and other weapons of the era where fairly light and usually well balanced. I'm hoping when Bethesda designs the weapons that the swords are slender and realistic looking, and not the ugly anime style.

weight of medieval era weapons:

average 1 handed sword: 2.5 to 3.5 pounds
average 2 handed sword: 4.5 pounds
battle axes: 1 to 6 pounds
war hammer: 2.5 pounds
halberd: 5 pounds
1 handed mace: 2.5 pounds
2 handed mace: 5 pounds

Another thing I hope Bethesda takes into account is European style swords where not meant to be used as slashing weapons, but for thrusting (hence the strait blade). Swords such as sabers, scimitars, and the katana where meant to slash.


sources...

links broken see sources in my next reply, will fix once I get access to a computer (to much of a pain to do using a phone)