Nothing is more pervasive than fairy anecdotes about the tremendous weight of european swords. Although their weight can be easily determined by simple hands-on-experience, even today many historians and fencers keep saying they were up to 40 pounds being blunt crushing weapons at the same time. In the 19th century medieval swords Victorian Era romanticism turned medieval people into generous big hearted Barbarians, who swung swords beyond strength of the modern man. But in the 20th century - thanks to Hollywood - any medieval weapon or armor was assumed to be "of immense weight", repeated countless times it finally became "truth". A truth, which everyone knows, but which also continuously failed to prove itself.
The fact is, no matter where this fantasy is coming from, the only way to determine real sword weight is simply put them on an weighing scale. Many HEMA practitoners did, many historians did, and nowadays in the 21st century there are simply no more excuses for perpetuating this old irrational belief. The weight of a european longsword of the plate armor era is NOT a matter of opinion - it's a matter of fact! And fact is, no late medieval longsword actually intended for fencing will weigh beyond 2,5kg or 5,5 pounds, and no battle sword will be more than 1,5kg or 3,3 pounds.
Romanticism is not science. Assumptions and opinions are not facts. When someone claims european swords of plate armor era were 20 pounds - he has to find a real one! Not a modern copy, not a ceremonial fake, but an actual medieval battle sword.
Once again, do your maths: http://www.kampaibudokai.org/DragonPr...
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