Weight of a sword in the Middle Ages. How much did historical swords weigh? John Clements

“Oh, knights, arise, the hour of action has come!
Shields, steel helmets and you have armor.
Your dedicated sword is ready to fight for your faith.
Give me strength, oh God, for new glorious battles.
I, a beggar, will take rich spoils there.
I don’t need gold and I don’t need land,
But maybe I will be, singer, mentor, warrior,
Rewarded with heavenly bliss forever"
(Walter von der Vogelweide. Translation by V. Levick)

A sufficient number of articles on the topic of knightly weapons and, in particular, knightly armor have already been published on the VO website. However, this topic is so interesting that you can delve into it for a very long time. The reason for turning to her again is banal... weight. Weight of armor and weapons. Alas, I recently asked students again how much a knight’s sword weighs, and received the following set of numbers: 5, 10 and 15 kilograms. They considered chain mail weighing 16 kg to be very light, although not all of them did, and the weight of plate armor at just over 20 kilos was simply ridiculous.

Figures of a knight and a horse in full protective equipment. Traditionally, knights were imagined exactly like this - “chained in armor.” (Cleveland Museum of Art)

At VO, naturally, “things with weight” are much better due to regular publications on this topic. However, the opinion about the excessive weight of the “knightly costume” of the classical type has not yet been eradicated here. Therefore, it makes sense to return to this topic and consider it with specific examples.

Western European chain mail (hauberk) 1400 - 1460 Weight 10.47 kg. (Cleveland Museum of Art)

Let's start with the fact that British weapons historians created a very reasonable and clear classification of armor according to their specific characteristics and ultimately divided the entire Middle Ages, guided, naturally, by available sources, into three eras: “the era of chain mail,” “the era of mixed chain mail and plate protective weapons" and "the era of solid forged armor." All three eras together make up the period from 1066 to 1700. Accordingly, the first era has a framework of 1066 - 1250, the second - the era of chain mail-plate armor - 1250 - 1330. And then this: the early stage in the development of knightly plate armor (1330 - 1410), the “great period” in the history of knights in “white”, stands out armor" (1410 - 1500) and the era of decline of knightly armor (1500 - 1700).

Chain mail together with a helmet and aventail (aventail) XIII - XIV centuries. (Royal Arsenal, Leeds)

During the years of “wonderful Soviet education” we had never heard of such periodization. But in the school textbook “History of the Middle Ages” for the VΙ class for many years, with some repetitions, one could read the following:
“It was not easy for the peasants to defeat even one feudal lord. The mounted warrior - the knight - was armed with a heavy sword and a long spear. He could cover himself from head to toe with a large shield. The knight's body was protected by chain mail - a shirt woven from iron rings. Later, chain mail was replaced by armor - armor made of iron plates.

Classic knightly armor, which was most often discussed in textbooks for schools and universities. Before us is Italian armor of the 15th century, restored in the 19th century. Height 170.2 cm. Weight 26.10 kg. Helmet weight 2850 g (Metropolitan Museum, New York)

Knights fought on strong, hardy horses, which were also protected by armor. The knight's weapons were very heavy: they weighed up to 50 kilograms. Therefore, the warrior was clumsy and clumsy. If a rider was thrown from his horse, he could not get up without outside help and was usually captured. To fight on horseback in heavy armor, long training was needed, the feudal lords were preparing for military service since childhood. They constantly practiced fencing, horse riding, wrestling, swimming, and javelin throwing.

German armor 1535. Presumably from Brunswick. Weight 27.85 kg. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

A war horse and knightly weapons were very expensive: for all this a whole herd had to be given - 45 cows! The landowner for whom the peasants worked could perform knightly service. Therefore, military affairs became an occupation almost exclusively of feudal lords” (Agibalova, E.V. History of the Middle Ages: Textbook for the 6th grade / E.V. Agibalova, G.M. Donskoy, M.: Prosveshchenie, 1969. P.33; Golin, E.M. History of the Middle Ages: Textbook for the 6th grade of evening (shift) school / E.M. Kuzmenko, M.Ya.: Education, 1965. P. 31- 32.)

A knight in armor and a horse in horse armor. The work of master Kunz Lochner. Nuremberg, Germany 1510 - 1567 It dates back to 1548. The total weight of the rider's equipment, including horse armor and saddle, is 41.73 kg. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

Only in the 3rd edition of the textbook “History of the Middle Ages” for VΙ grade high school V.A. Vedyushkin, published in 2002, the description of knightly weapons became somewhat truly thoughtful and corresponded to the above-mentioned periodization used today by historians around the world: “At first, the knight was protected by a shield, helmet and chain mail. Then the most vulnerable parts of the body began to be hidden behind metal plates, and from the 15th century, chain mail was finally replaced by solid armor. Battle armor weighed up to 30 kg, so for battle the knights chose hardy horses, also protected by armor.”

Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503-1564) Gunsmith Kunz Lochner. Germany, Nuremberg 1510 - 1567 Dated 1549. Height 170.2 cm. Weight 24 kg.

That is, in the first case, intentionally or out of ignorance, the armor was divided into eras in a simplified manner, while a weight of 50 kg was attributed to both the armor of the “era of chain mail” and the “era of all-metal armor” without dividing into the actual armor of the knight and the armor of his horse. That is, judging by the text, our children were offered information that “the warrior was clumsy and clumsy.” In fact, the first articles showing that this is actually not the case were publications by V.P. Gorelik in the magazines “Around the World” in 1975, but this information never made it into textbooks for Soviet schools at that time. The reason is clear. Using anything, using any examples, show the superiority of the military science of Russian soldiers over the “dog knights”! Unfortunately, the inertia of thinking and the not-so-great significance of this information make it difficult to disseminate information that corresponds to scientific data.

Armor set from 1549, which belonged to Emperor Maximilian II. (Wallace Collection) As you can see, the option in the photo is tournament armor, as it features a grandguard. However, it could be removed and then the armor became combat. This achieved considerable savings.

Nevertheless, the provisions of the school textbook V.A. Vedyushkina are completely true. Moreover, information about the weight of armor, well, say, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (as well as from other museums, including our Hermitage in St. Petersburg, then Leningrad) was available for a very long time, but in the textbooks of Agibalov and Donskoy For some reason I didn’t get there in due time. However, it’s clear why. After all, we had the best education in the world. However, this special case, although quite revealing. It turned out that there were chain mail, then - again and again, and now armor. Meanwhile, the process of their appearance was more than lengthy. For example, only around 1350 was the appearance of the so-called “metal breast” with chains (from one to four) that went to a dagger, sword and shield, and sometimes a helmet was attached to the chain. Helmets at this time were not yet connected to protective plates on the chest, but under them they wore chain mail hoods that had a wide shoulder. Around 1360, armor began to have clasps; in 1370, the knights were almost completely dressed in iron armor, and chain mail fabric was used as a base. The first brigandines appeared - caftans, and lining made of metal plates. They were used and how independent species protective clothing, and were worn together with chain mail, both in the West and in the East.

Knight's armor with a brigandine over chain mail and a bascinet helmet. Around 1400-1450 Italy. Weight 18.6 kg. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

Since 1385, the thighs began to be covered with armor made of articulated strips of metal. In 1410, full-plate armor for all parts of the body had spread throughout Europe, but mail throat cover was still in use; in 1430, the first grooves appeared on the elbow and knee pads, and by 1450, armor made of forged steel sheets had reached its perfection. Beginning in 1475, the grooves on them became increasingly popular until fully fluted or so-called “Maximilian armor”, the authorship of which is attributed to the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, became a measure of the skill of their manufacturer and the wealth of their owners. Subsequently, knightly armor became smooth again - their shape was influenced by fashion, but the skills achieved in the craftsmanship of their finishing continued to develop. Now it was not only people who fought in armor. The horses also received it, as a result the knight with the horse turned into something like a real statue made of polished metal that sparkled in the sun!

Another “Maximilian” armor from Nuremberg 1525 - 1530. It belonged to Duke Ulrich, the son of Henry of Württemberg (1487 - 1550). (Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna)

Although... although fashionistas and innovators, “running ahead of the locomotive,” have always been there too. For example, it is known that in 1410 a certain English knight named John de Fiarles paid Burgundian gunsmiths 1,727 pounds sterling for armor, a sword and a dagger made for him, which he ordered to be decorated with pearls and... diamonds (!) - a luxury that was not only unheard of time, but even for him it is not at all characteristic.

Field armor of Sir John Scudamore (1541 or 1542-1623). Armourer Jacob Jacob Halder (Greenwich Workshop 1558-1608) Circa 1587, restored 1915. Weight 31.07 kg. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

Each piece of plate armor received its own name. For example, plates for the thighs were called cuisses, knee pads - logs (poleyns), jambers - for the legs and sabatons (sabatons) for the feet. Gorgets or bevors (gorgets, or bevors) protected the throat and neck, cutters (couters) - elbows, e(c)paulers, or pauldrones (espaudlers, or pauldrons) - shoulders, rerebraces (rerebraces) - forearm , vambraces (vambraces) - part of the arm down from the elbow, and gantelets (gantelets) - these are “plate gloves” - protected the hands. The full set of armor also included a helmet and, at least at first, a shield, which subsequently ceased to be used on the battlefield around the middle of the 15th century.

Armor of Henry Herbert (1534-1601), Second Earl of Pembroke. Made around 1585 - 1586. in the Greenwich armory (1511 - 1640). Weight 27.24 kg. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

As for the number of details in the “white armor”, in the armor of the mid-15th century there are total number could reach 200 units, and taking into account all the buckles and nails, along with hooks and various screws, even up to 1000. The weight of the armor was 20 - 24 kg, and it was distributed evenly over the knight’s body, unlike chain mail, which pressed on the person on the shoulders. So “no crane was required to put such a rider in his saddle. And knocked off his horse to the ground, he did not at all look like a helpless beetle.” But the knight of those years was not a mountain of meat and muscles, and he by no means relied solely on brute strength and bestial ferocity. And if we pay attention to how knights are described in medieval works, we will see that very often they had a fragile (!) and graceful physique, and at the same time had flexibility, developed muscles, and were strong and very agile, even when dressed in armor, with well-developed muscle response.

Tournament armor made by Anton Peffenhauser around 1580 (Germany, Augsburg, 1525-1603) Height 174.6 cm); shoulder width 45.72 cm; weight 36.8 kg. It should be noted that tournament armor was usually always heavier than combat armor. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

IN recent years In the 15th century, knightly weapons became the subject of special concern for European sovereigns, and, in particular, for Emperor Maximilian I (1493 - 1519), who is credited with creating knightly armor with grooves all over its surface, eventually called “Maximilian.” It was used without any special changes in the 16th century, when new improvements were required due to the ongoing development of small arms.

Now just a little about swords, because if you write about them in detail, then they deserve a separate topic. J. Clements, a well-known British expert on edged weapons of the Middle Ages, believes that it was the advent of multi-layer combined armor (for example, on the effigy of John de Creque we see as many as four layers of protective clothing) that led to the appearance of a “sword in one and a half hands.” Well, the blades of such swords ranged from 101 to 121 cm, and weight from 1.2 to 1.5 kg. Moreover, blades are known for chopping and piercing blows, as well as purely for stabbing. He notes that horsemen used such swords until 1500, and they were especially popular in Italy and Germany, where they were called Reitschwert (equestrian) or knight's sword. In the 16th century, swords appeared with wavy and even jagged sawtooth blades. Moreover, their length itself could reach human height with a weight of 1.4 to 2 kg. Moreover, such swords appeared in England only around 1480. Average weight sword in the X and XV centuries. was 1.3 kg; and in the sixteenth century. - 900 g. Bastard swords “one and a half hands” weighed about 1.5 - 1.8 kg, and the weight of two-handed swords was rarely more than 3 kg. The latter reached their peak between 1500 and 1600, but were always infantry weapons.

Three-quarter cuirassier armor, ca. 1610-1630 Milan or Brescia, Lombardy. Weight 39.24 kg. Obviously, since they have no armor below the knees, the extra weight comes from thickening the armor.

But shortened three-quarter armor for cuirassiers and pistoleers, even in its shortened form, often weighed more than those that offered protection only from edged weapons and they were very heavy to wear. Cuirassier armor has been preserved, the weight of which was about 42 kg, i.e. even more than classic knightly armor, although they covered a much smaller surface of the body of the person for whom they were intended! But this, it should be emphasized, is not knightly armor, that’s the point!

Horse armor, possibly made for Count Antonio IV Colalto (1548-1620), circa 1580-1590. Place of manufacture: probably Brescia. Weight with saddle 42.2 kg. (Metropolitan Museum, New York) By the way, a horse in full armor under an armored rider could even swim. Horse armor weighed 20-40 kg - a few percent of own weight a huge and strong knight's horse.

Its parameters: 2.15 meters (7 feet) long sword; weight 6.6 kg.

Kept in the museum of the city of Frisia, the Netherlands.

Manufacturer: Germany, 15th century.

The handle is made from oak wood and covered with a single piece of goatskin taken from the leg, meaning there is no seam.

The blade is marked "Inri" (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).

Supposedly this sword belonged to the rebel and pirate Pierre Gerlofs Donia known as "Big Pierre", who, according to legend, could cut off several heads at once, and he also bent coins using his thumb, index and middle fingers.

According to legend, this sword was brought to Friesland by the German Landsknechts; it was used as a banner (it was not a battle one); captured by Pierre, this sword began to be used as a battle sword.

Brief biography of Big Pierre

Pier Gerlofs Donia (W. Frisian. Grutte Pier, approximately 1480, Kimsvärd - October 18, 1520, Sneek) - Frisian pirate and independence fighter. Descendant of the famous Frisian leader Haring Harinxma (1323–1404).

Son of Pier Gerlofs Donia and Frisian noblewoman Fokel Sybrants Bonga. He was married to Rintsje or Rintze Syrtsema, and had a son, Gerlof, and a daughter, Wobbel, born in 1510.

On January 29, 1515, his court was destroyed and burned by soldiers from the Black Band, landsknechts of the Saxon Duke George the Bearded, and Rintze was raped and killed. Hatred of his wife's murderers prompted Pierre to take part in the Gueldern War against the powerful Habsburgs, on the side of the Gueldern Duke Charles II (1492-1538) of the Egmont dynasty. He entered into an agreement with the Duchy of Geldern and became a pirate.

Quote: historian and literary critic Conrad Busken Huet described the personality of the legendary Donia this way

Huge, dark-faced, broad-shouldered, with a long beard and an innate sense of humor, Big Pierre, who, under the pressure of circumstances, became a pirate and freedom fighter!

The ships of his flotilla "Arumer Zwarte Hoop" dominated the Zuiderzee, causing enormous damage to Dutch and Burgundian shipping. After the capture of 28 Dutch ships, Pierre Gerlofs Donia (Grutte Pier) solemnly declared himself “King of Frisia” and set a course for the liberation and unification of his native country. However, after he noticed that the Duke of Geldern did not intend to support him in the war of independence, Pierre terminated alliance treaty and in 1519 he resigned. On October 18, 1520, he died in Grootsand, a suburb of the Frisian city of Sneek. Buried on the north side of the Great Sneek Church (built in the 15th century)



Photos taken in 2006

Help on two-handed swords

Here it is necessary to make a remark that the weight of 6.6 is abnormal for a combat two-handed sword. A significant number of them vary in weight around 3-4 kg.

Spadon, bidenhänder, zweihänder, two-handed sword... Two-handed swords among other types of cold bladed weapons occupy special place. They have always been “exotic” to some extent, possessing their own magic and mystery. This is probably why the owners of the “two-handers” stand out from the rest of the heroes - the nobleman Podbipyatka (“With Fire and Sword” by Sienkiewicz), or, say, Baron Pampa (“It’s Hard to Be a God” by the Strugatskys). Such swords are a decoration for any modern museum. Therefore, the appearance of a two-handed sword in the 16th century. with the mark of Toledo craftsmen (the Latin letter “T” in an oval) in the Museum of the History of Weapons (Zaporozhye), became a real sensation. What is a two-handed sword, how does it differ from its other brothers, for example, one-and-a-half-handed swords? In Europe, a two-handed weapon is traditionally called a bladed weapon whose total length exceeds 5 feet (approximately 150 cm). Indeed, the total length of the samples that have come down to us varies between 150-200 cm (on average 170-180 cm), with the handle accounting for 40-50 cm. Based on this, the length of the blade itself reaches 100-150 cm (on average 130- 140), and the width is 40-60 mm. The weight of the weapon, contrary to popular belief, is relatively small - from a little to five kilograms, on average - 3-4 kg. The sword shown on the right from the collection of the Museum of the History of Weapons has more than modest tactical and technical characteristics. So, with a total length of 1603 mm, the length and width of the blade, respectively, 1184 and 46 mm, it weighs “only” 2.8 kg. Of course, there are huge ones weighing 5, 7 and even 8 kg and a length of more than 2 m. For example, K. Asmolov in his work “History of Edged Weapons” indicates that the English cavalry sword “slasher” (slasher, hard) had exactly these characteristics sword). However, most researchers are inclined to believe that these are, after all, late ceremonial, interior, and simply training specimens.

Scientists do not have a consensus on the date of the appearance of the two-handed sword in Europe. Many are inclined to assume that the prototype of the “two-handed sword” was a Swiss infantry sword of the 14th century. Both W. Beheim and, later, E. Wagner insisted on this in his work “Hie und Stich waffen,” published in Prague in 1969. The Englishman E. Oakeshott claims that already at the beginning and middle of the 14th century. there were large swords, called in the French manner “L"épée à deux mains.” This refers to the so-called “saddle” swords of knights, which had a one-and-a-half-hand grip and could be used in foot combat... This sword

The biggest combat sword!

This remarkable example of medieval military art has a length of 2 m. 15 cm. and a weight of 6.6 kg. An ordinary person I could fight with it for about five, maybe ten, minutes, after which I could pick it up with my bare hands. And of course, the blacksmiths and gunsmiths from Passau, when creating this external (ceremonial) sword, did not imagine that one day it would become a military weapon...
further:

The history of this sword apparently began in Germany in the 15th century, presumably in the city of Passau. The sword hilt is made of oak and covered with leather from a goat's leg (without seam). It can be assumed that the sword was made to order for some knight. It is unlikely that it will be possible to identify its first and subsequent owners in the foreseeable future, but it is known that together with the Landsknechts, who used it as a symbol (according to other sources, as a banner?), it came to Frisia (Kingdom in the Netherlands). Here he became the prey of one famous person - Big Pierre (Grutte Pier). This famous Frisian pirate, real name Pier Gerlofs Donia, had a sword in his hand. It must be said that Big Pierre obviously possessed not only very impressive strength, but also considerable stature. His helmet is kept in the town hall of Sneek:

It would seem like an ordinary medieval helmet? But no:

In general, the biography of this man is worthy of a separate story; I recommend everyone to google information about this historical figure.
But, back to the sword, having fallen into the hands of Big Pierre, the sword became a formidable military weapon. According to rumors, this man, who also had a degenerate sense of humor, often cut down several heads with his sword at once. Pierce was allegedly so strong that he could bend coins using his thumb, index and middle fingers. Pierre Gerlofs Donia died on October 18, 1520, about a year earlier he had retired and stopped his pirate exploits. At the moment, Pierre Gerlofs Donia is considered national hero Holland, and his sword is kept in the Frisian Museum in the city of Leeuwarden.

Sword blade with the inscription "Inri" (presumably Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews)

ItsElf 05.13.2004 - 14:03

Good afternoon
I mainly find information on the Internet about maximum weight 5-6 kg, sometimes 8 kg
according to other information, the weight of swords reached 16-30 kg
what's true? is there any confirmation?
thanks in advance!

Jerreth 05/13/2004 - 16:50

On the Internet I mainly find information about the maximum weight of 5-6 kg, sometimes 8 kg is found
according to other information, the weight of the swords reached 16-30 kg

COMBAT two-handed swords weighed around 3.5-6 kg. The heaviest sword, 7.9 kg from Switzerland (it seems), after a detailed close-up study, looks much more like a training projectile than a blade intended for chopping.
Indeed, in the Middle Ages there were very real 15-25 kg swords, outwardly more or less a copy of combat swords, with a thicker profile, sometimes filled with lead - the so-called “wall-mounted”. For every baron had to have a weapons gallery on the wall of the central hall, but so that the guests who became unruly at the feast did not tear these collection items off the wall and commit murder, they were specially made by weight like two large crowbars. From the series, if someone picks it, put it right away. Fantasy replicas, in short, plus a relaxed demonstration of weapon skills.
From the same opera - a set of full armor of “children’s” sizes, although this one has an additional purpose, to accustom the baron’s child to armor before he grows up to adulthood.

ItsElf 05.13.2004 - 18:12

thanks Jerreth

apsara 05/14/2004 - 01:08

/Indeed, in the Middle Ages there were very real 15-25 kg swords, outwardly more or less a copy of combat ones, with a thickened profile, sometimes filled with lead - the so-called “wall” ones./
If it's not a secret, where does this information come from? Too luxurious for the Middle Ages... Maybe later imitations? In general, two-handed chopping takes hours only in films; they could deliver several blows to cut through a formation, say, and that’s all.

Strelok13 05/14/2004 - 01:30

When you mention a two-handed sword, you immediately see Rutger Hauer in the movie Flesh and Blood, with a long flamberge on his shoulder. In general, in the museum on Poklonnaya Gora, above the stairs, there is a display trimmed with gold and precious stones, but otherwise it looks like a completely steel sword weighing about fifty, probably kilograms. It was handed over to the museum by President B.N. Yeltsin, it is unknown whether Boris Nikolayevich used it in battles before he gave it to the museum or not, but even if it was simply dropped on the enemy’s leg, it, that is, the sword, is undoubtedly capable of causing severe injury.

Dang 05/14/2004 - 11:43

He played tennis for them.

GaiduK 05/18/2004 - 08:50

Hello!
In Warsaw I saw (museum of the Polish army) an original two-handed weapon, I think from the beginning of the 15th century - 16 kg, looking at it for a long time I could not understand how to take it in my hands (the thickness of the handle is at least 45 mm) so I think it is something like decorative.
There I also had to hold in my hands a pretty good replica of a flamberge - 3100g,
The replica was made by the British brothers based on the original (that’s what they said, and I have no reason not to believe them).
In my opinion, it’s better to kill a sword heavier than 5 kg at home. 😀

Chef 05/18/2004 - 10:41

In France, at a medieval festival, I had the opportunity to observe a local historical reconstruction club in action. Among other things, they demonstrated fencing techniques two-handed sword. I'm not a big expert in the field of edged weapons, but the difference from fighting with conventional swords was noticeable. First of all, the fact that the sword in two hands also served as a shield. Placed vertically with its tip into the ground, it made it possible to parry slashing blows from the side and from below. As the participants later explained to me, two-handed swords were mainly used in battles between heavily armed opponents (knights in armor), but even among the knights, not everyone could wield them due to heavy weight. They gave me to hold the sword that they had used in the duel five minutes before. It weighed 8-10 kg and, as I was told, was an exact copy of the museum sword.

Jerreth 05/18/2004 - 12:14

They gave me to hold the sword that they had used in the duel five minutes before. It weighed 8-10 kg and, as I was told, was an exact copy of the museum sword.

http://www.claudiospage.com/Graphics/Weapons/Zweihandschwert_1500.jpg
Italy, approx. 1500 17 cm blade width! We've never fought like this in our lives. But he is very real.

GaiduK 05/18/2004 - 19:38

"Reconstruction tournaments" vav....

Corporal 05/18/2004 - 20:13

Jerreth
Firstly, TOURNAMENT swords are not combat swords, they are a little heavier (or not a little) - just like the current “stuff” that they use at iron reenactment buhurt tournaments. Secondly, museums are full of completely real “decorative” weapons. Here, for example: http://www.claudiospage.com/Graphics/Weapons/Zweihandschwert_1500.jpg
Italy, approx. 1500 17 cm blade width! We've never fought like this in our lives. But he is very real.

Hello. As far as I remember, this example of a “sword” was once called the “Boar Sword”, well, at least it is very similar in shape, and accordingly it was used in hunting...
Regarding the weight of 8 kg or more, gentlemen, you won’t be enough for 5 minutes of battle, and making such a sword so that the “bro” comes out screams loudly and then swings several times heroically and dies, expensive fun. 😀
I think the drabants and flamberges lived even longer, but not everyone will be allowed in, and not everyone will go. And Rudger H. in the film “Blood and Flesh” (as I understand it) meant by his persona a “drabant”, and he walked around with a two-handed weapon.

Jerreth 05/19/2004 - 12:15

http://www.armor.com/2000/catalog/item918gall.html
Here is a real "boar" (hunting) sword. A characteristic, but completely different form, although it is also two-handed.

And Hauer also ran with a two-handed weapon in “Lady Hawk”, but there was a normal knightly greatsword there.

Corporal 06/07/2004 - 04:01

No....well, people, you really need to figure out what we're talking about....."the weight of a two-handed weapon." As I understand it, some have seen this miracle in museums, some have held it in their hands, and some have delved into knowledge on this topic while lying on the couch, and of course there will be someone here who was able to “try out” this invention.
Even if you are at least three times hefty and fat, why would you need a sharpened crowbar in battle???????????????if you can make it lighter and more convenient and, most importantly, more effective.
And what difference does it make later whether you drive your enemy headlong into the ground or cut him in half.........
Best regards Corp...

Are weapons preserved in the swamps of the Neva? The answers to these questions are saturated with mysticism and supported by chronicles of that time.

Alexander Nevsky is one of the most majestic figures in Ancient Rus', a talented commander, strict ruler and brave warrior, who received his nickname in the legendary battle with Sweden in 1240 on the Neva River.

Weapons and protective ammunition of the Grand Duke of steel Slavic relics, almost deified in chronicles and lives.

How much did Alexander Nevsky's sword weigh? There is an opinion that Five Poods

The sword is the main weapon of a warrior of the 13th century. And wielding an 82-kilogram (1 pood - a little more than 16 kg) melee weapon is, to put it mildly, problematic.

It is believed that the heaviest sword in the history of the world was the sword of Goliath (the king of Judea, a warrior of enormous stature) - its mass was 7.2 kg. In the engraving below, legendary weapon is in the hand of David (this is the enemy of Goliath).

Historical information: an ordinary sword weighed about one and a half kilograms. Swords for tournaments and other competitions – up to 3 kg. Ceremonial weapons, made of pure gold or silver and decorated with gems, could reach a mass of 5 kg, however, it was not used on the battlefield due to its inconvenience and heavy weight.

Take a look at the picture below. It depicts the Grand Duke in full dress uniform, and therefore a larger sword - for the parade, to add greatness!

Where did the 5 poods come from? Apparently, historians of past centuries (and especially the Middle Ages) tended to embellish actual events, presenting mediocre victories as great, ordinary rulers as wise, ugly princes as beautiful.

This was dictated by necessity: the enemies, having learned about the valor, courage and mighty strength of the prince, had to retreat under the onslaught of fear and such power. That is why there is an opinion that Alexander Nevsky’s sword “weighed” not 1.5 kg, and as much as 5 poods.

The sword of Alexander Nevsky is kept in Rus' and protects its lands from enemy invasion, is this true?

Historians and archaeologists do not give a definite answer about the possible location of the sword of Alexander Nevsky. The only thing that is known for sure is that the weapon was not found in any of the numerous expeditions.

It is also likely that Alexander Nevsky did not use the only sword, but changed them from battle to battle, since edged weapons become jagged and become unusable...

13th century tools are rare relics. Almost all of them are lost. The most famous sword, which belonged to Prince Dovmont (ruled in Pskov from 1266 to 1299), is kept in the Pskov Museum:

Did Alexander Nevsky's sword have magical properties?

In the Battle of the Neva, the Slavic troops were outnumbered, but many Swedes fled the battlefield before the battle began. Was this a tactical move or fatal accident– it’s not clear.

Russian soldiers stood facing to the rising sun. Alexander Nevsky was on a dais and raised his sword up, calling the soldiers to battle - at that moment the rays of the sun hit the blade, causing the steel to glow and frightening the enemy.

According to the chronicles, after the Battle of the Neva, the sword was taken to the house of elder Pelgusius, where other precious things were kept. Soon the house burned down, and the cellar was filled with earth and debris.

From this moment we begin a journey through the shaky world of speculation and conjecture:

In the 18th century, monks built a church near the Neva. During construction, they discovered Alexander Nevsky's sword broken in two.
The monks rightly decided that the fragments of the blade should protect the temple from harm, and therefore they placed them in the foundation of the building.
During the revolution of the 20th century, the church and its accompanying documents were destroyed.
At the end of the 20th century, scientists discovered the diary of Andrei Ratnikov (a white officer), several pages of which were dedicated to the legendary blade.

How much did Alexander Nevsky's sword weigh? One thing we can say for sure: not 5 pounds, most likely like a regular blade 1.5 kg. It was a beautiful blade that brought victory to the warriors of Ancient Rus', turning the course of history!

And yet I would like to know whether there was powerful magic contained in it...

Sword structure

In the Middle Ages, the sword was not just one of the most popular weapons, but in addition to all this, it also performed ritual functions. For example, when knighting a young warrior, they lightly tapped him on the shoulder with the flat side of the sword. And the knight’s sword itself was necessarily blessed by the priest. But as a weapon, the medieval sword was very effective, and it is not without reason that over the centuries a variety of sword forms were developed.

Still, if you look from a military point of view, the sword played a secondary role in battles; the main weapon of the Middle Ages was a spear or pike. But the social role of the sword was very great - sacred inscriptions and religious symbols were applied to the blades of many swords, which were intended to remind the bearer of the sword of the high mission of serving God, protecting christian church from pagans, infidels, heretics. The hilt of the sword sometimes even became an ark for relics and relics. And the very shape of the medieval sword invariably resembles main symbol Christianity - the cross.

Knighting, Accolade.

Sword structure

Depending on their structure, there were different types of swords that were intended for different fighting techniques. Among them are swords for stabbing and swords for slashing. When making swords, special attention was paid to the following parameters:

The profile of the blade - it changed from century to century depending on the dominant fighting technique in a particular era.
The cross-sectional shape of the blade depends on the use of this type of sword in battle.
Distal narrowing - it affects the distribution of mass along the sword.
The center of gravity is the balance point of the sword.

The sword itself, roughly speaking, can be divided into two parts: the blade (everything is clear here) and the hilt - this includes the handle of the sword, the guard (crossguard) and the pommel (counterweight).

This is how the detailed structure of a medieval sword looks clearly in the picture.

Medieval sword weight

How much did a medieval sword weigh? There is often a prevailing myth that medieval swords were incredibly heavy, and one had to have remarkable strength to fencing with them. In fact, the weight of a medieval knight’s sword was quite acceptable, on average it ranged from 1.1 to 1.6 kg. Large, long, so-called “bastard swords” weighed up to 2 kg (in reality, only a small part of the warriors used them), and only the heaviest two-handed swords that were owned by the real “Hercules of the Middle Ages” weighed up to 3 kg.

Photos of medieval swords.

Sword typology

Back in 1958, edged weapons expert Ewart Oakeshott proposed a taxonomy of medieval swords that remains basic to this day. This taxonomy is based on two factors:

Blade shape: its length, width, tip, general profile.
Sword proportions.

Based on these points, Oakeshott identified 13 main types of medieval swords, ranging from Viking swords to late medieval swords. He also described 35 different types of pommels and 12 types of sword crosses.

Interestingly, between 1275 and 1350 there was a significant change in the shape of swords; it was associated with the advent of new protective armor, against which the old-style swords were not effective. Thus, knowing the typology of swords, archaeologists can easily date a particular ancient sword of a medieval knight by its shape.

Now let's look at some of the most popular swords of the Middle Ages.

This is perhaps the most popular of the medieval swords, often a warrior with a one-handed sword, holding a shield with the other hand. It was actively used by the ancient Germans, then by the Vikings, then by knights, in the late Middle Ages it was transformed into rapiers and broadswords.

The long sword spread already in the late Middle Ages, and subsequently, thanks to it, the art of fencing flourished.

Only real heroes used such a sword, given the fact that the weight of a medieval two-handed sword reached up to 3 kg. However, powerful slashing blows with such a sword were quite devastating for strong knightly armor.

Knight's sword, video

And finally, a thematic video about a knight’s sword.

If you read Russian epics, you should have noticed that never once did the sword of a Russian hero rise for bravado, for the sake of gaining wealth or a throne. The sword was worn only in difficult times or as part of a ceremonial costume - as a symbol of status.

The sword in Rus', and, probably, everywhere, was held in high esteem. You can read about the significance of the sword in Ancient Rus' in Oleg Agayev.

Straight, long, heavy blade slightly tapering towards the tip. The hilt and guard protruding from the sheath were always decorated, even on the simplest swords. The blade was sometimes also decorated with drawings or magical signs. Along the blade there was a longitudinal groove - a dol, which made the sword blade lighter and increased its maneuverability.

So why Slavic sword was that exactly what he was like? Let's try to figure it out.

Let's imagine early, pre-Christian Rus'. The land was spacious and abundant; It was difficult to die of hunger in a country where the rivers were rich in fish, and the forests were rich in game, honey and plant fruits, even in lean years. Such conditions were combined with a low population density: firstly, the settlements were located at a fairly large distance from each other; secondly, the lack of crowding of people in the settlements themselves. Under such conditions, culture was formed for a long time in relatively high security from external raids and with an extremely low frequency of internal conflict situations due to the lack of competition for use natural resources. Wars were rare, but the princely squads were well armed and equipped. The art of war was taught from childhood. It was in such an environment that the technologies for the production of sword blades matured, representing one of the highest quality categories of products of urban blacksmiths and gunsmiths of Kievan Rus.

In addition, the 10th century was a period of brutal civil war in the Nordic countries, as a result of which many Vikings fled from their homeland and were hired into the squads of Russian princes. So Russian gunsmiths of those times always had material for comparison and imitation. This is probably why the swords of the ancient Slavs and Vikings are so similar.

In 1900, near the village of Krasnyanka in the former Kupyansky district of the Kharkov province (the territory of the current Voroshilovgrad region), a sword was found, dated by the historian A. N. Kirpichnikov to the end of the 10th century. The sword is kept in the Kharkov Historical Museum (inv. No. KS 116−42).
It was this sword that was included in the number of samples of ancient Russian weapons that were subjected to metallographic analysis to determine the technology for manufacturing the blades of ancient Russian swords in 1948.

And this is what this analysis revealed.
The technological diagram of the sword from Krasnyanka coincides in almost all details with the description of the swords of the Rus given by the Khorezmian Biruni in the mineralogical treatise of 1046, which states: “The Rus make their swords from shapurkan, and the fullers in the middle from naromkhan, in order to give them strength upon impact, to prevent their fragility." The famous scientist B.A. Kolchin defines the concepts of “shapurkan” as hard steel-structure, and “naromkhan” as soft and ductile iron.

Thus, the results of metallographic studies allow us to assert that the sword from Krasnyanka was forged by ancient Russian professional gunsmiths who were well acquainted with technical requirements to swords and who owned the most rational methods for their time for making their blades.

It may also be noted that the proportion of piercing to slashing elements in sword design varied in response to changes in weaponry, but even earlier parallel-edged swords tended to have a piercing, albeit rounded, point.
And the sword doesn’t need a particularly sharp tip. The chain mail armor of those times could be easily cut through with a slashing blow. Whether piercing or slashing, an undeflected blow from a heavy sword will still do its job...

In Ancient Rus', along with expensive high-quality swords, cheap short iron swords were also made, which probably served as weapons for ordinary foot soldiers. And yet, the sword was never “a simple piece of iron”; it always carried something magical, witchcraft. Maybe that’s why he left such a noticeable mark in folklore. Well, who remembers the common expression with a saber, sword or dagger?

But the words of Alexander Nevsky: “Whoever comes to us with a sword will die by the sword,” Russian people will always remember.

The sword in Rus', and, probably, everywhere, was held in high esteem. There are three known swords that are attributed to Russian princes. But the words of Alexander Nevsky: “Whoever comes to us with a sword will die by the sword,” Russian people will always remember. The sword is not just a Russian weapon, but a symbol of military power.

The name of Ilya Muromets is familiar to every Russian person from childhood through fairy tales and epics. IN modern Russia he is considered the patron saint of the Strategic Missile Forces and the Border Service, as well as all those whose profession is related to military labor. Interestingly, in the late 1980s. Scientists carried out an examination of the relics. The results of this examination surprisingly coincided with the legends about this Russian hero. Based on the analysis of the remains, it was established that this man had a heroic build and had a height of 177 cm (in the 12th century, a person with such height was a head taller than those around him).

The sword, of course, is new, but it is not just a dummy sword. It is made by forging several layers of metal and is shaped like the swords of that time.

On the Internet you can find a variety of versions about this - from its manufacture in Zlatoust to its creation in Kyiv by Russian and Ukrainian craftsmen. It is interesting that in 2006, by order of one of the Moscow companies, master T. Antonevich made a second sword, intended for the then and to the current President Russia to Putin. By the end of the 12th century, the average weight of swords increased to 2 kg. But it's average. What nonsense?! The difference between the blade and the total length is about 140 cm. Who is this Ilya Muromets from the Shaolin Temple?

How much do you think a sword should weigh and what should be the length of its blade? In the mail that comes to the editorial e-mail, the same question often appears. We have already mentioned the sword of Prince Svyatoslav in the article “History of the Sword: Carolingian Strike”. In short, this is a Carolina type sword, very well preserved and richly crafted. There are actually no reasons to attribute this sword to Svyatoslav. Yes, this is a very ornate sword. Yes, he is a contemporary of Svyatoslav.

Chapter “Dictionaries of Russian myths and fairy tales” 3. Dictionary of Russian mythical heroes

Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich was the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh and nephew of Yuri Dolgoruky. All these events took place back in the 12th century. But the sword that is attributed to him is a one-and-a-half-handed sword of the Gothic type. Quite the 14th century. Previously, this type of weapon simply did not exist!

Not everything is simple with Prince Dovmont’s sword either. He was expelled from the Baltic states, where he reigned and found a new homeland in Pskov. The legendary researcher and sword collector Ewart Oakeshott points out that Gothic-type swords were used at the end of the 13th century, but came into widespread use in the 14th century.

It is also believed that the sword of Prince Boris hung in the room of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. Of course, Alexander Nevsky had a sword, and, most likely, more than one. Perhaps this is even one of those swords that lie in our museums, in storerooms or on display cases. At the top is a sword of a transitional type, from Carolingian to Romanesque. Below is a Romanesque type sword. It has a long thin guard that protects the warrior’s hand, and a fuller that is noticeably shorter than the blade itself.

There is no doubt that the long Slavic sword is indispensable in the fight against the nimble steppe nomad. If you read Russian epics, you should have noticed that never once did the sword of a Russian hero rise for bravado, for the sake of gaining wealth or a throne.

Sword of Prince Dovmont of Pskov

You can read what the meaning of the sword was in Ancient Rus' in the article of the same name by Oleg Agayev. The hilt and guard protruding from the sheath were always decorated, even on the simplest swords. The blade was sometimes also decorated with drawings or magical signs. Along the blade there was a longitudinal groove - a dol, which made the sword blade lighter and increased its maneuverability.

After the conspirators killed the prince, one of the killers took this sword for himself. Subsequently, the weapon was never mentioned anywhere else. The fundamental difference between a sword and a saber is that a sword is a cutting weapon, while a saber is a cutting weapon. Apparently, the real sword of Prince Vsevolod became unusable over time or was lost. Think about how powerful the blows of the Russian heroes were, breaking spear shafts 3 cm thick and about 2 meters long against their opponents.

Mein Herz mein Geist meine Seele, lebt nur für dich, mein Tod mein Leben meine Liebe, ist nichts ohne Dich // Shadow Troublemaker

The information that will be discussed below does not in any way relate to the realities of computer games, where anything is possible, even swords the size of a person.
Some time ago, I wrote a story based on LoS, which featured swords. According to my plan, a boy of 8-9 years old should not have lifted it due to the gravity of the sword. I suffered for a long time, wondering how much an ordinary knight’s sword weighs, and is it really impossible for a child to lift it? At that time, I was working as an estimator, and the documents included metal parts much larger than the sword, but weighing an order of magnitude less than the intended figure. And so, I went to the wide expanses of the Internet to look for the truth about the medieval knight's sword.
To my surprise, the knight’s sword did not weigh much, about 1.5-3 kg, which shattered my theory to smithereens, and the heavy two-handed weapon barely weighed 6 kg!
Where do these myths about the 30-50 kilogram swords that the heroes swung so easily come from?
And myths from fairy tales and computer games. They are beautiful, impressive, but have no historical truth behind them.
The knight's uniform was so heavy that the armor alone weighed up to 30 kg. The sword was lighter so that the knight would not give up his soul to God at all in the first five minutes of actively swinging the heavy weapon.
And if you think logically, could you work for a long time with a 30-kilogram sword? Can you even lift it?
But some battles lasted not five minutes, and not 15, they stretched out for hours, days. And your opponent is unlikely to say: “Listen, Sir X, let’s take a break, I completely swung my sword,” “Come on, I’m as tired as you are. Let's sit under that tree."
And especially no one will say: “Battle! Stop! One-two! Whoever is tired, raise your hands! Yes, clearly. The knights can rest, the archers can continue.”
However, try to work with a 2-3 kilogram sword in your hands for half an hour, I guarantee an unforgettable experience.
And so, gradually, we came to the already existing information about medieval swords, recorded by historians as a fact.

The Internet led me to the land of Wikipedia, where I read the most interesting information:
Sword- a bladed weapon consisting of a straight metal blade and handle. The blades of the swords are double-edged, less often sharpened only on one side. Swords can be chopping (Old Slavic and Old Germanic types), cutting-stabbing (Carolingian sword, Russian sword, spatha), piercing-cutting (gladius, akinak, xiphos), piercing (konchar, estok). The division of double-edged cutting and piercing weapons into swords and daggers is quite arbitrary; most often the sword has a longer blade (from 40 cm). The weight of the sword ranges from 700 g (gladius) to 6 kg (zweihander, flamberge). The weight of a one-handed chopping or stabbing sword ranged from 0.9 to 2 kg.

The sword was an offensive and defensive weapon of a professional warrior. To wield a sword required long training, years of practice and special physical training. A distinctive feature of the sword is its versatility:
- used by both foot and horse warriors;
- chopping blows with a sword are particularly powerful, especially when chopping from the saddle, both against unarmored warriors and warriors in armor (there were enough holes for striking in early armor and the quality of the armor was always questionable);
- piercing blows of a sword can pierce a cuirass and a mirror if the quality of the sword exceeds the quality of the armor;
- by striking the helmet with a sword, you can stun the enemy or kill him if the sword pierces the helmet.

Often mistakenly referred to as swords various types curved bladed weapons, in particular: khopesh, kopis, falcata, katana (Japanese sword), wakizashi, as well as a number of types of straight bladed weapons with one-sided sharpening, in particular: scramasax, falchion.

The appearance of the first bronze swords dates back to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. e., when it became possible to make blades larger size than daggers. Swords were actively used until the end of the 16th century. In the 17th century, swords in Europe were finally replaced by swords and broadswords. In Rus', the saber finally replaced the sword by the end of the 14th century.

Swords of the Middle Ages (West).

In Europe, the sword became widespread in the Middle Ages, had many modifications and was actively used until the Modern Age. The sword changed at all stages of the Middle Ages:
Early Middle Ages. The Germans used single-edged blades with good cutting properties. A striking example is scramasax. In the ruins of the Roman Empire, spatha is the most popular. The battles are taking place on open space. Defensive tactics are used extremely rarely. As a result, the cutting sword with a flat or rounded tip, a narrow but thick cross, a short hilt and a massive pommel dominates in Europe. There is practically no narrowing of the blade from the handle to the tip. The valley is quite wide and shallow. The weight of the sword does not exceed 2 kg. This type of sword is usually called Merovingian. The Carolingian sword differs from the Merovingian sword mainly in its pointed end. But this sword was also used as a chopping weapon, despite the pointed end. The Scandinavian version of the ancient Germanic sword is distinguished by its greater width and shorter length, since the ancient Scandinavians practically did not use cavalry due to their geographical location. Ancient Slavic swords were practically no different in design from ancient Germanic ones.

Modern reconstruction of a cavalry spatha of the 2nd century.
High Middle Ages. There is a growth of cities and crafts. The level of blacksmithing and metallurgy is growing. Crusades and civil strife occur. Leather armor is being replaced by metal armor. The role of cavalry is increasing. Knightly tournaments and duels are gaining popularity. Fights often take place in close quarters (castles, houses, narrow streets). All this leaves an imprint on the sword. The cutting and piercing sword reigns. The blade becomes longer, thicker and narrower. The valley is narrow and deep. The blade tapers towards the tip. The handle lengthens and the pommel becomes small. The cross becomes wide. The weight of the sword does not exceed 2 kg. This is the so-called Romanesque sword.

Late Middle Ages. Expansion into other countries is underway. Combat tactics are becoming increasingly diverse. Armor with a high degree of protection is used. All this greatly influences the evolution of the sword. The variety of swords is colossal. In addition to one-handed swords (ruknik), there are one-and-a-half-handed (one-and-a-half-handed) and two-handed swords (dvuruchnik). Piercing swords and swords with wavy blades appear. A complex guard, providing maximum protection for the hand, and a “basket” type guard are beginning to be actively used.

And here is what concerns myths and legends regarding the weight of swords:

Like any other weapon that has a cult status, there are a number of myths and outdated ideas about this type of weapon, which sometimes often appear even in scientific works to this day.
A very common myth is that European swords weighed several kilograms and were mainly used to concuss the enemy. The knight hit his armor with his sword like a club and achieved victory by knockout. A weight of up to 15 kilograms or 30-40 pounds is often quoted. These data do not correspond to reality: surviving originals of straight European fighting swords range from 650 to 1400 grams. Large “Landsknecht two-handed swords” are not included in this category, since they were not the classic sword of a knight, but represented the final degradation of the sword as a personal weapon. The average weight of swords was therefore 1.1-1.2 kg. If we take into account that the weight of combat rapiers (1.1-1.4 kg), broadswords (up to 1.4 kg) and sabers (0.8-1.1 kg) was also generally not less than one kilogram, then their superiority and “grace”, so often mentioned by fencers of the 18th and 19th centuries and supposedly the opposite of the “heavy swords of antiquity,” is more than doubtful. Modern rapiers, swords and sabers intended for sports fencing are not “lightweight” copies of combat originals, but items originally created for sports, designed not to defeat the enemy, but to score points according to the relevant rules. The weight of a one-handed sword (type XII according to Ewart Oakeshott's typology) can reach somewhere around 1400 grams with the following parameters: blade length 80 cm, width at the guard 5 cm, at the end 2.5 cm, thickness 5.5 mm. This strip of carbon steel is simply physically incapable of weighing more. Only with a blade thickness of 1 cm can it reach three kilograms, or with the use of heavy metals as the blade material - which in itself is unrealistic and impractical. Such swords are unknown to either historians or archaeologists.

If a simple knight's sword did not have the weight that was attributed to it in many legends, maybe the two-handed sword was that dinosaur in the camp of the knight's weapon?

A special variety of straight swords, sharply limited in their purpose and method of use, were giants weighing 3.5-6 kg with blades 120-160 cm long - two-handed swords. They can be called swords among swords, because those techniques of possession that are for more short options were desirable and were the only ones possible for a two-handed sword.

The benefit of two-handers was their ability to pierce solid armor (with such a length of the blade, its tip moved very quickly, and the weight provided greater inertia) and long reach (A controversial issue - a warrior with a one-handed weapon had almost the same reach as a warrior with a two-handed sword. This occurred due to the impossibility of full rotation of the shoulders when working with both hands). These qualities were especially important if a footman fought against a horseman in full armor. The two-handed sword was used mainly for duels or in broken formations, as it required a large amount of space to swing. Against a spear, a two-handed sword gave a controversial advantage - the ability to cut the shaft of an enemy’s spear and, in fact, disarm him for a few seconds (until the spearman pulls out the weapon stored for this case, if any) was negated by the fact that the spearman was much more mobile and agile. With a heavy two-handed sword (for example, a European slasher) it was more likely to knock the tip of a spear to the side than to cut it.

Two-handed weapons forged from refining steel, including “flaming blades” - flamberges (flamberges), mainly acted as weapons for mercenary infantry of the 16th century and were intended to fight knightly cavalry. The popularity of this blade among mercenaries reached such an extent that a special bull of the Pope declared blades with several curves (not only flamberges, but also swords with shorter “flaming” blades) to be inhumane, not “Christian” weapons. A warrior captured with such a sword could have his right hand cut off or even killed.

By the way, there was nothing magical in the flamberge’s wavy blade - the curved edge had better cutting properties and when struck, a “saw effect” was obtained - each curve made its own cut, leaving petals of flesh in the wound that died and began to rot. And besides, with glancing blows, the flamberge caused more damage than a straight sword.

What is it? It turns out everything we knew about knight's swords not true?
True, but only partial. It was impossible to control a very heavy sword. Not every warrior had the strength of Conan the Barbarian, and therefore one must look at things more realistically.

More details about the swords of that era can be found at this link.