Thread: Swords!
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Old 06-26-2007, 07:26 PM   #1 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru
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Swords!

Let's discuss edged weapons used in warfare.

An impressive specimen, of course, would be the claymore:


The average two-handed Highlander claymore, according to Wikipedia, had the following specifications:
Quote:
The average claymore ran about 140 cm (55") in overall length, with a 33 cm (13") grip, 107 cm (42") blade, and a weight of approximately 2.5 kg (5.5 lb)
Could you imagine using this in a war? It bloody well weighs 5.5 pounds and is over 4.5 feet long! (Comparatively, an AK-47 weighs around 8 pounds.) And unlike guns, you have to swing the damn thing. This sword was used beginning in the Middle Ages (around 1300) and had been employed in a large capacity up until the late 17th century.

I have a particular interest in swords because I find it fascinating how styles and dimensions vary nation to nation and period to period. Even their use varies. Does anyone have a fancy for any specific sword?
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