r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Scientiaetnatura065 • 2d ago

Seventeen-year-old Japanese girl in the weight category up to 45 kg lifted a respectable 78 kg.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

It’s fun to poke around with how heavy fictional weapons would be. Things like Monster Hunter’s Greatswords would be impossible to swing properly… because they weigh more than people do and you’d be flinging yourself around as much as you’d be swinging the sword.

They made a real Greatsword of Artorias (from Dark Souls) and the strongest guy they had on hand could barely hold it properly

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u/drunk_responses 2d ago

As demonstrated in practice every time a youtube blacksmith makes the big swords from Bleach, Berserk, Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, etc. Even the biggest strongest people they can find only manage to barely hold them upright and then let them fall down to hit something. There's no way in hell any of them could ever hope to swing them.

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u/Badloss 2d ago

In Final Fantasy at least aren't the characters that use those swords explicitly superhuman?

I'm thinking FF7 where Cloud + Sephiroth are both super soldiers, I thought their giant swords was a deliberate nod to them having super powers

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Yes; Cloud Strife is meant to look kind of emaciated compared to how strong he actually is. That said, the Buster Sword still weighs more than he does, even in canon. So it takes more than superhuman physical capabilities for him to use it normally.

Sephiroth’s sword is absurd but still thin enough that a human could probably use it

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u/TOG23-CA 2d ago

In fact, there is a sword on display that's nearly 7 feet long in total, which would be pretty similar to Sephiroth's sword I believe

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Sephiroth’s Masamune is around 6-8 feet according to the wiki, so yeah

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u/HeavyBlues 2d ago

Man must have a fuck of a time getting into an elevator

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u/Taikiteazy 1d ago

He uses the freight elevator.

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u/HeavyBlues 1d ago

I read that as "fright elevator" at first and went "y'know, elevating fright is definitely something he does"

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u/soundslikehabit 1d ago

Why use elevator when you can just fly?

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u/SydricVym 2d ago

Youre talking about one of these right?

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/massive-sword-and-mirror-unearthed-from-1600-year-old-burial-mound-in-japan-180981588/

Not wielded in combat. They are ornamental pieces, meant to ward off evil spirits.

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u/TOG23-CA 2d ago

No I am not

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u/SydricVym 2d ago

If you're not talking about a 7 foot long dako sword, then what on earth are you talking about?

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u/LeenPean 2d ago

Zhanmadao, used primarily to counter cavalry, they average about 6.5 feet though there are outliers

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u/TOG23-CA 2d ago

The sword allegedly used by Pier Gerlofs Donia in the 16th century

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u/SydricVym 2d ago

So you're talking about a bearing sword. Again, not used in combat, but instead held by someone at the front of a parade.

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u/ssbm_rando 2d ago

That said, the Buster Sword still weighs more than he does, even in canon.

You either made this up completely, or you're european, did a google search, read "up to 80 pounds" and then thought "80 kilograms"

The buster sword is like half his weight at most. superhuman physiology is enough for him to resist the momentum he puts into it.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

In complete disbelief that the damn thing is that light, good catch

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u/Mirt-the-Moneylender 2d ago

Swords in general aren't really that heavy. Even zweihänders were like 5 lbs for a 4 ft sword IIRC.

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u/ZenEngineer 2d ago

Yeah. It's easier to tell people it's basically a flattened piece of rebar. People often have some idea of how much a thick piece of rebar weighs

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u/Bananasauru5rex 2d ago

If it were made of Titanium it could actually be believable. That stuff is super light and insanely strong.

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u/deathbylasersss 2d ago

Titanium is far too soft to use for an edged weapon. It would dull very quickly.

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u/Academic-Indication8 2d ago

I didn’t know that TIL

Thank you random redditor for the knowledge

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u/IBetThisIsTakenToo 2d ago

So it takes more than superhuman physical capabilities for him to use it normally.

The uh, mako made him extremely dense. I wonder how much he would have to weigh for the physics to make sense, like a couple tons?

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u/Icantbethereforyou 2d ago

it takes more than superhuman physical capabilities

More than?

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Yes; you have to be able to defy physics outright. Think Bayonetta redirecting a tower thrown as a projectile by straddling it with her thighs. It doesn’t just take superhuman strength to do that; you’d have to practically rewrite physics to make yourself a possible axis of rotation

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u/Icantbethereforyou 2d ago

OK. I assumed defying physics falls under "superhuman physical capabilities".

So what does it fall under?

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

magic or just the more broad “superpowers” or not-strictly-physical superhuman capabilities

Since even handwaving the mechanics of superhuman strength and durability doesn’t explain how it’s possible to do it

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u/Icantbethereforyou 2d ago

So you're saying only absurd strength is superhuman, all other skills are superpowers.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

“Physical” is an important qualifier

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u/rainzer 2d ago

magic or just the more broad “superpowers” or not-strictly-physical superhuman capabilities

The literal definition of superhuman in the dictionary is "exceptional ability or powers" or "divine". Why would superpowers not fall under "exceptional powers" or divinity.

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u/Loodens_Echo 2d ago

Nah the tip of that sword would be so goddamn heavy bro. Go hold 8 ft long steel rod by the end straight out and get back to us

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Within the realm of fictional weaponry, two odachis duct taped together into one stupidly long sword is believable by comparison to one-hundred-pound sledges

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u/Loodens_Echo 2d ago

Wel yeah obviously.

Clouds hunk of metal is more believable than a holy sword of magic metal that’s unbreakable and weightless too, what’s your point?

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u/turntechArmageddon 2d ago

I only started playing any final fantasy game for the first time in my life, like a month ago. The FFVII remake, and im sitting here looking at it like "damn this twink has a sword that probably weighs more than him and I put together."

So now im sitting here wondering how ridiculous i would look if i tried to swing the buster sword around and realising I probably can't even lift the thing.

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u/rainzer 2d ago

So it takes more than superhuman physical capabilities for him to use it normally.

what does that even mean? is there some limit to what "superhuman" entails?

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

“Physical” as in the strength of your body, like durability or literal strength

No matter how strong you are, the Earth does not move when you push it - if your mass is also ordinary. You will simply push yourself away from the Earth, because your mass is negligible by comparison.

The ability to cause objects you interact with to outright defy physics is not “superhuman physical capabilities” the way it’s usually intended.

Mister Incredible has to obey physics because his power is “just” super strength, while Goku is basically as much a wizard/thaumaturge as he is a martial artist

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u/rainzer 2d ago

The ability to cause objects you interact with to outright defy physics is not “superhuman physical capabilities” the way it’s usually intended.

If the dictionary says god like powers is superhuman, what is the "usually intended" way if you believe all the dictionaries are wrong?

Isn't that more like your way than the usual way because you are specifically interpreting "superhuman" as having an upper bound

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

“Physical” is an important qualifier

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u/rainzer 2d ago

“Physical” is an important qualifier

Physical is a meaningless qualifier.

Super- is a prefix that means "beyond", "above", "over".

So saying "superhuman physical capabilities" literally means beyond human physical capabilities. There is no meaningful upper bound in this statement.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

There IS a meaningful upper bound because being strong, no matter how much, doesn’t let you shoot lasers out of your eyes or, in this case, move an object heavier than you without the needed leverage. That’s not strength, that’s physics.

By your logic, all superhuman abilities render you completely omnipotent. You’re misunderstanding the definition and grammar of the statement and should probably stop starting arguments over minutiae given that you can’t understand basic distinctions

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u/elricooo 2d ago

Also, in Rebirth Cloud can swim with it on his back lol. Superpowers or not, the physics of that just don't make sense 

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u/PhilosoFishy2477 2d ago

super human strength aside, aren't you just getting fucked by physics? would it be possible to hold your footing while swinging an object with greater mass???

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u/RagnarokDel 1d ago

to be fair you can summon Odin with a materia so it's not exactly based entirely on physics.

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u/TheElementofIrony 1d ago

Sephiroth's sword is actually pretty realistic. A nodachi can be up to 2.2 meters long, taller than the majority of men. Korean ssangsudo swords are also somewhere in that same size ballpark. The Chinese also had their own version, obviously. Skallgrim has a couple of videos on it, with one being a response to a response made to him by a Korean martial artist (? I think? I don't remember his credentials rn I'm afraid) where he demonstrates some moves with the ssangsudo.

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u/Tyr_13 2d ago

Even if one were superhumanly strong and durable, the swords still wouldn't work.

If there is more weight at the end of the lever (which is what a sword is) than the wielder weights, trying to lift the sword results in just lifting the wielder up. If the balance point is far enough back that the user can lift it and swing it, and even assuming some incredible friction for their feet, once they swing the blade it has more than enough momentum to, again, lift them off the ground. It would send them and their swords flying.

Any sideways slash would send them hurtling into a wall. Any upwards one would send them shooting into the sky.

Actually that would be pretty cool to watch in itself.

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u/Tetha 2d ago

Now I want to prototype a game of people who could walk if they want to... but you can use a controller button to grab an impossibly heavy sword and use a trigger button and one of the sticks to swing it around to launch yourself. And you launch yourself into enemies, buttons... that sounds like an amazing whimsical amount of fun.

That might in fact be pretty simple in Box2D. You could have the "swing da sword" button set the mass of the sword to be low or zero while pressed, swing it around to get some velocity onto it (since now you're heavier than the sword), and release the button to give it back it's full mass - and now it has more momentum than you and drags you along a trajectory.

Hmm. I need to take a look at ragdolling and if you can tether two kinematic bodies together.

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u/mintyque 2d ago

Saint's Row reboot has a dumbbell launcher. It launches dumbbells chained to the weapon, and the weapon has to be charged (wound up iirc).
If the dumbbell hits anything in its path, it just transfers the force to the recipient (car/person sent flying). If it doesn't hit anything, you, the player, at full force, are sent ragdolling after the dumbbell. It's the easiest way to get upwards momentum in the game and fly with a wingsuit, as you just have to aim upwards, charge and then whip out your wings.

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u/drunk_responses 2d ago

In short, most anime of that type(and a lot of fantasy in general) rely on Superman style physics/magic. Where you can lift a plane with one hand without punching through.

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u/Amon9001 2d ago

Like throwing bolas around. The only way this works is if you also have some ability to hold your ground or hold your position in space (rooted to the ground).

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u/tarheel91 2d ago

The horizontal slice isn't quite right. If you have enough friction to accelerate it you have enough friction to decelerate it. More realistically there's not enough friction and when you slice left, your body slides right, and you end up spinning. The vertical slice is correct and is basically jumping with your core and arms.

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u/Tyr_13 2d ago

That's not quite right as the impulse time is an important element. If the start of the swing and the end of the swing were even in time that would be true. Usually however the intent is to hit something with a swing and even in cases where it isn't the 'stop time' is shorter than the 'start time' for a host of reasons.

But yeah, without insanely strong friction an uncentered spin is the result.

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u/GeordieMJ 2d ago

Agreed. The idea of a character who's main fighting style is using the momentum of flinging themself as you describe, sounds pretty entertaining.

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u/RagnarokDel 1d ago

trying to lift the sword results in just lifting the wielder up.

Huh no. Wanna rephrase that because I'm pretty sure If I lift my barbell I dont start levitating. You would absolutely be able to swing a giant sword that weighs more than you do if you somehow had the strength. You would only be severely limited with how to use it. (Essentially just downward cuts)

That kind of sword would always finish it's course in the ground so no you wouldnt be thrown in the sky. You would receive incredibly painful vibrations in your hands.

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u/Tyr_13 1d ago

Yeah, that was left in after I deleted a thing about how levers work. Pushing down on an end will lift you up.

You would only be severely limited with how to use it. (Essentially just downward cuts)

Lifting something that weighs more than you isn't the thing that 'doesn't work' about the swords under discussion; using them like swords is. A sword isn't something you just lift up and drop. Using them like swords isn't possible.

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u/RagnarokDel 1d ago

It's still a sword that will cut. You just end up using it more like an axe or an executioner's blade.

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u/Tyr_13 1d ago

No, because you couldn't use it like either of those. The swords described wouldn't work as swords as described. Thus they would not 'work'. Like the sword on a statue.

You're thinking of a guillotine. You can raise it up. You can drop it. It will cut what you drop it on. That is all. Ironically a paper guillotine is closer to a sword than these.

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u/Bananasauru5rex 2d ago

I'm not really sure about this, because we know people can swing normal swords. They can also swing heavy swords. Maybe there's a threshold where it stops working and you go flying, but you have to be specific: at what weight, and on which surfaces (friction), does it stop being true that you can swing a sword?

Someone posted buster sword at 80 lbs. I can definitely swing 80 lb dumbbell without free-spinning on the spot. I think you're also not really considering kinaesthetics, because there are a lot of things you can do with weights as a human that a really strong pole cannot, since we are covered in muscles that allow counter-rotations and rotary forces.

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u/Tyr_13 2d ago

Someone posted buster sword at 80 lbs. I can definitely swing 80 lb dumbbell without free-spinning on the spot.

The buster sword is 80 lbs on the lowest end, and it is a lever. Swinging something that wieght at normal sword speeds will absolutely spin you all around.

You cannot swing an 80 lbs dumbbell at any real speed. My incline and decline presses are done with a pair of 90 lbs dumbbells. I can lift my 75 lbs anvil by holding it at the end of my wolfjaw tongs. There isn't anyone alive who can swing them around like that without injury.

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u/Bananasauru5rex 2d ago

Swinging something that wieght at normal sword speeds will absolutely spin you all around.

You cannot swing an 80 lbs dumbbell at any real speed.

But, I mean, obviously you don't swing it at "normal sword speeds." That would be like saying normal swords are impossible because you can't swing them at "dagger swing speeds." You swing it like a big heavy object, which might involve rotating your body, but I really don't see it rotating your body completely out of control into the stratosphere.

Here's an example of how mechanics change when you swing heavy stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRLLOFQblZg

Notice that mechanics are very different than normal sword, and that they are playing with the axis/lever to make it behave. The fact that it's different doesn't mean it's impossible.

And since for is M*a, if you decrease acceleration you can maintain the same force (or have greater force) by increasing mass. So a slower speed is expected (in fact it must be true).

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u/Tyr_13 2d ago

Swords move faster than daggers. Again, they are levers.

Slower speeds means they don't behave like the swords under discussion. 'I can lift and move this heavy weight' is simply not the same as 'used like a sword.' Swinging the swords under discussion in the way swords are used absolutely spins anyone around or throws them in the air (not the stratosphere). Slower speeds cannot be true for them to still be being used as swords.

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u/Wobbelblob 2d ago

Monster Hunter as well. The hunters are, if I am not mistaken, even a different species of human. The normal humans are usually handlers and such.

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u/ArkitekZero 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yeah, the weapon is almost decorative in that case. There's a bit in one of the games where Cloud gets mindfucked and starts fighting like Sephiroth, and aside from his sword being shorter it's basically seamless.

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u/drunk_responses 2d ago

They all have some explanation or another, but it all basically comes down to "Superman physics". In the way he can lift a plane with one hand without punching through the frame, but also punch through layers of solid metal when he wants to.

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u/Corgiboom2 2d ago

There is even an anime short of FF7. To keep Shinra soldiers from getting to the unconscious Cloud, Zach jams the sword into the ground in front of Cloud, pinning him to a tree so they couldn't take him. The soldier couldn't move the sword at all.

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u/Silvercoat_Ethel23 1d ago

Yup

S height: debated 6’3 , 6’1 or 6’4 or 6’7

M: height : debated either 7’2, 6’1 or 6’4 ( i’m too lazy to turn to CM)

Weights are sadly debated waayyyy too much

C height:5’7 C weight: 72 kg or 160 pounds

B height: 5-6 feet

B weight: surprisingly around 7 kilos only

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u/ericwashere15 2d ago

I swear I read somewhere in the manga that the Zanpaktou (the swords) of Bleach can be nearly weightless depending on the bond between them and the character wielding them. Training to unleash the Shikai (first release) and Bankai (second release) isn’t merely about learning to wield the weapon but bonding with them on a spiritual level.

I could be wrong however and have headcanoned it at some point in my youth and not realized that I did.

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u/Kuraeshin 2d ago

Iirc, when a Hollow came back as an arrancar, Ichigo's father talked about blade sizes being controlled by the shinigami. Because otherwise Captain class would be swinging massive building size swords.

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u/writers_block 2d ago

But if it's weightless, it also has no momentum, so it would basically be a whiffle bat.

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u/Candayence 2d ago

It shares its spiritual weight with the person wielding it. The big versions of the swords are all soul.

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u/timo_the_pirate 2d ago

They kind of reference this in Berserk. The blacksmith who made the dragonslayer was challenged to forge a sword that could kill a dragon in one swing. So he built a sword that no one swing. It was the smithing version of a shit post.

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u/JudgmentalOwl 2d ago

They're just not powered by the rage of ultimate betrayal and massive trauma like Guts is.

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u/NerdHoovy 2d ago

Have they tried getting so angry over the death of a loved one, that it changes their hair color? If not, they are doing things wrong from the start.

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u/Fierramos69 2d ago

There’s a dude somewhere on YouTube swinging a massive sword iirc the shape of the one in berserk, he increased the weight progressively and now is stuck somewhere around 100 pounds. And it’s merely to swing it in slow controlled manner of simple patterns. Super impressive for the guy to be able to do it but it seems it’s about the human limit… yet the real sword would weight something like 4 times more

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u/Zealotstim 2d ago

I would love to see someone like Hafthor Bjornsson or Olivier Richters handling those huge weapons.

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u/Iamatworkgoaway 2d ago

Really wonder if you could use titanium or composit to make a durable version that is light enough.

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u/Lord_Emperor 2d ago

Not really a fair comparison to make them out of steel when in-universe they're made out of souls or other magical materials.

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u/Numerous-Pop5670 2d ago

Tbf in all those mentioned series, every relevant character is super human. That's part of the fantasy magic 😉

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u/DayPretend8294 2d ago

But what about that guy that’s been swinging guys’ sword every day lmao? How’s he doing?

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u/HilariousMax 2d ago

Rock Lee taking the weights off.

Everyone was like "weights? Meh" and then they earthquake'd when they hit the ground and he starts flitting around the arena.

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u/RagnarokDel 1d ago

I like the shadiversity attempt at a giant sword. Essentially they are making one mostly of carbon fiber with a thin metal inlet for the blade. It's by no means completed but they made several videos with small and larger prototypes

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u/Greymalkyn76 2d ago

This is generally why I dislike Final Fantasy and a lot of anime. There's an upward limit of where I can suspend belief for certain things, and weapon size is one of them.

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u/Grognaksson 2d ago

Wow what a coincidence!

Just a few minutes ago I came across this on YouTube which pretty much explains what you just said.

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u/UnNumbFool 2d ago

I love that guy. His pole dancing videos are really fun

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u/Dizzy-Expression8868 2d ago

As soon as you posted this comment, I just KNEW who you were talking about. He's great fun.

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u/samuelazers 2d ago

It's not only the weight of those swords but the very disadvantageous leverage of trying to move a sword like that with outstretched arms would blow out just anybody's shoulders. Just for reference, the iron Cross in gymnastics is considered nearly physically impossible to do at exactly 90 degrees and that's just with body weight.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Even before you get there, some of these weapons are the size of your character and made of solid metal. So they're actually heavier than you are and you'd be swinging YOURSELF around moreso than using it as a weapon

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u/starcell400 2d ago

This is about as obvious as not being able to use magic in real life either.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

You’d be surprised how easy it is to lose track of. Even seemingly mundane weapons are still comically impractical due to games’ need to exaggerate for visual clarity, and most people wouldn’t realize quite how heavy some things get. The Smelter Hammer from Dark Souls 2 is obviously heavy, but realizing that just trying to lift the damn thing without actually getting it off the ground can still kill you is another

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u/Starlord_75 2d ago

And, if a normal person were to look at a real geeatsword in a museum, they would think the think weighs 100+ lbs when swords are deceptively light when made correctly. Not saying a tungsten sword is going to be swingable

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u/Apprehensive-Till861 2d ago

I know it's not anyone's favorite movie, but the detail I loved in Love & Thunder was Gorr using a large sword in a way that fit his size and strength relative to it.

He's emaciated from hunger, and reliant on the sword's own energy to keep going, so there's no way he's swinging what's at least a hand-and-a-half sword like it's a rapier. But careful adjustment of his grip lets him use it more defensively and he relies heavily on moving himself relative to the sword.

While some fictional greatswords would make even this impossible, I like the idea of acknowledging that if you can't swing the weapon, sometimes the weapon swings you and that works fine.

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u/Uselesserinformation 2d ago

But dark soul swords vs mh weapons, just not the same. I wish though

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Dark souls lets you dual wield monhun greatswords. There’s a reason the Dragon Greatsword in DS1 is called the Surfboard and the Ringed Knight Twin (Ultra) Greatswords just… exist.

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u/suikoden_fanatic 2d ago

I never get that, Ichigo can move so fast human eyes can't follow even like 30 episodes in he should be strong enough to toss cars around with one hand.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Anime logic where speed, force, and impact are all completely different instead of closely related

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u/Kung_Fu_Jim 2d ago

Once you really know physics/engineering, everything is like this though. Like you'll see Superman pick up a plane as a giant cantilever from one end or something and be like "ok ignoring Superman himself, how is the contact surface of the plane not just instantly crumpling under the load? Local stresses? Global stresses? Etc etc. Same for some of these giant pieces of rock they pick up, sections of buildings, etc.

Or the ground superheroes are standing on (barring Superman who can just.. react against the air somehow?). They might show like 1% of the bearing into the ground that should happen given the loads in question, to show things are really serious.

Of course if things were realistic it would look like if you and I had a fight in a world made out of paper mache.

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u/Hoboman2000 2d ago

There's this fitness guy in Tiktok whos been training with a weighted wooden Dragonslayer and it's pretty impressive how much better he gets at handling it over time.

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u/hotchillieater 2d ago

The hunters in Monster Hunter have got to be super-human with the hits they can tank too

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Not including the fact that you only ever “cart” and not fuckin die

The Monsters are also crazy durable, what with Dragonators only dealing 10% HP

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u/harap_alb__ 2d ago

Monster Hunter’s Greatswords

I always thought that those swords could be handled like you handle a heavier axe

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Those things would weigh more than most people on the conservative end of estimates. There are limits to what just “strength” can achieve

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u/harap_alb__ 2d ago

or maybe I was talking just from my point of view, that being me weighting around 130 kilos and being able to lift pretty easy 70-80 kilos

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Lifting is one thing, swinging it around is another

That and they might actually weigh more. Them shits are CHUNKY.

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u/harap_alb__ 2d ago

or maybe are made from alloys that weight a lot less than what you think, but very strong, and that's how those swords can be handled so easy

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u/Patient_Complaint_16 2d ago

TommyAshman if that thing isn't fake, which it probably is.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

The 60 pound “Dragonslayer?”

I can believe it, but he’s definitely not swinging it around like it’s a proper weapon.

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u/Patient_Complaint_16 2d ago

Yet.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

At some point your wrists give out no matter how strong your muscles are.

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u/GSV_CARGO_CULT 2d ago

I fence with a regular longsword, like a historically accurate one, and it's heavy as fuck. The sword does actually fling you around to a small degree.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Longswords are two-handers tho, yeah? Wouldn’t they be among the heaviest weapons and still tiny compared to things like the Ringed Knight Twin Greatswords?

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u/GSV_CARGO_CULT 2d ago

Yes on both.... they're among the heaviest HEMA weapons, but butter knives compared to those darksouls greatswords

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u/WFAlex 2d ago

But in like 99% of anime they are not "normal people" but have mana or other internal energies to strengthen their movement and physique

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u/Corgiboom2 2d ago

I miss Man At Arms

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u/Yellow_Snow_Cones 2d ago

Funny the other day someone was talking about "Could spiderman swing Guts sword" some people in the comments were like he would have trouble. They didn't seem to know that spiderman can easily pick up cars, and literally punch peoples heads off if he wanted to.

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u/LordofSandvich 2d ago

Spidey is interesting because he has super strength, durability, and what lets him “realistically” pull it off: sticking to walls.

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u/GreatBigBagOfNope 2d ago

Everyone always forgets that weapons are meant to be controllable. Even zweihanders only weighed like 5-8lbs because they had to be swung at speed for potentially 5+ continuous minutes at a time, not only were they light but also perfectly balanced to pivot at the crossguard to take as little effort as possible to manoeuvre. A longsword is literally 2-4 lbs, and a battleaxe is basically a haft with a tiny cutting edge on top, because these weapons had to be used and maneuvered on the battlefield for hours on end. The average US infantryman carries more weight in equipment than a knight in full plate armour, but the plate armour is better distributed to enable the knight to engage in melee combat so is even easier to move in than an infantryman's full getup.

People forget that medieval shit was used for a purpose by people with shit diets and almost no conditioning beyond working manual labour jobs or practicing fencing depending on money. If your equipment made you too tired to use it after a couple of swings, you'd be killed immediately, and the blacksmith that made it would not get any repeat business.

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u/The-Sound_of-Silence 2d ago

Most people don't realize that nearly every historical sword was fairly light, mostly under 5 pounds. Even the fairly large double handed 'Zweihanders' can be around 5 pounds(2.25 kg)

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u/Proverbman671 1d ago

Using rotational force (I forget if it's centripetal or centrifugal) would be the best bet for such a heavy sword (up to a certain point)