The Last Samurai *possible spoilers*

[Gokul43201]

Ummm I too thought the greatswords were really heavy, and in my opinion, an 8 lb anything is quite heavy. I just tried swinging about a bag with two phone books in it, total 5-6 lbs - wasn't especially in control. I mean, I could swing it about and such, but not like I would, say a baseball bat.

 

[Anthony Shore]

Ummm I too thought the greatswords were really heavy, and in my opinion, an 8 lb anything is quite heavy. I just tried swinging about a bag with two phone books in it, total 5-6 lbs - wasn't especially in control. I mean, I could swing it about and such, but not like I would, say a baseball bat.

and a baseball bat is not how you would use this weapon either my friend. yes, for a sword, 5-8 lbs is heavy but, consider that the common misconception is in the 15 - 20 lb range and some have even bragged of 30+ pound weapons.

The Great Swords were not simply a bludgeon with a point...they were not "smashing" weapons weapons for beating up on fully armored knightes, the were trusting weapons with extended reach and blades that were designed to get between the unprotected spots in the armor...like the joints.

This weapon had a balance point along the blade in an area called the "ricasso". This was an unsharpend area above the quillons which could be held by a combatant to enable the weapon to be used like a staff for close quarter fighting. The term "pummeling" comes from the use of the "Pommel" on the end of a sword hilt which could be used for "smashing" at an opponents face or body. The quillons them selves could be used for hooking an opponent or his weapon. in general, the weapon was held one hand at the pommel and one hand at the quillons and was then wielded on a pivot like motion...this made the blade seem much lighter and easier to handle.

 

[Anthony Shore]

minor correction...that was supposed to read "thrusting" weapons

try this link to the article...if it does not get you there...I can forward the article itself.

http://www.tribe.net/tribe/servlet/...&tribeid=48e7887d-af8c-4c65-a2ae-b8e52d77f378

 

[Anthony Shore]

sword weight

Ummm I too thought the greatswords were really heavy, and in my opinion, an 8 lb anything is quite heavy. I just tried swinging about a bag with two phone books in it, total 5-6 lbs - wasn't especially in control. I mean, I could swing it about and such, but not like I would, say a baseball bat.

Well, to be honest, your experiment would not be truly representative of how it would feel to wield an 8 pound great sword. first, the way you were holding the bag of books would not be the same as holding the great sword. when swinging the books, you are just swinging dead weight. A sword, especially the great sword is handled differently! The grip is held with one hand at the pommel and one at the quillons. This provides you with the ability to move the weapon on a "pivot" which in turn makes the weapon easier to control and seemingly lighter because you are working from the balance point and not simply swinging a sharpened pointed dumbbell.

nor was the weapon held like a baseball bat and swung wildly in effort of hoping for a conneting blow. it was a controlled strike in which one had to "jockey" for a good position to make an appropriate strike. If one missed a blade strike, the weapon could be used in an inverted fashion to punch with the pommel and then follow through by using the weapon much like you would a quarter staff and then a finishing blow as if using a spear. This weapon required skill more than strength to use although it was certainly an advantage to be physically fit.

Try this link to the article regarding the great sword which was recently posted on the Electronic Journal of Martial Arts and Sciences.

http://www.ejmas.com/jwma/jwmaframe.htm