Hi guys,

Need some help here. On another forum, no not that forum, I was talking to a fella about weights of swords.
I said that some baskethilted broadswords were in the 2 1/2 pound range. He said that he's used swords forever
and that was way to heavy for a "single hander" :wtf: Can anyone give me references for weights of baskethilted swords.

thanks so much,

dave

I think they were generally a bit heavier than that, actually. Paul Wanger says 2.6 to 2.9 pounds in his book on George Silver. Many replicas with compex hilts get up to 3 pounds, such the A&A Town Guard Sword and some of the Armour Class baskethilts.

Yeah, that's strange. Even without a baskethilt many single handed swords were 2.5 pounds or more. If someone asked me what the standard weight of a singe handed sword was, I'd probably answer that it was about 2.5 pounds.

EDIT: Whoa, interesting graph. I'd love to see the 1.2 pound or the 4.5 pound baskethilt - though I sure wouldn't want either one in a fight.

Interesting. I couldn't tell by looking at them which was heavier and which was lighter! The basket is clearly more robust on the heavier one, though. What a range...

I handled a sword identical to the second "English Horseman's Saber" -- Actually a Backsword, by Samuel Harvey. It was intended for service, for actual battlefield use. And yet it felt like a boat anchor. One of the worst handling antique swords I've ever handled. Heavy and dead in the hand.
But I'd say most antique basket hilt swords I've handled have averaged around 2.5 lbs -- some heavier, some lighter.

2.5lbs average basket weight is probably close... I think Vince Evans came up with a similar figure at one time on an old SFI thread.

Antique baskets I've handled have ranged from one that's just under 2 lbs (1.8 or 1.9 lbs) to one that's right about 3 lbs.

--ElJay

For the fun of it .....

34 examples (in Neumann's book) have a combined weight of 76.7 lbs. which would average out at 2.2558 lbs. apiece !

1 @ 1.3
1 @ 1.8
5 @ 2.0
7 @ 2.1
2 @ 2.3
5 @ 2.4
2 @ 2.5
4 @ 2.6
2 @ 2.8
3 @ 3.0
1 @ 3.1
1 @ 4.4
_______

34 @ 76.7 lbs.

I stink at math, so feel free to shoot holes in my tally ;-) Mac

Hi guys,

thanks so much for all the help. I knew that I wasn't a dummy and I'd done my homework!
I just wanted to double check before continuing my conversation with this fella.

Hey Mac, whats the name of Neumann's book.

thanks,

dave

I can't believe one weighted in at 1.3#

duh, thanks Nathan :blush:

dave

L to R : 2.5 lbs., 1 lb. 8-1/2 oz., 3 lbs. 2-3/4 oz. (blade shortened sum 6" inches +/-)

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Wow! thanks Mac-
Those photos do give you a pretty good perspective on weights. do you know if its mainly the blade or hilt or
a combination of both?

thanks,

dave

Thanks Mac!

Pretty much what I thought. The horseman basket/blade does look thick. I've been away for awhile so I'll just
ask, are those yours now?

thanks,

dave

Hi Dave

Yer welcome, laddie !

Aye, they be caretaker Mac's !
I picked up the Irish hilted backsword via Rob at Lion Gate Arms & Armour,Inc..
The 19th century 'Regimental' broadsword via Freeman Auction House, during one of their "live auctions" on Ebay !
The English horseman backsword was an Ebay grab !

Mac

A few more ....

Mac

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Just to add a few more mean & lean baskethilts to the mix ....

Awhile back, Vince had sent me some weight figures on a few original Scottish baskethilts that a friend had let him study !
They weighed in at :

2 lbs. 7-1/4 oz.(Stirling hilt broadsword)
2 lbs. 1-1/4 oz.(Stirling hilt broadsword)
1 lb. 15-1/2 oz. (Stirling S-hilt broadsword)
2 lbs. - 1/2 oz. (Stirling backsword)
And an original WAS broadsword at approx. 2 lbs. 10-3/4 oz. ( figuring about 2 oz. for grip & capstan)

Mac