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[-] KokusnussRitter@discuss.tchncs.de 100 points 1 month ago

If she can lift a whole ass sword at that age, fuck it, she earned it.

[-] Soggy@lemmy.world 33 points 1 month ago

They only weigh a couple pounds.

[-] Dhs92@piefed.social 47 points 1 month ago

Do you know how weak little kids are? Most can barely lift a gallon of milk or juice

[-] EffortlessEffluvium@lemmy.zip 57 points 1 month ago

They can lift it long enough and high enough to create maximum spillage

[-] VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world 21 points 1 month ago

Depending on the sword, a gallon of milk is between three and six times the weight of the sword.

[-] SARGE@startrek.website 29 points 1 month ago

(not disagreeing with anyone, simply making observations from experience)

A German zweihander sword weighs around 8lbs, a gallon of milk is around 7. A typical hand and a half sword around 4, and a rapier can be as light as 2lbs easily.

The issue isn't really the weight though in my opinion, it's where the weight is distributed.

A gallon of milk is concentrated in a pretty small package that you can hold close to your own center of gravity.

A sword is long and it's weight, by design, is usually not close to the hilt of the blade. I'm not 100% sure on historic examples, but I try to keep the weight centered around 1/3 up the length of the blade on ones I make.

Practical upshot is that a lighter sword will flop around and stab people easier than a gallon of milk is dropped due to weight.

If you want a child to be accidentally dangerous, give them a sword. If you want them to be dangerous on purpose, give them a fixed blade knife under 7in.

[-] Dupelet@piefed.social 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Either way, that will be an important lesson

[-] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

100% sure on historic examples

The plagerism machine says 2-10 inches, 2 inches is consistent with the 1 historical sword I've held.

Can confirm tho about kids being bad with unbalanced blades, gave my nephew a 3 ft machete to help cut down some banana plants, he couldn't swing it levelly so it got stuck in the plant every time, and he was a danger to anyone within 10 feet.

Maybe try balancing a sword right infront of the guard, maybe it'll feel more nimble.

[-] LunarLoony@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 1 month ago

Little kids are built different in Ankh-Morpork

[-] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago

A gallon of milk is over 7lb

[-] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Unless they are ceremonial.

Giant hungarian longswords, one of them is like two times size of a person_

[-] hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 month ago

Really, REALLY depends on the sword. Lots of them are heavy even for an adult to carry with both hands, let alone one.

[-] Pazintach@piefed.social 3 points 1 month ago

I have several swords. Some are light and nimble, at least for an adult, like my Messers are all around 800g, 90cm-ish in length, with point of balance at around 11-13cm. I think a child should have no problem wielding them if they do it with care. Then there is a 170cm Zweihänder, weighted about 3kg, PoB at 11cm. I have no doubt a child would be able to lift it, but to use it, it would be very hard. If she can use that adult-size-looking-sword in the picture then she definitely earned it. ;)

this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2026
823 points (98.1% liked)

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