this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2026
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If she can lift a whole ass sword at that age, fuck it, she earned it.
They only weigh a couple pounds.
Do you know how weak little kids are? Most can barely lift a gallon of milk or juice
They can lift it long enough and high enough to create maximum spillage
Depending on the sword, a gallon of milk is between three and six times the weight of the sword.
(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.
Either way, that will be an important lesson
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.
Little kids are built different in Ankh-Morpork
A gallon of milk is over 7lb
Unless they are ceremonial.
Huge
Really, REALLY depends on the sword. Lots of them are heavy even for an adult to carry with both hands, let alone one.
https://xkcd.com/37/
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. ;)