this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2026
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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.