[taxcontrol]

1 and 1/2 rattan sword has very much the same weight as a real sword. There is a very common misconception that real swords are very heavy - they are not. Yes it does take practice to build up the wrists and forearms but there is not that much arm throw with swinging a sword. If you are putting a lot of arm into it, you are telegraphing too much.

A good training regimen can have an average healthy male swinging HARD enough to dent 14 gauge steel in 4 to 6 months

[Ramius]

You’re very right. Even the largest of longswords were still only about three or four pounds.

[Ramius]

I should have added that for practice wasters (wooden swords) there really is only one place that does it right. New Stirling Arms. There’s lots of decent wood wasters out there, but New Stirling is head and shoulders above all of them.

I’ve made it a mission to get at least one of everything they make. I even have the trebuchet. :-)