I couldn’t think of any grand writing tips, fun stories or spiritual thoughts today, so I’m going to appeal to fantasy geekiness. Please accept this epic blog as my epic apology.
We’re talking about the biggest swords ever used in combat, starting from largest to smallest.
5. Claymore
A good claymore is typically somewhere around 4.5-5 feet long. These are the great two-handed swords of legend, one of them well know for being used by William Wallace. They were often used to settle disputes in single combat. These were so epic that they were passed down from generation to generation. That’s pretty epic.
4. Zweihänder / Great Sword
If your sword is so awesome that it’s working title is “great sword”, it’s probably a great sword. And if it’s known as one of the greatest great swords, then this sword is just incredible. The Zweihänder measured anywhere from 4.6 ft to 6 ft long. And they were used to cut off the heads off of pikes. So there’s that.
3. Odachi
The odachi is the only Eastern sword on this list. Big swords were mostly a European thing, to be honest. These katana-like swords were typically 5-6 ft long and were so deadly that they were banned from combat after a while. But whether they’re legal in combat or not, they’re still dang awesome swords.
2. William Wallace’s Sword
Having Scottish blood in me, I cannot help but place this on the list. It is only above odachi because there are odachi blades that are smaller than this sword. It measures 5’4″ (163 cm) in total, with a 4’4″ (132 cm) blade. You have to be one big man to cary around a sword that big. (Unless you’re Zenti from the saga I’m currently writing. Then you can be 4’10”, or 147 cm, and still carry around a massive blade about 7 cm bigger than his. But that’s a story for another time.) In the end, this is just a beast sword. Just pray its end never goes in you.
The Sword of Pier Gerlofs Diona
This is by far the greatest sword in history, so much so that it puts Sephiroth from the video game Final Fantasy VII to shame. This man who wielded it was about seven feet tall, and so it would make sense that he would have a large sword. But you still have to be one berserker of a man to carry a 213 cm long sword. For you Americans, that’s SIX FOOT NINE INCHES. And yes, he used it in war. Constantly. For a slightly gruesome fact, it was able to take out several men in one shot. So, kudos to you, Pier Gerlofs Diona. That’s some talent right there.
There’s the end of my rant on big swords. Hopefully, I can come up with some better content soon.
Gabriel to Earth 