How long is a two-handed sword?

Most often 135–170 cm. The grip together with the leather-covered ricasso takes two or even three hands.

Was the zweihander a knight's weapon?

No. It was an infantry weapon, above all of the German Landsknechts in the 16th century. Medieval knights fought with one-handed swords and longswords.

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Two-Handed Swords

The two-handed sword: 135–170 cm long, 2–3 kg in weight and wielded with both hands only. The zweihander, the claymore and the montante — weapons of the 15th and 16th centuries.

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Typical dimensions

A professional’s weapon: Doppelsöldner fought with it in the front rank and beside the colours. Parrying hooks and the ricasso let them grip the blade and work on a shorter lever.

Typical length: 135–170 cm
Typical mass: 2–3 kg
Balance (POB): 12–18 cm
Typology: Zweihänder, spadone, montante
Period: 15th–16th c. · Italian Wars and Landsknechts
Blade section: Stiff diamond, ricasso with parrying hooks

Zweihander, claymore, montante

The zweihander is the sword of the 16th-century German Landsknechts. It has a long grip, an unsharpened, leather-covered section of blade above the guard (the ricasso) and parrying hooks just above it that let the soldier shorten his grip. It was carried by Doppelsöldner — soldiers on double pay.

The Scottish claymore (claidheamh mòr, 'great sword') is recognised by guard arms sloping towards the blade and ending in quatrefoils. The montante is its Iberian cousin: Portuguese treatises of the 17th century describe it as a weapon for fighting several opponents at once and for guarding others.

How much does a two-handed sword weigh

Fighting two-handers usually weighed 2–3 kg. The sword attributed to William Wallace is about 163 cm long and weighs about 2.7 kg — in its present form, after later alterations. Only parade swords carried in processions were heavier, and they were never meant for combat.

Weight is not everything. The point of balance sits 12–18 cm from the guard, and the long grip gives leverage, so a three-kilogram sword moves faster than its weight suggests.

Frequently asked

How much does a two-handed sword weigh?: A fighting two-handed sword typically weighs 2–3 kg at a length of 135–170 cm. Heavier examples are usually parade swords, not weapons.
How long is a two-handed sword?: Most often 135–170 cm. The grip together with the leather-covered ricasso takes two or even three hands.
Was the zweihander a knight's weapon?: No. It was an infantry weapon, above all of the German Landsknechts in the 16th century. Medieval knights fought with one-handed swords and longswords.

Guides

How Much Does a Sword Weigh?A knightly sword weighs 1–1.4 kg, a two-hander 2–3 kg. A weight table for every type of sword and where the myth of heavy medieval swords comes from.