ANST - A bit on weapons

[Greg Shetler]

Chris and Elisabeth Zakes wrote:
> 
> >1) If you construct a short axe (say, less than 3 feet long), it is just
> >about impossible to keep it under the weight limit if you use a basket hilt
> >on it.  Similarly, it is just about impossible to make it pass the balance
> >test (head heavier than hilt) if a basket hilt is on the weapon.
> 
> Well, yes. How many axes have *you* seen that had basket hilts?

Of the dozen or so *short* axes like the one I've described, I've seen 5
with hilts.  The point is, the hilt is there solely for protecting the
hand of the wielder who cannot afford gauntlets.  And while the weight
of the hilt will add slightly to the overall force of a blow, it won't
generally contribute much since it is at the hand, rather than in the
haft or head.  Could we come up with something like "weapons under 3
feet can weigh no more than 3 pounds, and weapons longer than 3 feet
must weigh no more than 1 pound per foot"?

The problem exists for very short swords, too - which are very useful
for shieldwall work.

Dux
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