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[Andeerz]

I can assure you that a dane axe wielded with both hands is quite lightning fast.  For that matter, I'd say most two-handed weapons, when wielded as they should be, are fast and should be to be effective.  Then again, the entire definition of fast is subjective, and we may in fact be in agreement, as what might be considered "slow" for one person may be "fast" by my standards.  So, never mind. 

Here's some cool videos that I think are quite dwarfy that this discussion reminded me of.  Yeah, the guys have to pull their punches, but it's still pretty cool!   Check out how the axe-dude used the axe as an effective grappling and infighting tool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsRt8qVAAF8&feature=related

And some pell-work... unarmored, but still, check out how fast you can move a larger weapon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9UrXT6PXu0

[Rowanas]

The axe video you posted is about the speed I'd expect someone with a Dane axe to go, so if you're calling that fast, that's probably why we disagree

Longswords (between 5 and 6 feet) are pretty fast, yeah, but the Germans used to make some proper swords, 7 or 8 feet in length. I wouldn't expect to see much speed out of them except during the swing, I heard that there was a mighty danish warrior whose every swing made the air shake, a reference to breaking the sound barrier perhaps? I'm not sure if that's even possible...

[Josephus]

Breaking the sound barrier? Hardly. It's just that every swing of his scared the shit out of the individual air molecules so badly they get the shakes.

[Neonivek]

"I'm not sure if that's even possible"

Breaking the sound barrier isn't all that impressive. You can actually do that with a whip.

[Josephus]

Dude, it's a sword. That's like a different beast entirely.

[Farmerbob]

Dude, it's a sword. That's like a different beast entirely.

I could see a claymore style weapon with a wiffle or something at the end to make a strange noise on a fast swing.  Most of the really large swords were used to bludgeon rather than cut, so as long as the noise-maker was balanced, and didn't make the weapon end-heavy, it wouldn't make much difference to the weapon's effectiveness. If you startle the enemy with a strange noise apparently coming from your sword, it might just win you a fight.

Something like a bullroarer.  In fact the bullroarer in various forms was used around the world in ancient times, so I doubt the concept would have been strange to iron age or bronze age warriors, and the idea of adopting the function of one into a weapon is not that far fetched.

[Tehran]

"I'm not sure if that's even possible"

Breaking the sound barrier isn't all that impressive. You can actually do that with a whip.

You know what would be awesome? An adamantine whip.

[Josephus]

Dude, it's a sword. That's like a different beast entirely.

I could see a claymore style weapon with a wiffle or something at the end to make a strange noise on a fast swing.  Most of the really large swords were used to bludgeon rather than cut, so as long as the noise-maker was balanced, and didn't make the weapon end-heavy, it wouldn't make much difference to the weapon's effectiveness. If you startle the enemy with a strange noise apparently coming from your sword, it might just win you a fight.

Something like a bullroarer.  In fact the bullroarer in various forms was used around the world in ancient times, so I doubt the concept would have been strange to iron age or bronze age warriors, and the idea of adopting the function of one into a weapon is not that far fetched.

Well, that may even have been the origin of the Singing Sword legends. Nifty.

[SirHoneyBadger]

A sword that was 7 or 8 feet long would be almost impossible to carry around, let alone use effectively on a battlefield. Swords were made that big, but it was for ceremonial reasons, or to show off the skill of the smith, since properly and consistently annealing blades became more difficult, the longer the blade was.

A blade of about 5 1/2 feet ("the height of a man" back then) was pretty much the uppermost limit for a combat-suitable sword.

The Japanese made swords called "O-dachi" (different from the similary-named "nodachi", or "field sword"), which were some of the longest swords ever made--and some of those probably ranked among the highest quality of very long blades, as well.

Here's an example:

http://japantrip.tripod.com/nodachi/odachi_gallery.html
This webpage has a sword, the "Kibitsu Maru", which is 337 cm in length, with a cutting blade of 226.7 cm, and a weight of 14.5 Kg, which was forged entirely via traditional swordmaking methods (as in, the blade was hand-forged as a single piece--it wasn't welded together, or anything, and the rest of the components were also traditionally made), in the year 1447. It's the longest sword in Japan, and took amazing skill to make.

[Josephus]

First off, legendary necro, sir.

Second, holy crap, how do you swing a 14 kilogram sword? That's probably impossible to use.

[SirHoneyBadger]

That's the point: It's not intended to ever be swung in anger.

[Urist McCheeseMaker]

That's the point: It's not intended to ever be swung in anger.

Or in anything else, I'll bet.

[SirHoneyBadger]

That's the point: It's not intended to ever be swung in anger.

Or in anything else, I'll bet.

Well, it's atleast well-made, and a wonderful historical relic. I'd be proud to carry it in a parade, or somesuch...

[Jayce]

Different dragons,red/blue/gold etc..

[OmnipotentGrue]

Different dragons,red/blue/gold etc..

Of course! It all makes sense now!