I have number of swords of 32” length and while many of them are nice weapons they do feel too long and a little too heavy.

This would have been more than 40% of the average height of this period. Many of the European and North American infantry swords from later periods seem to average 32” in the blade. The cut and thrust sword seems to have remained this size through to the industrial age. average height and Hanweis classic rendition of his Daito (long sword). Human leg length (foot + tibia + femur), sitting height (trunk length + head length) and their proportions (for example the relative leg length in proportion to stature, and the sitting height ratio sitting height/stature x 100, among others) are used as epidemiological markers of risk for overweight (fatness), coronary heart disease. first i would like to ask a couple of questions and hoping that i would get enough help/info to clear my thoughts. Improved protection also made the defensive capabilities of weapons of less importance. A hand-forged Musashi Katana with special proportions as a tribute to Miyamoto. my interest in japanese swords is jsut starting and hoping that it will keep on growing. Weapons got heavier and longer for increased effect on armour. Improved armour would also have been a factor. One reason for this may have been the increasing emphasis on mounted warfare, where greater reach was desirable. Contemporary sword (Heisei 6/1994) Kumamoto Length of cutting edge 72.8cm Curvature 1.8cm Width of base 32.8mm Width of Yokote 24.0mm Thickness of base. In the middle ages in Europe swords got longer, varying from about 33-38”. Like many early medieval populations the Vikings tended to be well exercised and reasonably healthy so were probably at least equal to modern people in average height. Factors that can influence the exact nagasa (blade length) you need are: skill level, height, and use (iaido, kendo, etc.). Viking swords are about 30” in blade length. Having a sword just long enough to defend your ankle seems very logical, but with the possible exception of the Japanese seems to be quite rare.

Katana length proportion to height