Why bother to have a sword?! (Re: Swords: Broad or Dainty)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 45714

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Fyre Wood" <fyredriftwood at y...> wrote:
> 
> Fyre Wood (me) Replies:
> For me to hear that a wizard has a sword is sort of odd. I thought 
> that wands were the only tool needed in the wizarding world. If 
> Gryffindor was so talented, why did he need a sword? Wouldn't a spell 
> work better and be less bloody?
> 
> --Fyre Wood, who is once again causing trouble =)

bboy_mn replies with the utmost respect:

Huuummmm...... You founf it odd that Godric Gryffindor would have a
sword, but you didn't find (or at least comment) it odd the Grey Wolf,
who lives in the 21st Century, has his own broad sword.

Quote Grey Wolf:
"For one thing, it's the sort of sword a 12-year-old could find heavy, 
but still use with certain degree of aptitude: [[ I have real
broadswords in my house, ]] and I know that when I was 12 I had
difficulty to lift them, so that trying to wave it around meant that I
orbited around the sword almost more than the sword orbited around me."

Why on earth would a (presumed) young person living in this modern age
have a REAL broad sword?

Especially for a jeweled sword like the Gryffindor sword (as well as
Grey Wolf's), I think the answer is for the history, the artistry, the
craftsmanship, and the aesthetic beauty. 

Clearly, one does not commonly carry around, not even in the wizard
world, a jeweled sword that is worth a kings randsom. So, I think this
probably was a cerimonial or special formal occassion sword that
Gryffindor worn much the same way he might wear a large jeweled ring,
or other ornamental jewelery.

The fact that it was 'jewelry' and that it was primarily for show,
doesn't imply that he wouldn't have made it a real fully functional
razor sharp sword. 

Just some random thought I had on the subject.

bboy_mn

Off Topic:
By the way, Grey Wolf, why do you have a broad sword? And, if it's not
too personal, I'm wondering what country you are in and/or what
country you are from?