BB, yes and no, Viking weapons are not actually as heavy as they look. I am an expert mostly on the swords as I have spent a lot of time with those in hand, 800- 1800 Gr. These fellows here have some fine articles on the misconception of the exaggerated weight of medieval swords. Two-handed though, but the same goes for our ideas about one-handers.

As I understand it they did not pit the 11th century Samurai against a Viking of the same time, the Katana being present rules that out as they were only invented in the 12th century; in the Viking Age, the Japanese fought largely with shorter stabbing swords. They pitted a 17th-18th century Samurai (who were largely ceremonial anyway which a Viking was definately not), against a Huscarl of the late 10th and first half of the 11th centuries.

Hannibal, European visitors of the 16th century were pretty impressed with them as well, and they would have been quite familiar with violently feuding nobles from their homes. Though of course, Vikings PWN anyone (TiC).

Thanks Viper, but I am a historian, we are well-known to be pretty wordy, if you searcyh my posts here you will see that about once every second month or so I drop a bombload of text.

Now I will go look at some 3rd Century BC belts and swords.