Medieval Longsword
1. The average weight of Medieval Longsword is 3 pounds.
2. The average length of a Medieval Longsword is 48 inches. 12 inch handle (pommel, grip, cross) and 36' blade.
3. This makes it, while longer, the same weight and in some cases lighter then a Japanese Katana. The big difference between the two is the blade. A Katana blade is thick, slightly curved, with one sharpened edge, and is bi metal. Iron back with a steel edge that is harden to around 60 rockwell. A Longsword's blade has two sharpened edges and made with a steel that can flex and is hardened to around 50 rockwell. Deference, while harder the Katana steel has no flex and can shatter and chip. A Longsword will be flex a bit before breaking. If released from the flex it will usually spring back straight.
4. Broadsword, bastard sword, hand and a half sword, longsword, all mean the same thing. The Medieval Longsword was so varied in design and function that things such as blade length, handle length, type of cross guard, type of pommel, weight, blade shape, blade taper, etc could be drastically different. These changes were according to fighting style, personal preference, and even time period, about 200 years give or take. But they are all still the same type of sword, just different names for the same thing.
5. The Europeans had a codified fighting system using complex moves and counters that was taught and past down. It WAS NOT just swinging about a sharpened baseball bat. There even a number of fighting manuals from as early as the 1300s showing how to fight. While a lot of the moves are similar to Asian fighting style, I would like you to keep in mind this DOES NOT mean the Asians influenced the Europeans, but rather that the HUMAN body can only move so many ways. As long as humans are trying to kill one other they will find out the best way to do that with the tools at hand. Most of what the average person knows about sword fighting comes from movies (a medium know for its accuracy). Most European influenced sword fighting movies were just guess work and assumptions based on, sometimes, bad information from a lost fighting art. While most Asian made and influenced movies could draw upon fighting arts that was still being practiced. Hence the difference between the two and why Asian sword arts seem better. Also, I am not saying one is better than the other, just one has been badly represented more than the other.
Men much smarter than me have discussed this and I will be happy to share links to said smarter men.