Quote Originally Posted by Dreadbelly
Flamberges and zweihanders are cool looking swords. I'll agree. Used for breaking up pike formations.

However, being a squat 5 foot 5, there is no way I could comfortably use a sword that is longer than I am tall.

In a museum a long while back ago, I saw a Zweihander that belonged to some commander of the Landsknechte's Doppelsoldners... Did I spell that right? The sword was EIGHTY INCHES LONG! and weighed an awe inspiring 21 pounds. The man that held this sword was said to be seven feet tall.

It should be noted that most Zweis were about 10 to 15 pounds and about 60 to 65 inches long. While I am to short to effectively use one, I am strong enough to hold one single handed and give it a few swings and thrusts.

I dunno. If I was a pikeman, and some giant with an 80 inch long sword was coming after me... I would considering breaking ranks. And I would want to go and change my armor.
Keep in mind that with a sword like that, particularly the Zweihaender and the Flamberges, you wouldn't be doing a lot of swinging. The ricasso of a sword of this nature generally had a leather strap around it so that you could "choke up" on the blade a bit and do some good strong accurate thrusting, or blocking the pikes aside as you ran into their ranks to start stabbing. The Doppelsoeldner were the shock troops of the Landsknechts, and they were very good at it.