UnsightlyForge

I have to agree with Steve. A sword has defining characteristics, define the weapon without the user and i feel you will approximate the primary definition i cited here: Use sword in a Sentence

Hrm, i assume your doing this for research for one project or another, if you are making one yourself you really need to get a book on the subject. That being said i will offer a very very breif note of some features of a sword. All swords are lighter than you think they are... There has never been a practical 30# sword. Traditional hand and a half swords i would say averaged about three pounds. Even claymores or broadswords were at max 6 pounds a heavy blade might as well be a morningstar or mace. Depending on time period and region many sword had a differential quench meaning different parts of the blade were hard while some were softer, a hard blade shatters and a soft blade bends, it's about finding a happy medium. The way a blade is secured to the handle depends on what type of sword, but frequently in european blades it would be peened in the pommel securing the crossguard and grip. Blade geometry as previously metioned is vital to the application and not only to what the blade will hit but in what way it will be swung. Katana swords an excellent example of this, they rely more on technique than a razor edge as is commonly the misconception. You will never find a durable blade that is not solid throughout it's length. You will find blades that are 'hollow ground" which means there is an inward bevel reducing weight and increasing blade strength. You may also find 'fullers' sometimes refered to as blood grooves (although that is not their purpose) they are channels either pounded or ground into the blade before heat treat, they increase grain strength and decrease weight. Now these are simple a few tiny facets, if you want more info you will need to be more specific.