

In the [Berserk](http://berserk.wikia.com/) manga, given the enormous amount
of chapters dealing with [Guts'](http://berserk.wikia.com/wiki/Guts) over-
sized sword, the [Dragonslayer](http://berserk.wikia.com/wiki/Dragonslayer), I
didn't try finding a pic that clearly shows the sword hanging slantingly along
his dorsum. Neither did I notice the following issue before completing all the
available episodes.

I'm intrigued by how exactly Guts was always able to wield Dragonslayer
without at first having any difficulty from the hooks holding it, unhinges it
to be more precise to say. If we assume having his arm fully stretched upward
and trying to displace Dragonslayer from its stationary position, then _prima
facie_ the distance between his grip (not of sword's) and shoulders cannot be
_greater than or equal to_ the length of the blade of the Dragonslayer.

It is this impracticability that made me to request here, a picture of Guts
along with the Dragonslayer featuring his dorsum without any cape, so as to
understand the truth. While a picture will speak the answer by itself, a
context around it or without the picture itself may help too.

Edit: On a side note, these pictures of Guts somewhat shows the hinge which
holds off Guts' sword. But I can't fathom how then he could use the sword
instantly when the sword needs to be unhooked every time to slay the enemy.

[![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BMYSY.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BMYSY.png)
[![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PSiwo.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PSiwo.png)

(Click image to enlarge it)


CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-18T18:57:36.780
20941
2019-11-16T07:14:39.360
2015-08-03T00:40:31.650
13126
13126
question
berserk
Feasibility of Guts using the Dragonslayer


So if I am understanding the question correctly, you are wondering why he has
no issues with unhinging the sword from his back and getting it into battle
position.

Let me instantly break the bad news, in real life this would not have been
possible. And it falls under the [BFS
trope](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BFS).

Even so people tend to want to investigate how 'impossible' it would be to
wield such a weapon. And which real life weapon would be most comparable to
this. They came to the following numbers:

  * Guts is roughly [1.90 meters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Berserk_characters#Characteristics) high
  * The Dragon slayer is roughly the same [height](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Berserk_characters#Equipment) (the size is a bit variable through out the series)
  * The blade most likely weights about 220 pounds or 99.8KG. Although on the [wiki](http://berserk.wikia.com/wiki/Dragonslayer#Trivia), it has been stated that it should be around 400 pounds, and some reddit user calculated it to be around [625 pounds](https://www.reddit.com/r/Berserk/comments/2c6prz/to_put_into_perspective_how_crazy_gutss_sword_is) or 283.5KG

So coming back to your question, to displace the sword, assuming that Guts and
the blade are equal in height and the blade weighs 220 pounds. Trying to pull
it with a stretched arm length of 0.95m (it is said that the length of
fingertip to fingertip is roughly your body length)

(not sure how to do the maths from here, but feel free to edit it in)

And to round up the post, the closest resembling sword to that of Guts', would
be a two handed [ceremonial sword](http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html)
which only resembles the blade in length [(199cm /
78.3inch)](http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html) and weighing much less
[(5.42KG / 11.9 pounds)](http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html)


CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-18T20:07:39.937
20942
2016-09-02T12:10:32.380
2016-09-02T12:10:32.380
1458
1458
20941
answer


Looking at the images given, I can't imagine his sword to be any less than 180
kg, even if it was high-carbon steel it should weigh more than that. Also,
since he doesn't unsheathe basically any of his swords and just keeps it hung
on a couple of loops by the crossguard (if I remember correctly), he doesn't
need extreme reach to use it but only about a foot or two to get the thicker
base of the blade free.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-27T22:48:39.793
42514
2017-09-27T22:48:39.793
35858
20941
answer


The sword is not held by hinges, but with a hook at the top that goes into a
ring on the sword near the handle, and a long leather belt that has a cranny
at the end of the tip of the sword.

I actually have a detailed/movable figurine of Gatsu with the dragon slayer
and I can remove the sword.

It shows in great details how the sword is holding onto his back. The hook is
more like a pin actually and makes it very easy to remove the sword.

Also the author does not always draw the whole thing. Like in the picture on
the right, we do not see the leather belt that hold the tip of the sword. yet
the sword is shown being slightly tilted. I am guessing the author was being a
bit lazy/pressed by time.

If it was real/human-sized, the way is it made makes it actually quite easy to
take out, but not to put it back since you need to put the hook between the
shoulder blades in the loop and then move/lift the sword until the tip is in
its cradle at the end of the leather belt.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-28T20:07:28.957
47213
2018-05-28T20:07:28.957
2122
20941
answer


No one could swing this sword in real life but even the Mountain from GoT is
not as strong as the fictional Gatsu. Perhaps no human could ever get that
strong, but there are other things to show he's somehow superhumanly strong
even if it's all "natural" in the manga/anime. As a skinny (relatively) 15
year old he's still swinging around a sword with speed that is clearly many
times heavier than the heaviest swords used in real history.

He's also been able to stabilize the mast of a big ol' ship. His strength is
comparable to Hulk levels despite being much much much skinnier than a
superhero character like the Hulk. In a world that is gritty and realistic
EXCEPT the supernatural demons of course, his strength not being explained by
anything supernatural has always been the one "catch", but I guess that's kind
of a cool, special thing about it. Just by genetic miracle, sheer will, or
some other explanation, he is, without supernatural ability--many times
stronger than the strongest men who have ever lived. It's kind of cool because
usually characters in fiction with that much strength need a supernatural or
sci fi "boost".

But yes, it's impossibly large for a human in real life to swing--really to
pick up for most of us. When you factor in momentum and leverage/pendulum
stuff and all that nonsense. One's forearm can get tired just waving a crow
bar around in the air for a while and the metal of the Dragon Slayer is likely
no less dense.

It's non-magic magic. :) :P Gatsu rules!

Also, I forget when and why he changes it up or how often he goes back and
forth, but clearly Miura would sometimes just have the "clip" at the top and
other times have the clip and the belt at the bottom. I'm not sure if there
was a rhyme or reason for why it would switch sometimes but most other design
elements are pretty consistent with his gear.

In the Sword of the Berserk video game which the story he wrote and sort of
directed, he just has the clip as well--no belt at the bottom.

Death to the God Hand


CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-22T20:20:09.583
48497
2018-08-22T20:20:09.583
42155
20941
answer