Thinking in terms of weapon sets 

Just an awkward, lengthy ramble about how some weapons (in fact, most) are designed as part of weapon sets, and cannot be compared to one another without their accompaniments (Viking sword and shield, for example, or Roman gladius and scutum).
At least, that's what I meant to say. I sort of devolve the discussion into a ramble about context. I apologize for the rambling.