A straight blade or a curved one?

[Radu Transylvanicus]

Originally Posted by ariel

maybe, we can ask some postal workers?

Jens, this is such a vague subject, unless you have specific examples in mind, no answer should be satisfactory.
And a reminder that straight swords are generally associated with thrusting and pedestrian usage while curved swords (sabers) are associated slashing and cavalry usage. As far as a chop cut , yes the straight sword impact on target has more blunt stop than a curved blade, therefore it does stress you wrist more. There are some most interesting and disturbing written military accounts on the subjact of sword comparation used by the French versus English soldiers in combat during the Napoleonian wars, the English one was the curved 1796 Light Cavalry pattern saber.