They seem so inefficient, and the fact that only the Holy Roman Empire seemed to use them makes them seem like they were effective. But if they were, what was their purpose? Why was the crossguard so big if you usually your hand above it anyway?
Here is a thread from a month ago on part of this subject, specifically the post by /u/waritter. The thread answers your question on their purpose, but I could find no information in this subreddit on the purpose of the size of the crossguard.