Go on Duel Server. Equip an Elite Scimitar, grab a friend with an Arabian Guard Sword. Do left swings and slowly approach each other.
Both of you will start hitting each other at the exact same distance, because both swords are 100 length. Every weapon in the game has the exact reach listed on the equipment screen, modified by the swing animation reach bonus/penalty.
Curved weapons behave a little differently than you would think based on their MODEL, but no differently from their listed stats. I think the OP is just mad that ::gasp:: he may have to execute a block against certain 1-handers before he starts mindlessly swinging away.