Please correct me if I am wrong in some of my details; I am a returning veteran.
Speed is not the most important factor, unless you mean like the speed damage bonus, in which case this is always good.
In single player, NPCs are so bad at blocking that you don't need any sort of swing speed that a short sword, for example, would offer. Therefore, I think there is no significant benefit to using short swords/weapons and 1h weapons that do low damage.
The best weapons for killing are most of the 2h weapons like GS/Sword of War, and also the morning star since you can use a shield and do high damage.
Blunt weapons like the sledgehammer are great because they should be enough to knock out i.e. Sea Raiders, which are some of the best prisoners you can take.
The reason that the blunt weapon, which does damage 20, which is less than the sword that does 30 damage, is the same price, is because blunt weapons ignore something like 1/3 of an armor's defense, whereas cut doesnt ignore it. Pierce is the best for dealing high damage against armor, followed by blunt and then finally cut. Blunt will knock people unconscious so it deserves attention.
Weapons that are both 1h and 2h AND with a shield, are always slower on 1h with a shield, but it is not a significant issue as the slow bastard sword and shield would still deal more damage than a regular 1h.
