Normalised speed in classic WoW is the fixed speed an instant attack uses for its attack-power bonus; it is 1.7 dagger, 2.4 one-hand, 3.3 two-hand.
instant attack damage = weapon damage + attack power / 14 × normalised speed
normalised speed: dagger 1.7, other one-hand 2.4, two-hand 3.3, ranged 2.8
Instant attacks that add weapon damage (Sinister Strike, Mortal Strike, Heroic Strike, Aimed Shot and the like) use a fixed speed per weapon class in the attack-power term instead of the weapon's real speed, so a slow weapon of a class gains nothing over a fast one there; the weapon's own damage still counts in full.
| Weapon | one-hand sword, 80-150 damage, speed 2.9 |
| Attack power | 1,000 |
| White swing | 115 + 71.4 × 2.9 = 322.1 |
| Instant attack's weapon part | 115 + 71.4 × 2.4 = 286.4 |
Last checked: unverified against Forever. These are the long-established values of the classic ruleset (the 1.x game of 2005-2006); World of Warcraft Forever is in beta and may differ. When you test this one in Forever, post your numbers in Theorycraft.