Greatsword vs. Spear

From what I've read it was. Of course it was more of a line weapon as opposed to a singular combat weapon. From what I've read the greatsword users would stand behind those in the front line and use the swords to knock back and or cut pikes and polearms in defense of the front line. Another formation was the Scottish way of charging rifleman after their first shot and using their claymores to cut through the front line before they could reload. Reach of the sword was effective against the bayonet and the intimidation of the large swords were usually enough to cause the enemy to retreat.

Reach and power were definitely an advantage for the sword user as well as the intimidation factor. Remember these men who used greatswords had to not only be well versed in using them but also had to be pretty damned crazy which again would benefit them in regards to intimidation. I wouldn't think any opponent be them armored or especially unarmored would want to take a blow from a greatsword.

So one can often read. AFAIK, we have no primary sources saying what the weapon was actually designed for - that's basically our modern (or Victorian) guesses. We have some written primary sources about usage and deployment, where it mostly isn't an anti-pike weapon. The main primary source that's used to support the idea of it being used anti-pike in battle is Paolo Giovio's (second-hand) description of the Battle of Fornovo, which includes:

(translation from myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=257562#257562 (which quotes the original Latin text as well)).

Marozzo includes greatsword vs polearm, complete with a nice picture of cut-off pike/spear heads:

For the text, see "Guardia Contra Arma Inastate" in wiktenauer.com/wiki/Achille_Marozzo#Third_Book_.28Greatsword.29 which unfortunately doesn't include a translation, but www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?96502-Broadsword-vs-Pike-Shaft gives . But the possibility of cutting off pike heads isn't just a greatsword thing; we have sources which describe cavalry swords cutting off pike heads - see pg 27-28 in quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A53478.0001.001/1:7.2?rgn=div2;view=fulltext

The other primary source is artwork, which does sometimes show greatsword against pike. While I haven't done the numbers (i.e., actually counted and done the statistics), the halberd is shown more often against pike (and we know that the halberd wasn't specially an anti-pike weapon, and was (along with the greatsword) largely replaced by the pike). The bill did quite well vs pike at Flodden, too, but it isn't designed for anti-pike, either. Usage, and successful usage against pikes doesn't mean it was designed for use against pikes, or that its main function (or even a major function) was to fight pikes.



That the other claymore, the one-handed basket-hilt. Used with a shield, which will help closing against a bayonet.



Silver likes the pike vs longsword, one-on-one: "The long staff, morris pike, or javelin, or such like weapons above the perfect length, have advantage against all manner of weapons, the short staff, the Welch hook, partisan, or glaive, or such like weapons of vantage excepted, yet are too weak for two swords and daggers or two sword and bucklers, or two rapiers and poniards with gauntlets, because they are too long to thrust, strike, and turn speedily. And by reason of the large distance, one of the sword and dagger-men will get behind him."

The Mountain used it in a very GOT longsword way: very slow and clumsy. Like the usual standard of fight choreography in GOT, clunky and decidedly unmartial. Lessons for spearmen from this scene: (a) don't waste time idiotically twirling your spear when you have chances to stab your opponent in the face, and (b) don't pick opponents who aren't stopped by having 10" of spear blade in their chest.

Pike approaching spear length would be used like a spear, so I agree with your point...and why I said LONG pike, like they use in military formations.  Generally, a spear becomes a pike when it's too long to be wielded one handed, and pikes ranged from 10-25ft...so the longer ones would be downright goofy in duels.  Who knows, (might have to bone up on my pike understanding) maybe they have long ones that are actually light and nimble, so I can't say for sure as I was thinking of the super long & probably heavier ones used against horse charges and such.

Length will make it sluggish to turn (as Silver says), but as long as the weight is kept reasonable (as it must be), it will be fast enough in the thrust. Also, if fighting a single opponent, you don't need to move the head very far. You do need to be able to shorten your pike quickly (while moving backwards, too), to bring the point back between you and your opponent if they get past your point, but that's mostly straight-line motion. Pikes 15' long can be under 3kg, so not too bad. Might be lighter than the greatsword, if it faces one.

Advantage spear, unless it’s an overwhelmingly long one. The swordsman “could” win, but given the speed st which a spear can be maneuvered I would think that alone would give advantage to the spear.

Judging by montante, the two handers were not the clumsy hackers some here seem to imagine. They flow freely and create real problems for a spear attack. And they solve the reach problem that bedevils smaller swords. I'd give odds to the two hander.

That was pretty cool.  I wonder how much that particular sword weighed, as it almost looked like between longsword and greatsword (I know there was variation in size, like with most things).  Lots of tactics involved the grabbing of the blade (half swording) and using it like a small (or not so small) spear.

Well I could be wrong but when I think of greatswords I think of any kind of sword that's primarily used with two hands. With the sword lessons I've taken they teach us to use the sword with both hands on the handle. If by greatsword we're talking about those huge unwieldily swords which were mostly meant to be used only from horseback than I cannot say how it would faire against a spear. I have no experience with such weapons. As for pole arms, that is again a different weapon. From what I understand this thread is about spears and greatswords.

My understanding is that none of the actual combat weapons in this class weighed more than 8 lbs or so.  On par with a wwII military rifle, and maybe a bit less.  They had to be well balanced and light enough to move fast or they wouldn't work.  I've also been told that we shouldn't confuse the fighting blades with the "parade" swords that often show up on walls in old castles.  Those were for carrying in procession and are a lot bulkier.