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Post by wstalcup on Sept 24, 2020 15:03:29 GMT
Hi, I was wondering all about polearms! This one first drew my attention just because it looks so cool! but then i was thinking it doesn't "seem" to be so useful? the spear point doesnt look that long and would also penetration would be blocked by the axe head, no? Also trying to use the axe or hammer head doesn't seem to be a good idea, you would have to do a long wide swing, in which the opponent could easily block (just my guess) and grab the shaft of your polearm. unless you really would "choke up" on the shaft as if you were going to use it as a regular axe or hammer? My thoughts then move to this.. seems a little better, as that with the "shark Fin" could be used to pull the opponents shield out of the way and then follow up with a jab? Still dont see much use for the axe though.. (also are the little crosses just for decoration?) anywho, so finally these seem to me the most useful ..although, now they are looking more and more just like plain spears! i guess there may be some advantages over just a regular spear? what would you choose? and thanks for reading my rant! comments? helpful insight? insults? LOL
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Post by RufusScorpius on Sept 25, 2020 1:28:03 GMT
Let me put it to you like this: I would rather have a pole arm over a sword any time except indoors. Pole arms give you many ways to attack and defend both armored and unarmored opponents. With few exceptions, swords aren't much use against armor.
Briefly: swords were sidearm, not combat weapons. Even samurai fought primarily with polearms and only used swords for day to day stuff like protection from bandits and whatnot.
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Post by wstalcup on Sept 26, 2020 15:22:27 GMT
Let me put it to you like this: I would rather have a pole arm over a sword any time except indoors. Pole arms give you many ways to attack and defend both armored and unarmored opponents. With few exceptions, swords aren't much use against armor. Briefly: swords were sidearm, not combat weapons. Even samurai fought primarily with polearms and only used swords for day to day stuff like protection from bandits and whatnot. yes, true and spears were the most used weapon of all time! Still, just wondering about the effectiveness of each of the individual pole arm heads.. i'll keep researching and thanks so much for your input!
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Sept 26, 2020 16:10:43 GMT
I’ll go along with Rufus. My preference would be a spear over the other pole weapons due to the fact I foresee if a problem occurs it will be more of a one on one situation and a spear is lighter and faster. A battle field is a different situation. The Scots had a spear with a hook that impresses me. The hook would not add much weight and be useful. I had a Chinese hooked spear once. It was of poor quality and in the end it was most useful at pulling down a climbing vine that I had in the back when pruning was needed and most of all for cutting down mangos when ripe. Just remembered, the three times my alarm went off, falsely, it was a spear that I grabbed.
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Post by wstalcup on Sept 26, 2020 16:19:59 GMT
I’ll go along with Rufus. My preference would be a spear over the other pole weapons due to the fact I foresee if a problem occurs it will be more of a one on one situation and a spear is lighter and faster. A battle field is a different situation. The Scots had a spear with a hook that impresses me. The hook would not add much weight and be useful. I had a Chinese hooked spear once. It was of poor quality and in the end it was most useful at pulling down a climbing vine that I had in the back when pruning was needed and most of all for cutting down mangos when ripe. Just remembered, the three times my alarm went off, falsely, it was a spear that I grabbed. yah! so true.. I just think there is more "training" i could do with a polearm vs a spear.. although spears are cheap and probably will get one anyway, what polearm (if any) would you recommend? thanks!
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Sept 26, 2020 17:36:11 GMT
yah! so true.. I just think there is more "training" i could do with a polearm vs a spear.. although spears are cheap and probably will get one anyway, what polearm (if any) would you recommend? thanks! I am not a good one to give advice on this subject but I would choose something with a smaller head than most repro offer. Study some old paintings to get an idea. I feel most repros to large which equals heavy to be the most effective. This is not to be confused with power. It would have a square cross section in the haft with langets. It would be very much like that in the photo below from Wikipedia. I had not thought of it before as a pole weapon but this is mine. It has a spike for hooking or penetrating, and a blade. The small head gives control and speed. It’s usable with a shield. I prefer it to a two handed weapon because I have the option of whatever in the off hand. You can get an idea how to use it here. One day I’ll learn how to give a YouTube link without attaching the video. Help from anyone would be appreciated here. From Wikipedia: Mine
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Post by RufusScorpius on Sept 26, 2020 23:16:34 GMT
No one weapon ever did everything. That's why armies are made up of different units with different capabilities. The spears would be used for general fighting, long range weapons used to disrupt formation and such (archers and ballista, etc), polearm dudes would be used for breaking heavy armor when encountered, cavalry for mobility and breaking foot ranks, and so on.
Naturally I over simplified and every era and culture had it's own methods, but you get the idea. If you want a polearm, then buy one. If you want a spear, buy one. They are two different weapons with two different purposes.
For as the original post's photos are concerned, I think each would have a use in the proper environment, but if I had to pick just one, I would go for #1 because it has a spear, hammer, and ax and therefor is the most versatile. I don't know the size of that particular example, but it doesn't need to be very large to be effective at busting armor or cutting down light infantry.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2020 3:11:50 GMT
Hi, I was wondering all about polearms! This one first drew my attention just because it looks so cool! but then i was thinking it doesn't "seem" to be so useful? the spear point doesnt look that long and would also penetration would be blocked by the axe head, no? Also trying to use the axe or hammer head doesn't seem to be a good idea, you would have to do a long wide swing, in which the opponent could easily block (just my guess) and grab the shaft of your polearm. unless you really would "choke up" on the shaft as if you were going to use it as a regular axe or hammer? My thoughts then move to this.. seems a little better, as that with the "shark Fin" could be used to pull the opponents shield out of the way and then follow up with a jab? Still dont see much use for the axe though.. (also are the little crosses just for decoration?) anywho, so finally these seem to me the most useful ..although, now they are looking more and more just like plain spears! i guess there may be some advantages over just a regular spear? what would you choose? and thanks for reading my rant! comments? helpful insight? insults? LOL I imagine if you had the pole at an angle you could jam more of that Spike in. Even if short, even a little bit of spear cracking through your cheek bone would be enough to break the flank. As for the axe, it might be good against an armoured opponent, even just for the focus of impact
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Post by wstalcup on Sept 27, 2020 16:28:32 GMT
OP, you might want to check out the versality and complexity of how a polearm can be used in battle by watching demonstrations such as this. Very cool! thanks! i recognized both of those Deepeka Poleaxes! I guess for the most part, proper training trumps types of weapons being used! also i need to get platemail, so I can blind the opponent with the sun's reflection.. just like in the video! LOL
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Post by aradii on Sept 28, 2020 10:47:10 GMT
OP, you might want to check out the versality and complexity of how a polearm can be used in battle by watching demonstrations such as this. Impressive and well explained techniques, I never knew there was so much to know about poleaxe combat and its like an anime characters fighting while having a discussion .
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