3 TOP Medieval Knightly POLEARMS, approved by Master Fiore dei Liberi

[@Stlaind]

I would love to see you do some destructive testing with pollaxes against plate and maille similar to what you did using a rondel dagger with Tod's workshop.

[@williamknight6600]

Honestly I would like to see Pollaxes Versus Armour on the same scale as arrows vs. armour.

[@williamknight6600]

Lances vs. Armour...

[@Sorrowshard]

I would be up for doing these tests.

[@MusMasi]

@@williamknight6600 all would be great

[@CAP198462]

I’d like to see what they can do against some rotten pumpkins.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Yes I did stab my hand on Matt's spear.

[@henrihamalainen300]

You forgot to introduce Cat Easton in the intro even though it was in the frame...

[@scholagladiatoria]

He's an Easter Egg.

[@beepboop204]

him: "...protects the shaft..." you: *snorts* 4:08 😅

[@mattlewis4553]

It was an axe-ident.

[@markfergerson2145]

@@henrihamalainen300 The mention of the butt spike becoming embedded in kittens was a bit alarming... in context.

[@MrPink-qf1xi]

That second spear might be my new favorite close combat weapon. I always loved winged hewing spears, it is an evolution of that, still a "simple" spear but looks so knightly and royal I loved it.

[@frankkowalewski6702]

Kudos for Matt's custom work on his pollaxe; I would have never realized they're basically the same sourced weapon initially - just excellent refinishing and choices for replacement materials and accoutrement.

[@vaporz109]

Yes! I’ve been begging for an appearance for a ghiavarina in different posts for so long and I’m so happy to finally see Matt cover it. Such an amazing weapon!

[@adambielen8996]

That really is a great name.

[@overlorddante]

I'm loving it, too. Being an anti-cavalry weapon would explain the prominent cutting edge. Horses often weren't armored. Surprised they seemed confused by the blade.

[@AngloSaxonElf]

Definitely a supporter of the idea that axed pollaxes were popular in England due to the Anglo-Danish greataxes used centuries before :)

[@rolandscherer1574]

In German, there is a difference between "Speer" and "Lanze". The first is (mostly) for fighter on foot, the second is clamped under the arm by a knight on horse when he runs against a second with "eingelegter Lanze".

[@Sorrowshard]

Yes , in modern English it's roughly the same distinction. In period it seems a lance can be either/both. I think a foot 'lance' probably differs a bit from a traditional spear in that it is intended for and somewhat optimised for use on/in armour and with two hands.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Just to add, in medieval English literature they seem to have switched freely between the Germanic word (spere) and French (lance). I have seen sources describing the mounted lance as a spear, and the spear used on foot as a lance. It seems they were not that bothered about the distinction sometimes.

[@vde1846]

@@Sorrowshard This is why I've long thought that the Norse "atgeir" should be translated as "lance", rather than the common and speculative "spear axe". It distinguishes it as a heroes weapon above a common spear, as they are always presented, but without inventing halberds where we have no evidence of them.

[@GCCRACER]

"Bohemian Earspoon" - an "earspoon" or "earpick" were metal instruments in ye olden times which were used to clean the ear tunnels from wax (as we know today, not terribly medical useful, but there they were). I'm tempted to think this is a sarcastic reference, possibly originating in a country at war with Bohemia those days, at putting that thing into the ears of your opponents. There are other German nicknames for weapons that kind of work in a similar way.

[@adambielen8996]

Makes sense to me.

[@allmachtsdaggl5109]

Matt is correct, it is called "Mordaxt" (murder axe) in German.

[@manfredconnor3194]

Beil

[@allmachtsdaggl5109]

@@manfredconnor3194 A Beil is a small, onehanded hatchet. An Axt is a axe and a Mordaxt is the Pollaxe

[@vde1846]

Irritatingly we have no dedicated word for this in Swedish. They're just "stridsyxor" - battle axes, just like Dane axes or one handed axes or whatever. The only solution I've come up with to specify pollaxes is calling the "ridderliga stridsyxor" - knightly battle axes.

[@manfredconnor3194]

@@vde1846 but, but, but, how can this be, when you have Mörk Borg?

[@vde1846]

@@manfredconnor3194 Had to look up what that was lol. I'll probbably check it out at some point, Fria Ligan's stuff is always interesting. One solution I've seen in other RPG's, like Eon, is to just translate the misspelling "poleaxe" directly into "stångyxa," but that seems inelegant to me.

[@GrauPelikan]

I hope we get a spear head buyer's guide soon! I've seen some lovely examples on the channel but can never quite remember where to find them.

[@grahamwelby]

Poll axe also used to "despatch" injured horses on the battlefield. Household Cavalry farriers still carry a short poll axe when on ceremonial duties.

[@lordexmouth1217]

My friend recently finished making my first polearm, a Lochaber axe.

[@PXCharon]

In classical Chinese warfare, one of the primary weapons was the "ge" which was something similar to a bill or a beak with the inner edge sharpened. It's a hook that bites into softer material when convenient, rather than a spike to drive down onto someone's head or shoulder. I would guess enemy troops were pulled out of their line or their shields were opened up leaving them vulnerable to a cooperative spear. Most of them, for whatever reason, didn't seem to include spear heads of their own until much later in the weapons development. Strange item, but the beak on a pollaxe strikes me as being of similar intended use, and maybe giving a downed enemy a peck afterward.

[@andresmorera6426]

I wonder if such a weapon was strictly or even mainly for use in the battlefield or if it was used (also or instead) for policing actions or instances where preserving the life of the person at the receiving end was important? Is there art contemporary to the weapon that speaks to any of this?

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

When I used to modify rules for D&D for my campaigns I classified weapons by category in the spear category there were two types Lance and javelin. Lance's were spearsed either used on foot or on horseback for fighting, javelin's were smaller and lighter and primarilly used as throwing weapons although could be used in mele fighting if hard pressed.

[@antonioruizfernandez8281]

Good mechanic

[@midshipman8654]

what about longspears and pikes (not all that useful in 1 hand)

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

@@midshipman8654 no one ever asked to use one in any of my games. But if someone were to I would simply expand the catagory & have 3 spear categories: lance, javelin & pike

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

@@midshipman8654 also not all lances are one handed weapons in my games some specifically require 2-hands to use. So a light & heavy lance. I kept my description brief as I wanted to give the idea but not go into detail at the time. Regardless thanks for asking

[@GeoGyf]

D&D cant really go into too much detail, although it can get those poleaxes/pollaxes covered here by Matt. In general you degrade the damage dice by 1 (example d8->d6) and add a factor (critical increase x2->x3 or x20->19-20/x2, +2 trip, +2 sunder, +2 disarm, +1 AR vs shields, +2 AR to confirm criticals, can be readied vs charges and so on) or vice versa. The poleaxe/polleax mentioned i have seen it as bec-de-corbin (raven's beak) a polearm that is somewhat related to the Lucerne Hammer. I think the polearm mentioned here is the bec-de-faucon (falcon's beak). In d&d terms the bec-de-faucon doesnt have reach vs the bec-de-corbin or the lucerne hammer. I guess an easy way without too much fuss is to treat the bec-de-corbin as a piercing halberd or the piercing quivalent of danish poleaxe (longaxe in D&D 3.5 Complete Warrior) & the lucerne hammer as a halberd with reach, ie exotic proficiency. The bec-de-faucon is a piercing greatsword equivalent. As for spears their intricacies cant really be adapted to D&D. Even by the Greek/Macedonian phalanx era, the phalanx spear would increase its length so that 3 rows of spears would protrude (instead of the 2 rows). And then with the Sarissa 5 rows of spears would protrude. A Sarissa would be 4-6 meters which is 13-20ft range. And the Eastern Romans (Byzantines) usually had spears called kontarion. The short Kontarion would go 1.7 meters, the long one would be 2.4 meters. And they also had the Menavlio, which is a very heavy spear designed to counter very heavy cavalry. And they still used shields with the spears, but they were strapped to them. So to understand this in D&D, the spears went beyond the long spear range (10ft reach). I guess the best equivalent is the awlpike (exotic, 1d8/x3, 15ft reach, -2 AC) but the sarissa was even longer. And you cant really do strapped shields in D&D its exactly bucklers and 2-handed weapons in D&D, imagine with the bigger strapped shields. So essentially there is no good way to adapt these weapons & especially spears in D&D, only half-measures.

[@andreweden9405]

Damn, Matt's modifications to his polearms are amazing! I'd honestly love to have him customize my spear!

[@williamknight6600]

Re English and axes, there is also the 'Gisern' of the Green Knight, where the modern term seems to indicate at least some kind of contemporary big axe like polearm.

[@texasbeast239]

Sounds like a bastardization of _guisarme._

[@williamknight6600]

@@texasbeast239 it is a cognate and perhaps an older word. While in English it referred to an axe like weapon and then died out by sometime in the 15th century in French it is semi generic term for any kind of polearm, as in the dowry when the Stuarts marry into the valoi house of Burgundy.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Matt Lewis has some Beautiful weapons, I especially love the black finish, it just sets them off. 👍👍

[@Joe___R]

Humans' first weapon was likely either a club or a thrown rock. The pointy stick was likely just after those two. If you look at small children, their go-to is to either throw something or hit with a club of some sort.

[@StygianEmperor]

I love this video. It even has a winged spear.

[@charlesmartin1121]

'Beaked' weapons are the coolest late medieval arms. There are some examples from the continent that remind me of geologist hammers or ice climbing tools. Although I think those types are predominantly for mounted combat.

[@manfredconnor3194]

Agreed.

[@corrugatedcavalier5266]

Great video! I would say as far as Fiore's poleaxes go, Getty does seem to show a shorter length, but Pisani Dossi looks more like what we would think of. Hard to say if that it's intentional or significant, but that's what I see. I love how Matt Lewis has a nasty back spike on all of these!

[@Sorrowshard]

It might be as simple as the fact that the pisani dossi is later (if memory serves) I have a vague recollection that as time moves forward, pollaxes start quite short and get a bit longer. Possibly charting a kind of evolution from it hypothesised humble Beginnings as a butchers tool and being ever more specialised as a specialist anti armour weapon.

[@corrugatedcavalier5266]

@@Sorrowshard I was considering that myself. AFAIK we don't know the Getty date 100% precisely. It's likely only a 3-5 year difference, but that could be enough. Things do change faster than I often expect in the late medieval.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Based on the evidence we have, I believe Getty is around 1410 and Pisani-Dossi is around 1415-1420. My personal belief is that Morgan might be earlier, like 1405.

[@corrugatedcavalier5266]

@@scholagladiatoria interesting, I was going primarily by wiktenauer's dating but that has always seemed early considering some of the armor styles. Isn't that date outside of his presumed life, though, for PD?

[@overlorddante]

@@scholagladiatoria could it be the prominent blade of the second spear be for attacking the horse itself? You expressed some confusion over the usefulness of the blade.

[@vyderka]

As a Pole I feel oddly discomforted after watching this video :D Greetings from Poland and thank you a lot for sharing your knowledge and passion!

[@kendallkruse355]

Medieval polearm users didn't split hairs on definitions they mainly just split skulls

[@fernandopolanco7532]

Apparently in Spanish we call the pollaxe "hacha de petos", being a "peto" each of the different weapon fittings on the top

[@StygianEmperor]

I think the "which head would I _LEAST_ like to be hit by in the thigh" question should specify "a glancing blow" - that's where an axe beats the hell out of a hammer

[@SheffiTB]

tbf, even with a straight hit I would rather get hit by the hammer.

[@simonmoorcroft1417]

Your explanation of the "Pollaxe" naming convention is very plausible. Reminds me of the accounts of the ritual sacrifice of large animals in Egyptian and Roman accounts. A blow with a hammer or maul to stun the animal, then an axe stroke to the animals neck to finish it. This was all done quickly and efficiently to keep the priests and augers safe from a panicked thrashing animal. It also makes me think that the Germans may have taken a version of the English name themselves. Perhaps the term 'Mordaxt' is better translated as 'slaughter axe'. In most languages words can have double meanings.

[@simonmoorcroft1417]

The English enthusiasm for the hammer and axe combination makes me think that despite all the sophisticated treaties they originally favoured using it like the Slaughterman's axe. A crushing blow to the opponents head, then as he was laid out, a killing stroke with the axe to his neck crushing or severing the spine.

[@shawnmorgan7834]

I could watch this for literal days. Thanks for the video

[@frankharr9466]

I had no idea. Thank you.

[@midshipman8654]

the poleaxe could also have been named that because it resembled a cow poleaxe rather than it necessarily being derivative of one. like it could have been a more direct development from a winged spear that they found was more effective with heavier wings.

[@ricebrown1]

I hope everyone is having a great day.

[@M4TCH3SM4L0N3]

Just lovely, thank you!

[@marcusc9931]

In the Polish books I've read, "partyzana" was a spear with two spikes, while "szponton" was the more elaborate version, with a decorative crossguard formed into things like wings or rays of the sun under the blade.

[@skulhedface3336]

Really great video.

[@twosheds7105]

Great video! The back and forth discussion adds new perspectives.

[@andrewzabinski2205]

The agricultural theory is interesting, it is a reasonable assumption. Some classical Asian martial arts weapons are believed to have started out as agricultural tool such as nunchucks, hand scythe or sai. Just a sidenote.

[@M4TCH3SM4L0N3]

Golly, I love these polearms and Matt's collection is showing me that I need to invest in some!

[@M4TCH3SM4L0N3]

Also, I love Matt's Jaws/Dune shirt. Just a classy guy.

[@AndICanTalk2]

This was great. I enjoy when you get on a tangent with a guest. Very interesting

[@tomisabum]

I'm living for the linguistic discussion and pet theories. Also, CAT CAM.

[@RainMakeR_Workshop]

Hope Matt makes a vid on customising his Pollaxe.

[@fortunedogegg]

Loving Matt's T-shirt.

[@jacobvisor3034]

Big props for the dune shirt

[@ZubjectX]

Really like these polearm (or pollarm) videos - wondering if you could do one on the bill, as I think it's a really interesting weapon and would love to hear more about it?

[@Ixnatifual]

Those are some beautiful weapons.

[@uliphotode]

Nice. Just in time fore a lovely evening chillout.

[@martinbranditch1128]

Alas, the question of the importance of shaft length, versus the skill of its wielder, remains unanswered.

[@LuxisAlukard]

You can't have too much Matt in one video

[@ycplum7062]

Slightly off topic, but I always considered the pollaxe (with the axe head) the ideal Zombie Apocolypse primary melee weapon. Yes, it is not as nimble as lighter weapons, like a one handed hammer or a sword, but it is incredible effective for crushing skulls with whatever element you use (ax, hammer, dagger/spike, or spiked ferrule). Also, if you allow yourself to be surrounded, you are probably dead any way. The pollaxe is better for keeping zombies at a distance, say for defending a doorway or hallway. You can trip up a zombie or two to form an obstacle for the zombies behind them. Also the pollaxe is an excellent tool. The axe and hammer can be used to make a hole through a locked door or a wall. The axe can be used to hook something, such as the top of a wall or, tree branch, or fire escape, as an aid for climbing.

[@shipoffools2183]

If you were to build one for the zombie apocalypse, what changes would you make? Alloy handle maybe or plastic composite. Personally I preferred the look of the beak but definitely need to know more about when to use the hammer or beak. So many questions.

[@ycplum7062]

@@shipoffools2183 I am thinking a shaft of carbon-fiber with a bonded stainless steel outer sheath. Strength is the carbon-fiber, but the steel prevents nicks, abrassions, or wear. It would be tough to epair carbon-fiber. Against zombies, a beak would probably be more effective, but I intend the tool to be multipurpose. I can even use the axe head to split wood, although a large knife and a wooden baton may be better for kindling.

[@Myomer104]

17:51 The specific term I have seen for that design of polearm is actually a "Lucerne Hammer."

[@mattlewis4553]

Also an Anachronism.

[@hulkthedane7542]

Sooo humble... "..but I am probably right...". I agree!

[@antonioruizfernandez8281]

Holy smokes its olny one hour since the start of the video, Hey Matt if you are seeing this cheers from Spain!

[@eduardocavalcanti4193]

Wow these weapons are really cool

[@telekevontoloko8247]

re: bohemian earspoon. In czech this weapon is called "ušatá sudlice". Ušatá means eared and sudlice is a generic term for any complex polearm.

[@manatoa1]

Other Matt did a lovely job on that pollaxe

[@poppymason-smith1051]

Thought I would add the spot between the ears of cows, horses and pigs is called the poll. So it possibly being called a pollaxe from the killing of animals isnt sounding so far off

[@TomSilver_42]

Many thanks for interesting history lesson. As I learned that the thing on the left side is is _not_ what I would otherwise call a warhammer.

[@COLDMKULTRA]

"Mordaxt" (murder axe) ... Is indeed the correct description Matt ... And ... By The Gods ... Such weapons were indeed effective Murder Axes !

[@Hornet_Legion]

The best thing about pole axes and hammers is that they are probably the most durable medieval weapons made. Halberds are comparably more fragile , especially the ones used after the 1500s. Langets help considerably in helping the weapon head stay on the shaft as well as to protect the shaft.

[@stevedunn5546]

Very enjoyable and beautiful pollaxes. Just a thought the winged spears would also help to stop too deep penitration ?

[@Intranetusa]

Great video. Beautiful polearms!

[@UnreasonableOpinions]

That winged spear is very nice indeed.

[@bradclifton5248]

One discussion of pist Agingourt era suggested that butchers were very effective when recruited as soldiers. Again familiarity with similar tools would translate well as weapons. Especially with minimal training.

[@-RONNIE]

Thank you both for the video and information ⚔️

[@raphlvlogs271]

large cut and thrust spears will be great for those who were used to using 2 handed swords.

[@lukehartlieb2628]

Good Lord those are beautiful weapons!

[@WindmillStalker]

Matt, Matt, and Cat Easton!

[@simonmoorcroft1417]

Hi Matt. Just a question. In literature I see a lot of references to French knights at Agincourt using 'shortened lances' rather than Pollaxes. So are they literally using shortened or cut down jousting style lances or are they in fact using the sort of Lanza or 'knightly spear' for hand-to-hand combat that you show us in this video? Strictly speaking the Roman's would call it a 'Lancea Pugnatoria' (Latin: "fighting lance") rather than a plain 'Lancea' which was a thrown weapon. So that usage continued in a corrupted form into the medieval period.

[@Adam_okaay]

"Bohemian Ear Spoon" is pretty self explanatory in my opinion.

[@midshipman8654]

in my experience with modern words. spear seems like the catch all general term for pointed stick weapon. javilin for throwing specialized spears, lance for horseback specialized spears and pike for especially long spears.

[@cameronchicken8439]

right when your video started i noticed how functional the spear is with that sideways blade or the one with the hooks because it’s also like a grappling hook you could use to climb with. i think hiking staffs should all have hooks on them.

[@TalesForWhales]

I am leading a volunteer sport sabre club in the US. Since I can't change the rules of sport fencing what could I change about the training to bring it more in line with what fencing is? The club's theme is identifying historical systems within the sport. The first thing to change is mentality. Some may scoff at this but I think there is something here worth exploring. Can history establish a "meta" in the modern game?

[@einheri]

4:10 Matt laughing at langets protecting your shaft. XD

[@Lockke_]

Id love to see more on the custom dedicated armor fighting sword from Fiore's manuals Lewis brought and you showed in another video( it had an unsharpened section halfway or nearish the tip for half swording)

[@BigZ7337]

Thanks for the video.

[@vde1846]

It is irritating that we have no dedicated word for pollaxe in Swedish; though unsurprising since our Swedish version of the Victorian eccentrics that reintroduced or invented most of these terms in English where mostly interested in the Viking era and spoke German and French at least as often as Swedish. We just call all military axes "stridsyxor" - battle axes, whether they be Dane axes or one handed axes or whatever. The only solution I've come up with to specify pollaxes is calling the "ridderliga stridsyxor" - knightly battle axes.

[@TheQwertzschuerfer]

Quickly skimmed over Wiktenauer. Pollaxes seem to be referred to as "Axt" ("axe") in German treatises. "Mordaxt" ("murder axe") I suspect to be a modern term.

[@bolieve603]

I know Henty may not be strictly accurate according to modern knowledge but in his book about the White Hoods of Paris he talks about how many of them were of the butcher's guild and using slaughtering axes in the riots. As a boy I always made the connection between those and the pollaxes of later periods

[@LarryGarfieldCrell]

Ah, the best place on the internet to see two grown men compare their shafts...

[@trey2099]

The name of the flat rear portion ("hammer part") of a woodsman axe is called a poll. I would assume the name came from this.

[@robhogg68]

Given the French derivation, it's interesting that lance in modern French means "throw", while an object of that name in English is expressly not thrown. Looking into it a little more, it seems that the French verb derives from the object, rather than the other way round, so suggesting a lance was originally a thrown spear. Oh, and I'm against people attacking me on horseback, too.

[@TheWabbitSeason]

Killing cows is a good theory on weapon origins. The Thompson-LaGarde Tests is how we got the .45 ACP. The US govt shot cows and determined which caliber did it reliably.

[@PXCharon]

"We have both been, and are, Matts, thanks for watching!" Shortest SG video ever.

[@Han-rw9ev]

The pole axe is a bull axe? I think that theory is pretty likely. I'm thinking one could make a version with a cattle theme with the axe resembling horns, and maybe even the hammer looking like s bull's head.

[@fullmetalathlete]

Woah that second spear with the sharp wings is sooooo nice. Is that purchasable somewhere?

[@Tony.795]

Did you cold rivet the head to the shaft? It seems like quite the job if you replace the shaft.

[@DeathWishMonkey]

Winged spears were used even in Japan. The example I saw had shapr, bladed wings that were of a piece with the spearhead.

[@Sirsethtaggart3505]

Hello. Is it possible that the treaties show unusual methods of fighting, rather than the norm? Imagine " radical new combat style - beats any opponent".... that would mean all hema is actually a study of the obscure ways of doing things? Seth

[@daemonharper3928]

Great vid - great weapons! Dangerously weird - words to live by.

[@seandahl8441]

The back end of an axe and the flat end or hammer of a tomahawk is called the poll. I think pollaxe means and axe with a tool on the other side. The poll side. The axe part of the name could refer the the chopping motion used with the main tool when it isn't an axe blade. Just thoughts

[@simonmoorcroft1417]

It's a good theory but most written sources refer to the hammer face on Pollaxes as 'Marte' or 'Martel' which is of course is Old French for 'hammer'. The term 'Poll' is linked to ''head'. I wonder if the modern terminology is a reinterpretion of the old terms. So the 'poll' was originally literally the whole axe head rather than just the back face of the blade. Matt's theory is pretty good. I can easily see the Pollaxe being a development of the slaughterman's pole or axe. It's literally for stoving in an large animals skull and chopping it's neck. You also have a linguistic relationship to 'pollard' which is the removal of the 'head' of a tree.

[@Helltanz98]

With Fiore's period, and this is pure speculation, I wonder how much of the seeming cross similarities between his use of the pollaxe and sword are also a matter of training to make use of what you already know from that period, and then later training became more specialized to changing conditions. If you're already training in a sword, and you add a short, relatively, hafted weapon for use against armor it make some degree of sense to reiterate the basics of the sword.

[@F_Karnstein]

I would SO love to hear your thoughts on the Swiss halberds in the new Mad Heidi movie 😂

[@fernandoagostinelli]

Hi Matt I don't know if I missed it. But have you reviewed Alatriste? Share the link if you did. Thanks!

[@fatman4792]

matt any way of convincing windlsss ti make those polearms

[@scholagladiatoria]

Yes, it's definitely on the menu :-)

[@criticviking]

I think the original polaxe was the dane axe. It was used very long into the ages too especially in Northern Europe where you see them on 1500s chalk paintings. Reason i believe its the original one is because it was used so long into the age of plate it must have been a reasonable variant that then got offpsrings even better for armor purposes.

[@discerningscoundrel3055]

Original in the sense that the others perhaps descended from it, yes - though many of the other polearms also descend from agricultural tools adapted for war, and perhaps that's how we get the pollaxe, too. That said, there are much older polearms out there - the Dacian rhomphaia and larger examples of the bronze age epsilon axe come to mind.

[@pizdamatii5001]

does anybody know who manufactured matt l. 's winged spear and pollaxe? (is it "castle armoury"? i didn't catch it)

[@Sorrowshard]

Pollaxe started life as a Kasto , I have heavily modified/upgraded it. The spear is Davis reproductions based on my research and design.

[@pizdamatii5001]

@@Sorrowshard thanks a lot!

[@jrockoclock7088]

I like the description as "weird" but it's funny you compare the axe head portion to the hammer portion as opposed to the "beak" as they both have hammers on them and the difference seems to be between the beak and axe. Though the theories for the purposes of both seem really plausible. Also the axe head would surely be competitive in ability to hook things as the beak. my pet theory is that the beaks are not for punching through armor, or necessarily deforming it (because i think the hammer could be better at it or at least not too much worse at it) but for getting into armpits or other sorts of opportunistic hits in, like back of legs. If someone pivots in the wrong way it comes back to the 'what would I like to be hit in the thigh with' but the beak guarantees that if it goes in it's causing a problem.

[@BalbazaktheGreat]

I must admit to being extremely confused by the off-handed reference to "two-handed warhammers" as opposed to the hammer & bec de faucon configured "pollaxe" - aren't those the same thing? What is the difference between these two weapons, if they are indeed distinct weapons? Similarlly, is there any difference between a "warhammer" and a "military pick"? Both seems to be composed of a beak and hammer head.

[@vladimirandreevich]

I like how this Matt Lewis guy talks about the "peasants that need some chopping up" like a real aristocrat

[@alangriffin8146]

I like when he said he wasn’t sure why there would be such a cutting blade when it’s of very little use. My guess is that they thought it would be of use, but were wrong. Lots of things sound like a good idea, and having the edges doesn’t hurt anything, so just leave em

[@lalbus1607]

Excellent content👍

[@Tripledot]

When you mentioned the winged spear being used as an anti-cavalry weapon, I got the idea, that maybe its edges were meant to slash at horses? Though knights would be fully armored, horses would have vulnerable exposed areas to attack.

[@nutyyyy]

Possible, but you have to contend with the lance of the horseman in that case. Yes, you can go for the horse, but then the rider has free reign with his lance on you.

[@Maixo]

Would love to get my hands on a poll axe ! Would opt for a shorter version of yours with the axe blade.Any I see online are expensive!