Dumb Medieval Weapons - What Should We FIGHT WITH for SCIENCE?

If you have some silly, fantasy, or even real weird weapons that you'd like us to fight with, tell us!
Credit to our friends at Raven Forge for the double-ended flail: ravenforge.com/
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#medieval #martialarts #swordfighting

[@mitcharcher7528]

Lucy gets a rock in a sock, while you get a club, but you’re buried to the waist. We will accept nothing less.

[@johnladuke6475]

It doesn't have to be Matt and Lucy but I do want to see experiments to show how that plays out. It's such a goofy duel; if that was the law I'd go around starting fights between couples just so I could watch the combat.

[@user-ou4jk2di4q]

I second that!

[@codycarter7638]

There’s a video out that does just this….the Thalhoffer longswords are freaking beautiful. Great footage of a mordhau striking a guy is a sallet …the “bonk” it made is strangely beautiful.

[@vaillencourt]

I'd love to see if those wacky "judicial duel" fighting shields with the spiked ends really worked.

[@nickshomenta5373]

I do own a set. They're fun but mine don't have spikes.

[@adam-bf8li]

​@@nickshomenta5373 Ha~ha~, you prioritise safety~ Neener neener neeener. Just kidding.

[@Kinetic.44]

I bet they worked great

[@chengkuoklee5734]

I have a crazy idea, what if Dequitem fights with medieval accurate chair.

[@jacklonghearse9821]

Classic OG Hans Talhoffer duels

[@robwilkes8436]

Not a Medieval weapon, but I would LOVE to see a Klingon Bat'leth sparring against a Medieval long sword.

[@DwarfInBlues]

Against a longsword? Don't see it doing much of anything. Maybe versus poleaxe.

[@DavidCollinsRivera]

Matt has looked at the Bat'leth before, and considered it to have some potential. That was an armchair assessment, though; I'd LOVE to see it put to the test in a HEMA context! This would include both obtaining a sparring version of the weapon, and putting in at least a moderate amount of practice with it before any actual sparring took place. Practice would include figuring out how to use it at all, considering there aren't -- and never were -- any actual masters of the thing, nor any old treatises from which one might learn. (But the same could be said for every other weird and wacky weapon, I guess.)

[@ruebenblack3495]

Check out Skallagrim, he's made several videos testing the batleth!

[@Kanner111]

In defense of the Bat'leth, it is the greatest weapon ever designed... for stage fighting. Two-handed, absolutely no range, concave ends for extra control of the opponent's blade, and designed from the ground up to be as non-hazardous as possible for enthusiastic actors to clinch against each other while snarling into each other's faces. A massive improvement over diabolical objects like swords, which if even slightly mishandled can poke someone's eye or break their finger. And despite all that, it actually still looks kinda badass!

[@DwarfInBlues]

@@Kanner111 "for enthusiastic actors to clinch against each other while snarling into each other's faces." Absolutely on point!

[@squarewheels2491]

I want to see a Net. Like a fishing net. Some Roman gladiators used them and it actually seems like a net would be either very effective or completely rubbish.

[@zerentheunskilled]

In a one on one fight I imagine they could be quite useful. It'd be hard to defend very well if the net is getting caught on your weapon and armour. They wouldn't exactly be easy to remove either since they would have several weights tied to their edges which would help it wrap around their target even more.

[@squarewheels2491]

@@zerentheunskilled From the little I've used a small fishing one, it was really difficult to get a good spread except at a good distance. You also had to fold and hold it just right so you would only get one shot out of it in a fight. How likely would it catch someone and how much you can restrict an opponent are good questions. Is swinging the weights worth it or does that just remove your ability to throw it. It really just seems like a lot of fun to test out.

[@ObsoleteVodkaYT]

It would probably suck in a non-regulated fight. Gladiators were trained and equipped for what today we call a class-based system, complete with rock-paper-scissor mechanics so the fighters counter each other (remember, the goal was entertainment). For example, the guy with the net is called a Murmillo and he is countered by another type called a Scissor, who can cut at the Murmillo's net.

[@johnladuke6475]

In that aforementioned class-based system with a trained and specialized fighter, it would be a pretty useful weapon; particularly when combined with a trident. For any solo combat I'd expect it to be at least _somewhat_ effective, as we also see cloaks/capes employed as off-hand weapons in other contexts.

[@zerentheunskilled]

@@squarewheels2491 The weights, which wouldn't really be more than some small lead bits tied to the corners and edges of the net, would both make it easier to throw and would make it spread out more. You would throw it by holding it in the center and throwing it from the side which would impart a small spin, making the weights separate and spread the net mid air. In a non-sparring fight, you could even tie small hooks onto the net, making it even more likely to catch on your opponent. Even if you didn't throw it at them, you could swing it in a way that could wrap it around their weapon, head, or whatever else you hit with it, much in the same way a cape was used with rapiers.

[@SkramaxVespero]

- A giant smelly dead fish held by the tail. Smaller ones can be throwing weapons I think, might be worth testing those out too. - Your opponent's chopped off limb(s)

[@Mp3rocks9]

I’ve heard of an entirely impractical and silly weapon called a “spadroon,” maybe take a swing at that

[@Leftyotism]

WHOAOW! You take that back Sir!

[@adwarfsittingonagiantsshoulder]

A lanthern shield ! It should be tried in the dark.

[@nickshomenta5373]

I did make one for SCA/hema experimenting

[@RainMakeR_Workshop]

Academy of Historical Fencing did a couple of vids on a lantern shield that they made.

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

Ok, my proposals are: - Rock in a sock - Whip ( no idea how you are going to make a sparring-safe version of that but I believe in you) - Spade - Beidana (not weird, but can you pass the opportunity?) - Longbow (we see bows used as improvised melee weapons in movies all the time, time to test them in practice) - Two-handed wooden spiked club ( I saw many examples in iconography, and would love to hear your thoughts about them after trying them out) - And finally an "Armoured fighting sword" for the lack of a better term. Matt will know exactly what it is.

[@brianj.841]

The Beidana looks like the inspiration for Saruman's Orc swords.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

For the longbow option, I suggest a longbow combined with a Gou-rang hook shield. :)

[@toddellner5283]

Spades are nasty weapons

[@MonEyRuLess]

The sparring-safe version of a whip, is a whip.

[@siamsasean]

The thing to remember about spades is that they are a gardening tool that, like axes, are supposed to be kept sharp. First thing I do with a new shovel is grind an edge onto it. Makes a hella difference.

[@samarchist74]

I've always been intrigued by the net/trident combo from Roman gladiatorial combat. Especially the net.

[@edi9892]

Not a stupid weapon, but I'd like to see how a man catcher performs against an armed opponent. Speaking of weird weapons: spiked shields and other duelling weapons.

[@AndrewGill-nj9nu]

Odd but historical weapons I'd like to see experimented with: -hooked/spiked judicial dueling shields (a.k.a medieval german ba'tleths) -actual scythes (not war scythes) - does somthing like Paulus Hector Mair's set of techniques emerge from first principles? -kusarigama (both variants of chain connection point, if possible) -indian gauntlet-swords (how do you actually fence without wrist movement?). With and without an appropriate shield, if possible. Unusual improvised (but possibly effective) weapons that might be fun to play with: -one of those large, strong metal-reinforced wooden garden brooms - the sort with a broad hardwood head with stiff bristles. -a frying pan, with or without a pot-lid buckler in the off-hand Deliberately absurd options: - a double-ended pollaxe (ie. with a second full-size pollaxe head instead of a butt-spike) - rapier and dagger, but the dagger should have a corkscrew-like helical blade for better trapping of the opponent's sword, Aaand: - a pair of those giant center-gripped mezzaluna-like cresent-bladed thingies used in various fantasy computer games (my bete noir in terms of badly designed fantasy weapons).

[@johnladuke6475]

Y'know, a double-ended pollaxe doesn't actually sound so crazy... as knightly weapons, it actually seems odd that nobody would have given it a try.

[@charlieashwood]

I love pretty much all your ideas. As someone who only mows with a scythe and owns multiple I can tell you right now that an actual mowing scythe would just break or bend on contact with another weapon or armor. The blades are intentionally made with extremely soft steel so they can be peened (cold forged) on the spot.

[@penttikoivuniemi2146]

@@johnladuke6475 I'd say it's because the butt-end with a spike or a knob for hitting the other person is more advantageous in most situations than another axe-head that can easily get tangled with the enemy's weapon.

[@AndrewGill-nj9nu]

@@charlieashwood Thanks for your insight; I've not handled a real scythe. It certainly explains why many of Paulus Hector Mair's techniques seem to rely on using the wooden haft to parry or displace with (the blade is at an awkward angle for parrying in any case)

[@charlieashwood]

@@AndrewGill-nj9nu Yea that does make sense. Possibly even more so because the snath (wooden part of the scythe) often has a handle at the end that essentially makes it a wooden hook. It would certainly be awkward to use and the blade nearly useless against an armored opponent but I guess against an unarmed opponent a wooden stick with a hook on one end and a backward facing soft metal blade on the other isn't the worst thing to have lol.

[@Subutai_Khan]

Not really ridiculous but I would love to see an experiment with the Jagerstock (double pointed spear) against multiple swordsmen based on Pascha’s treatise. I think I mentioned this to Todd a little while back. I am curious how this might compare to say a greatsword.

[@jwnomad]

It would be more jabby and less windmilly

[@jwnomad]

Instead of novel weapons in boring sparring duel, I'd like to see more standard weapon performance outside of duels - like to take objectives and such. Fighting in formation, on horseback, coming up/pushing off a ladder, fighting in confined staircases/doorways/crowded battlements/ships, etc. I feel like we've barely scratched the surface of practical medieval fighting science due to the tendency to 'sportify' it

[@chengkuoklee5734]

I agree but you will need more men to run the tests. For example how a simple ditch or elevated position affect how weapons operated. My guts tell me war flail excel with elevated position like fort wagon, providing extra options in fighting attackers.

[@culture-nature-mobility7867]

YES!!!

[@tugbandi]

I don't know if it meets the assignment but I want to see a Goedendag in action.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

I thought of that too. Might be hard to make something safe to spar with but it would be cool to see.

[@johnladuke6475]

You could replicate the shape and the spike could be made blunt/flexible, but anything that simulates the mass would be inherently unsafe. Even with those limits I like the idea, and if we can just get rid of these pesky human rights I'd love to see some gladiators test out the real deal.

[@TheWonAndOnlyWin]

There's a TON of weapons that aren't necessarily dumb, but are unique, fun, and/or underrepresented. (also some not exactly medieval) -Nunchuks -Three-section staff -Khopesh -Headhunting axe -Ikakalaka sword, or other swords with chopping points instead of thrusting ones -Tridents/Military forks -Gladiator Scissores -Urumi -swordstaves/warscythes/similar cutty sword poles -Gardening scythes -Dacian falx/kora blade, one and two handed -One-handed, and especially two-handed flails -Sarissas/long pikes -Emeici -Kusarigama -Godenak -Goedendag -Halberds with concave axes, or concave axes in general -War picks, just a weaponized pickaxe -Spiked pavises, or spiked shields in general Others mentioned them, but I also wanna see them big dueling shields, armored fighting swords, lantern shields Also, hurbats, but that doesn't quite fit for what you wanted.

[@MrTEamonn]

An in depth test of any and all weird shields and bucklers. In particular those that have offensive bits added.

[@IlIlllIIIllIIlIIlII]

the flail is supposed to be super effective against shields. Does that mean the double ended flail is super effective against dual-wielded shields?

[@kellypowell6317]

No doubt...buckler with dirk in the same hand and some smashy club in the other.

[@barbarossarotbart]

Well, the double-ended flail was called dire flail in D&D 3rd edition. Other similiar weapons were the double-bladed sword, the orc double axe (double-bladed axe heads at each end), the gnome hooked hammer (a hammer at one end and a pick at the other end), the dwarven Urgosh (a battle axe with a spear at the other end). The German RPG Das Schwarze Auge has double and triple headed flails, which should both work. But they also mention a flail with seven heads, called Donnerschlag, which is described as uncontrolable. And then there is the Korspieß, a halberd with nine blades. Another eapon from this world is the Zweililien, some kind of quarterstaff with blade similiar to the one of glaives at both ends. If you look for weird weapons, look into some fantasy roleplaying games. Often they have weapons which are really weird.

[@skyguytomas9615]

I don't know how to make this a safe weapon for sparring, but a three section staff would be super fun to see.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

PVC pipe with padding at the tips of each section would be a fair compromise.

[@zerentheunskilled]

@@j.f.fisher5318 Pipe insulation makes for good padding over 1/2" PVC and is still small enough you can get a hand around it. That's what I'd use if I was trying to make a weapon like that for sparring.

[@RJGrady]

@@zerentheunskilled I've seen that done. The group I was in banned flail type weapons with excessive length because of this weapon. It was surprisingly fast. And ouch.

[@matthewsklut4886]

Double Shields. Perhaps one lighter/smaller with a bladed edge and the other primarily for defense like a Murmillo but with a spiked upper crest for a shoulder-powered stab. Or whatever

[@hendrikvanleeuwen9110]

Grappling armed foes with spikey armour. Elbows, knees and head as spikey weapons. I imagine it going up against a more lightly armoured swordsman in a gladiatorial syle matched mismatch!

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

I would love to see how big, flat pole weapons could be used. You know, oars and shovels. And how practical is the rhetiarius net actually? Oh, and what about a lasso?

[@Dominator046]

All of the "erroneous" weapons from Fiore. The double-hilted sword thing comes to mind. Also maybe trying his (not actually poison-loaded) special polaxe / warhammer that is poison bearing.

[@juggernautz181]

-obscenely large sword -tools turned weapons such as sickles or pitchforks -fabric such as a towel, bedsheets, rope ect

[@chengkuoklee5734]

I give you a better one- chair

[@juggernautz181]

@@chengkuoklee5734 ah the fiore specialty

[@OspreyKnight]

Kind of wondering how well an handgonne would handle as a melee weapon. Once fired its essentially a polearm with an iron mace head. There are even some with a rather nasty looking hook that you're supposed to use to hook on a wall or shield while firing.

[@DwarfInBlues]

You don't want them to see the full use range of handgonne in practice? LOL

[@glorrin]

So considering the best weapon ever made is the stick I would like to see someone spar what is the total opposite of a stick a rope. I guess it is not that whacky but I have no idea how one would spar with it

[@VikingTeddy]

Basic whipping/lashing I guess. Maybe tie a knot at the end(s). Or use it as a grappling aid as a lasso. There's lasso performers who can do impressive tricks, so maybe not that crazy of an idea.j

[@greyvr4336]

Tie a weight at one end and swing it. Chain and Sickle from Japan, there's also a version of it with a frisbee at one end and a rope, with a blade like a small onehanded brown bill at the other end. Search term kyoketsu-shoge. OR if you want to be pure rope, a bullwhip or a cat of nine tails. (Also, Rope > stick.)

[@ex0ne]

I thought the opposite of a stick would be a big rock? With the rope, I would probably hold one end of the rope in each hand to form a loop and try to catch and throw my opponent with it. Depends a bit on the length of the rope and its thickness (how long is a rope?)

[@dylanhentch9719]

The weirdest weapon that could possibly be feasible is probably the Eiserne Drossel (See Tira from Soul Calibur) it's essentially a bladed hullahoop. No historical basis to my knowledge, but it reminds me of the Shaolin Bench, where bulky awkward weapons can perform remarkable counter attacks.

[@user-ou4jk2di4q]

That's just an oversized chakram/wind and fire wheel. Also somewhat plausible if it could be carried on the shoulder.

[@chaos_omega]

• My #1 choice would be "mai sawks," a Thai weapon, similar to tonfa but are flatter and more shield-like. (Also spelled 'mae sowks' and other permutations of those 4 spellings.) • I wouldn't mind seeing HEMA practitioners sparring with other Asian weapons like sai, tonfa, butterfly swords, hook swords, haladie, madu, kukri, panabas, etc... • I know there are companies out there that make synthetic bat'leth, that also might be something to try. (I just want to note that I don't personally think these are dumb weapons... it's just that because they are foreign to HEMA it might not be obvious how to use them. Also, more discriminating people might dismiss them outright!)

[@d-w-b-c]

my socks

[@Ithirahad]

@@d-w-b-c filled with rocks

[@TheGREYPELT]

The rock-in-an-apron from Talhoffer's treatise on "marriage counseling".

[@stephenlewis6922]

I think a glave with a "head" on each end would look cool and might be effective.

[@danielcox7629]

Ah, the dire flail.

[@EriktheRed2023]

D&D, as much as I love that game, has been responsible for a lot of weird misconceptions of history. 😄

[@greyvr4336]

@@EriktheRed2023 Like "platemail."

[@danielcox7629]

I would like to see a wooden maul vs various targets.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

That ‘Pizza Axe’ looks both functional and hilarious!

[@JustClaude13]

I don't eat pizza at home because I don't have an axe to cut it with. Now hope may be at hand!

[@greyvr4336]

"Weirdest weapons" George Silver's LONG staff. Or Ghiza's Wheel from Elden Ring.

[@nantha7357]

I would really want to see something like that historical lantern shield with the extra blades tested.

[@nevisysbryd7450]

Nunchuks are good for their context, which is largely in an urban/semi-urban civilian context. They can be deployed quickly, have a greater reach than most weapons used in crime (knives, saps, etc), are fairly unrestricted by confined spaces, are effective grappling tools, etc. They make for a great response to someone pulling a knife on you in a back alley due to both outreaching them and fheir their inertia giving them a lot of stopping power, making pretty effective at knocking a hand or weapon offline or disarming them.

[@jesuizanmich]

- Talhoffer duelling shields and scythes - bearing swords - Indian Pata (and other Indian swords with somewhat restrictive hilts like Khanda or Firangi) - Chinese hook swords (and other uncommon Chinese weapons) - Nunchucks, Dual-bladed swords, Bat'leth

[@RJGrady]

The pata was designed to defeat scale and segmented armors.

[@Valkanna.Nublet]

Swordchucks. Like nunchucks but with swords.

[@nevisysbryd7450]

Swordchucks, yo.

[@greyvr4336]

The lantern shield of Archduke Ernest of Austria. The one with a gauntlet and sword built in.

[@greyvr4336]

Chinese wolf brush. It's a cut down tree used as a vertical net to jam up a swordsman while another spears him with a regular spear. Lang xian. Seems like there's a number of designs for the things and some digging may be required.

[@ankokuraven]

i want to second lantern shield

[@MaxBrodsky.]

@@ankokuraven There's already a video like that

[@greyvr4336]

@@MaxBrodsky. Can you give us a title/channel title/search term? I'd ask for a link but youtube requires channel owner to approve links.

[@batteredwarrior]

- Double-ended, double-bitted axe. - Sliding blade sword (from Ninja Assassin...blade can change ends).

[@williamedward1666]

Swordstaff (like the double lightsaber but just ordinary swords). Show up in fantasy all the time and I'd like to see if they actually provide any real advantages

[@j-uw8gx]

I'd like to see the man vs woman duel where the guy has to stand in a hole.

[@DavidLC11]

Dual wielding shields. What can you actually do if that’s all you have?

[@GothamClive]

You don't have to dual-wield it. Look for the video titled "Tell me how the grass tastes little man"

[@Normonaut]

a knifebrella. No explanation. No instructions.

[@MegaDevilmaycare]

I have several suggestions, some of which may prove impractical due to safety concerns/ incubation time: Nine section whip, meteor hammer, claw hammer, belt, patu, taiaha, oar, coffee mug, sword and cape, spiked targe, patta or scissor, trident, half a brick in a sock, tonfa and riot shield, sodegarami, car aerial, a high heeled shoe held in the hand, chair, bullwhip, 4WD, and, finally, tuberculosis.

[@ShieldWife]

I would be curious to see a Bat’leth tried out, especially again a normal sword.

[@ruebenblack3495]

You might want to look up Skallagrim; he's made several videos on the topic and has tested it!

[@GothamClive]

@@ruebenblack3495 I think he used it too much like a sword. It should be mainly used like a shield. If you have a Bat'leth you should either run towards your enemy to close the distance and then use it to finish your opponent, if he has cut you while you approached you just tank it, or use it defensively to bind the enemy's weapon and then attack with the other side. A HEMA approach of "You touched me, so you get the point and we start again" isn't how it would be used. And it's an unfair test.

[@nicklab1927]

Hello. A few proposals of wacky weapons: - The double ended flail you presented would be interesting. Shad had a go with a similar one (using water bottles instead of steel bits). - The sword+flail weapon. Skallagrim had a go with it, it looks very wacky. - Sword and axe combo weapon. It is a sword, with an axe head near the hilt, mounted on the sword. With some mechanical release system, the axe head slides along the sword towards the tip. I saw a youtube video with such a weapon, and I have a lot of doubts regarding its usability.

[@left4bread900]

A sword with axe blades for a crossguard could be interesting

[@dequitem]

Thanks for mention me: I would love to see duel shields on my own channel, but you can make it first ;)

[@chengkuoklee5734]

What if the knights fight in tavern, with medieval accurate chair? Lets say due to some unforseen circumstances the knights lost their weapon, how are they going to translate their normal weapons skills into some objects that they never think of? It would be a fun simulation.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

Suggestion is Mancatchers! The pole with a ring of inward spikes. Also I second the guy that said dueling shields that would be cool. And. Lastly, I would like to see someone fight with a Taiha. The Polynesian axe/paddle/spear thing.

[@rikremmerswaal2756]

Why am I getting the feeling that a very, very long response video might go up in the coming days...

[@alexandergoossens7264]

I often wondered how well you could use an italian style billhook head without a shaft on it, essentially using it as a funky machete of sorts.

[@reaperwithnoname]

The double-bladed sword is pretty much mandatory.

[@radivojevasiljevic3145]

From Naboo with love, Darth Maul.

[@GUNNER67akaKelt]

A video lasting 2 minutes, 46 seconds from Matt?

[@RheaMainz]

I could see the double ended flail being used with one hand on the shaft and one hand at the end of the chain. This grip won't have the power of a two handed strike, but it could block by pulling the chain taut, and maybe grapple other weapons loosely through handwrapping the chain around them. The second flailing lump of metal won't hit its user when in this way too.

[@samirish6696]

I would like to see an airsoft and rebated blade version of an Elgin pistol cutlass. Or one of the Sabres with a pin fire revolver in the guard.

[@SkepticalCaveman]

Nunchaku is a great weapon, and it's very easy to carry around.

[@ChasingtheKraken]

I'm curious how a spear with an inner shaft would work. Basically it works like a normal 7' spear but when thrust forward the inner shaft slides forward and it becomes a 12' spear. Then the user could pull it back in and it becomes a 7' spear again.

[@King.Leonidas]

straight from gurps fantasy tech. The Arma 3 of pen and paper role playing games. Double-Ended Halberd ingame ibs 16 Double-Ended Horse-Cutter presume double ended nodachi ingame 12 Double-Ended Naginata or Glaive 8 Double-Ended Pollaxe 16 Double-Ended Slashing Spear 8 Double-Ended Dao 14 Double-Ended Falchion, Light 10 Double-Ended Falchion, Heavy 13 Double-Ended Sword, Long 10 Double-Ended Sword, Short 8 Double-Ended Axe, Heavy 12 Double-Ended Axe, Light 8 Double-Ended Mace 12 Double-Ended Maul 20 Double-Ended Sickle 6 Double-Ended Warhammer 10 Double-Ended Flail, Light 8 Double-Ended Flail, Heavy 12 all of these above have an effective reach of 2 yards in the game as i understand it. Gigantic Sword the only one a human could probably really use. 3 yard reach weight 16 IBS Absurd Rapier 3 yard long effective thrusting rapier sharp edge. weight 4.5 Really Absurd Rapier 4 yard effecitve thrusting range 6 ibs Insane Rapier 5 yard effective thrusting range 7.5 Gurps works on a 1 second per turn basis

[@Waggadudewagga]

The billhook-sword!

[@josephd.5524]

Not exactly a weird weapon, but I would like to see some duels with weapons based on the Han-era Ji. It seems like a very versatile design.

[@MalloonTarka]

Ooo ooo! - Throwing knives attached to every part of the body: belt, bandolier, legs, arms, boots, back. - a Goedendag (club with spearpoint) - a Jugger Chain - a 320cm chain with a ball/weight/mace head at the end - armored boots & legs or blades at the end of legs/feet - a lacrosse stick & balls - a kid's slingshot - a flail with an elastic "chain" - a door, table, chair, stool, ladder or bucket - a hand cannon (replicated using some sort of nerf gun-type attatchment) - bolas - a spiked helmet - grenades/water baloons - a boulder - frisbees/chakram - a mancatcher And as a bonus, normal sparring while wearing those short metal stilts with springs in them.

[@futurerandomness1620]

One I always wondered about is the fans you always see used in kung fu movies. What would a combat system for those look like

[@SpiggyTech]

Its basically a baton that folds open into a fan to be distracting.

[@jollygoodfellow3957]

A tuning fork sword: A sword whose blade splits into two parallel blades with an open path in the middle.

[@NDOhioan]

Here's the ones I'd like you to try: - Paired nunchaku. what better to fight spinny stuff than *more* spinny stuff? - Some form of double-bitted battleaxe, either a two-handed one or a one-handed one with a shield. - The Atlantean from the Schwarzenegger Conan movies (if it's possible to make an analog that's safe for sparring.) - I won't push this one, but if you could find some way to make a *bearing sword* that was safe to spar with, that'd be *a lot* of fun to watch for the sheer absurdity of it.

[@rararnanan7244]

Musket & bayonet is awesome - what could be better? MUSKET & FLAIL! Attack a chain & ball to the end of your barrel, shoot and smack your enemies. How history missed such a potent weapon is beyond me. Another more practical experiment is dual wielding a table knife and fork - defending your home when invaded in the middle of dinner.

[@markkodryk829]

There was a mafia guy, Frank Nitti. He used a razor as a weapon. What if he met another guy like him.

[@pauljukes3304]

I'd put forward the Lajatang. Bonus points for mentioning them used by Wang-Liang.

[@bartwinter4078]

- Double-headed two-handed axe like you see in movies - Weird chain weapons like the meteor hammer and/or kusarigama. I never understood how those could be feasable to use in actual combat - A whip? - Wind-and-fire wheels

[@kleinjahr]

I,vaguely, remember a sword/jian from an old Chinese movie. The blade was double ended and the hilt slid along the length.

[@terrenusvitae]

A sharkpole. its a pole weapon with a shark strapped to the end.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Lololol 😂

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

Believe it or not but Cossacks used polearms that had cow skulls strapped to the end. So a sharkpole doesn't seem that crazy...

[@terrenusvitae]

@@kamilszadkowski8864 Then I shall endeavour to be even more ridiculous next time. I don't want to be outdone by Cossacks.

[@johnnyplayer2075]

The shark pole should be a combined melee weapon and also have the ability to shoot the shark on your opponent. A shark artillery would also be great! 🦈😊

[@terrenusvitae]

@@johnnyplayer2075 you mean "sharktillary"

[@Philip271828]

Gyrspike from 3rd ed. D&D, it was a longsword with a flail on the pommel

[@lady_draguliana784]

this is an old idea in most devoted martial arts: once you get the hang of basic weapon combat, you can make anything within reason work, and why many styles now require the learning of how to use a stick before you can use the real weapon

[@shinjiikari1021]

A farming hoe A shovel with long handel A hammer paired with a sickle

[@DwarfInBlues]

Hammer paired with a sickle is a devastating weapon for comrades.

[@shinjiikari1021]

@@DwarfInBlues pefect side arm for an tokarev or makarov after you already used their capacity and your ak, because its faster to switch to your back up

[@ex0ne]

How about a traditional fantasy "fist weapon", something like a katar with a buckler attached, in each hand!

[@gregwasserman2635]

Makes one wonder how many crazy weapons are lost to history. I don't just mean one-off weapons, but also some rare weapons that were used in for a specific purpose or required a bit of training to use.

[@jesusclements5225]

- Pascha's Jägerstock (double ended spear) - Mair's Sickle - Mair's Scythe - Mendoza's Mangual

[@KRF-xj2wh]

Swordchucks?

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

This aligns with Giacomo di Grassi's view that martial skill was about defending yourself with whatever you had on hand based on universal principles. A stool or bench is a pretty terrible weapon, but di Grassi mentioned using such an implement to defend against a sword in a pinch. Do y'all ever do any sparring with improvised weapons like stools, pieces of wood, & cloaks (like cloak vs. dagger from di Grassi)?

[@RealZeratul]

Paired (tiger) hook swords! I find them useful and versatile (for duels; certainly not on a battlefield as claimed sometimes :D), although I am very accepting of the linked-swinging techniques. I'd love if you gave them a try.

[@stevemarshall4822]

When I was a teenager I remember a demonstration from a visiting karate instructor who was expert with the three sectioned staff. He knocked himself out.

[@KitagumaIgen]

Please test how the yeoman's emergency weapons hold up - pitchforks and scythes...

[@toddellner5283]

Urumi- GET INSTRUCTION. Otherwise you could flay yourself Boarding knife or fleshing spade (whaling tools) - a three foot double edged blade on a three foot stick and odd-looking polearm respectively Ba Gua Rooster knives, deer horn knives, hook swords French cooper's adze - the really heavy one that covers the entire hand and has a short handle Two handed carpenter's adze Plantation hoe Cast iron pot lid and big kitchen knife Okinawan nunte Chinese hook spear

[@scottbrown411]

The nice part is, if they are making them safe to spar with, they'll make them safe for them to USE without hurting themselves as well :)

[@gregoryford5230]

From Chinese martial arts: Rope darts / Meteor hammers- easy build with a tennis balls (Full of sand?) on some rope. I don't think I've ever seen sparring with them.

[@zerentheunskilled]

I'd like to see one of those fantasy mauls. You know the ones. The ones where the head is the size of a man's torso. I built one out of foam for LARP and it was really fun to swing around but was incredibly cumbersome. I'd like to see what other people's take on it might be.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Imagine how much more cumbersome it would be made of metal?

[@zerentheunskilled]

@@j.f.fisher5318 It wouldn't need to be made of metal. It could be made of wood and still work as a weapon. It'd just be an oversized mallet.

[@BreakChannelZero]

The two-bladed sword from D&D Not a staff with a short blade at each end, but a standard hilt with a full arming sword blade coming out of the top and bottom.

[@mr.mephitis2492]

Ludwig's Holy Blade; it's basically a sword within a sword. Logarius' Wheel: a cart wheel. Kirk Hammer: a sword inside a hammer.

[@scariuslvl9987]

a sword with a long chain at the pommel? a flail with no handle (and a longer chain)? an old wooden chair? a Klingon Bat' leth? a very long nunchuk? a short, four-headed axe? (two at each end of the stick)

[@BigSkySix]

Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

[@DwarfInBlues]

It needs the dire rabbit, and no one can make a safe sparring version of one

[@nolanraymond6616]

Mess around with gun/sword combinations using a nerf gun. Anything from a bayonet to a sword gun.

[@conorhudson1486]

swordchucks...(two swords linked together by the pommels with a chain) swax...(sword with and axe head for a pommel) swagger...(sword with a dagger as the pommel) racepier...(rapier hilted mace) floorhammer...(warhammer head attatched to feet for kicking) bro and arrow..(at any time during a fight you can summon your friend who attempts to stab your opponrnt with an arrow) smellberd..(halberd with poo, or another foul smelling substance on the blade) toll axe...(every swing costs one shilling)

[@thaddeusgigachaddeus2954]

Pistol-sword with nerf bullets PLEASE

[@Tranzisto]

My suggestions are lesser known whacky japanese weapons - _tessen_ , or simply war fan (yes, those were real, those are not anime inventions) and _kusarigama_ - a weird throwing scythe/axe thing on a chain, simillar to the tomahawk that that indian girl wielded in the latest "Predator" movie.

[@jlworrad]

I remember laughing my head off at a vampire in the movie Underground when he had a whip in either hand. Something about it was very Vic & Bob.

[@jrockoclock7088]

playing with my friends as kids one of my buddies came up with what was a weird technique to fight against where he had lets say a saber and dagger off hand and would swing with the main saber but ice pick grip the dagger. I couldn't ever figure out a proper way to defend against it other than trying to outspace it. The technique is whatever strike you throw you also have an immediate perpendicular thrust with it. And there are other options obviously as well, but that was the one where it just destroyed my brain when it happened.

[@studentdrake]

The greatest meme weapon of all, a pommel.

[@radivojevasiljevic3145]

A pommel without blade - very tight budget "sword".

[@TempFile8907]

A billhook but on a sword hilt instead of a pole.

[@MasterOfBaiter]

It's not necessarily wacky given what they were used for, but dueling shields could be a lot of fun to see people struggle with lol

[@stefthorman8548]

an scythe with two blades, one at the top, one at the bottom, both facing the same direction, with the edges facing each other.

[@whyjay9959]

A sword with a more robust and weaponized hilt for mordhau might be interesting- While you can't really test its striking effectiveness in a spar, you could test the disadvantage of a heavier hilt. And maybe hit some hard test targets. A wackier one would be a sword with two parallel blades for catching enemy weapons, either - - or =. Conan 2011 has one example.

[@GothamClive]

I always wondered why nobody ever gave the basket of a rapier some spikes or blades to give it more offensive capabilities.

[@fsmoura]

ACHKSHUALLY, there's no dumb medieval weapons... you just haven't achieved a sufficient level of HEMA.

[@zanegrote2064]

staff flail, particularly in use with a hussite style war wagon (how much more defensible is this setup really?) Forwards curving blades such as sickle swords or falx I have a feeling that sparring safe farm implements might be little different than most sparring safe polearms. mock rifles with bayonet should be doable and fun but likely out of the scope of this. Two... shields pike lines meeting without any backup weapon (less that the weapon is dumb, more that the situation it is now in is dumb for the weapon)