Mysterious Renaissance Weapon: the CORSEQUE

[@vienzodziu]

looks likea nice item to have in naval combat both to bring and push another ship/rigging/opponents

[@alltat]

Having the smaller spikes as a way of biting into wood surfaces could also be handy on ships. It's not as good as hooking a rope, but as a backup plan when working as part of a team, it's better than just standing there.

[@greenman4508]

The oldest naval destroyer is a hula hoop, with a nail in it.

[@GermanSausagesAreTheWurst]

@@greenman4508 Took me a second.

[@MusMasi]

@@greenman4508 🤣🤣 ouch

[@ObatongoSensei]

Well, it seems that originally it was indeed a naval weapon, used by marines on galleys. Later on it was adopted by land armies as well, mainly due to its anti-cavalry benefits.

[@wiskadjak]

In Di Grassi’s True Art of Defence (1570) he discusses the spiedo which is very similar to the corseque. It has a long centre spike and two shorter curved blades branching off at the bottom. However, on the spiedo the blades curve forward. The hooked part of the corseque reminds me of a type of logging hook that is commonly used here in Canada. It appears to work on the same principle in that there are two points of contact. The hook and the end of the rectangular section. It may be that the corseque was actually based on a logging a tool. Put two hooks back to back, add a nasty spike, and voila! You can pull your opponent to the ground then stick em' with the pointy end.

[@RudraLP]

As for why they didn't gradually taper the wings down to the point but chose the rectangular "cut-off" form, I'm pretty certain that it's easier to forge it if you want the reinforced tips. You start off with a bar that you drive out to the needed length of the spike, hot chisel the material of the wings off the center piece and bring these side-pieces in the wanted hook-shape. Driving the material out into the thinner blade shape on the full length of the wings except the tips (which are meant to stay thick) is the last step. I don't know if I could explain my thoughts pictorially enough, not used to talking about forging in english.

[@dadegroot]

I'd agree, isolate some material, upset it back into itself for a thicker cross section and draw down in to a spike, Easier to leave the underside squared, esp. if you're knocking a lot of these out for an order.

[@uncledon2128]

My first reaction was that it's a "stop" to prevent the spike from penetrating too deep and becoming hung.

[@Spielkalb-von-Sparta]

@@uncledon2128 My thoughts exactly. It seems deliberately designed that way, if wanted it tapered, they've could have done it with their technology.

[@ycplum7062]

It looks to be effective against pike and cavalry. The sharp forward edge and its merging to the shaft means any thrust will be caught and almost locked into place. The hook can probably catch several pikeheads to be knocked aside or pushed toward the ground and allow some swordsmen to rush forward. Against cavalry, you have the reach and the awlhead. The wings prevent a horse to run up into you. The forward edge can be used against the unarmored legs of horses. The hook overall can be used to pull horsemen from the saddle. The spike would allow someone to catch the gaps in a fully plated horseman and oull him down.

[@Oldtanktapper]

Pretty much my thoughts too. Any wooden shaft getting into that fork is going to lock in due to the bite of that sharp edge.

[@SuperOtter13]

I would agree that the sharpened top of wings is mainly for biting into the shaft of other poll weapons. I love this kind of content! Poll arms were the most used weapons of war but we all focus on swords so much. Don't get me wrong they are absolutely an obsession of mine. But long pointy sticks are where its at in my mind these days and i would be happy to learn as much as i can. Thanks again Matt and Gavin. Cheers!

[@MrBottlecapBill]

That was my thought as well. A sharp edge to bite into the shaft of another polearm and allow you to guide it to the side so you can then apply that crazy spike with a deadly stab. It could also potentially do some damage to hands that may only have leather inserts for the palms.

[@jeremywashburn562]

My thought on the peculiar shape of the ends of the hooks is that it may be to prevent them from penetrating deeply enough into a target for them to be difficult to extract. I imagine it punching into a target armored in mail or something like brigandine, catching, and then pulling said target off-balance or perhaps dismounting them. If you don't want your weapon becoming difficult to extract and the main purpose isn't wounding, but rather manipulating, then 1.5" of penetration is really all you need.

[@littlekong7685]

This seems reasonable. Against fabric, or mail the short length becomes an advantage, against flesh it is a disadvantage given the light weight of the weapon you are unlikely to get strong penetration anyways so you lose what little potential you have at the fixed length. But for a tradeoff, it isn't a bad one, more control in exchange for less damage vs unarmoured foes, and given this is likely a battlefield weapon and not a civic defence weapon, you are going to be facing way more armoured foes anyways.

[@sameerthakur720]

1.5" of penetration is really all you need. No girlfriend or wife will agree.

[@samimurtomaki5534]

Exactly what I was thinking 👍

[@fluppet2350]

“When you have a long shaft coupled with a relatively slender head and you’ve got this curve here” Beautiful wording Matt

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

The corseque is very similar to the spetum that Pietro Monte described & the spiedo that appears in texts by Achille Marozzo, Giacomo di Grassi & company. The difference between this corseque & the spiedo from Marozzo & di Grassi is that the wings or ears turn back toward the wielder. Monte's spetum sounds more like this corseque: "The spetum is commonly thrown with the point, though it has sharp ears rolled back in the way of a half bow at the front, which can tear by reuersum or cut; it is a powerful weapon. It has the opportunity to parry with the ears any weapon, long or short, now above and now below, and sometimes across. The spetum should remain in the hands so, that one one ear faces up and the other down, so that when turning it, it goes somewhat to the side and gathers the other’s weapon. It should have a sharp spike in the lower part, so that we can strike with it when two speta come to meet it with the ears, or to let the spetum knock or fix another weapon into the ground such as a long lance, and then the adversary would come to join, so we could strike him with the spike. The spetum can easily contend against any weapon. But however in opposing it, one should wear mail gloves for seizing, because the ears of the spetum cut." "The ears of the spetum should be large, not straight but concave like a half circle, and in the place where they are at first in the beginning divided, they should be greatly turned away from the principal point, and afterwards a turn is to be given, they should cut sufficiently through everything, except in that beginning, because they should be able to run along the adversary’s weapon to strike him in the hands or any other limb." In a 2019 article, Jacob Henry Deacon & Iason-Eleftherios Tzouriadis write the following about Monte's spetum: "The weapon that he describes has a long, sharpened point and at its base two sharp wings facing upwards in the shape of a bow. This description can fit what is more widely described in scholarship as a spetum or chauve-souris, but it can also describe a corseque."

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

Great comment mate👍

[@TheHorzabora]

Fascinating weapon! I once had one on an RPG character because I loved the look (and they counted as tridents which did more damage than spears), they seem very brutal and yet potentially quite elegant and skilful. I think the forward facing cutting surface makes for an excellent deterrent against people with bare flesh and - as you say - for engaging with a parry and cutting into enemy weapons. The spikes, I think, are simply likely to dig in / press in much easier than even a narrow extended blade, particularly as they’re only single sided.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Also a good way to mess with your opponents' hands if they do not have armored gloves or gauntlets.

[@bakters]

@@MonkeyJedi99 That makes sense to me too. The other guy is likely to drop his polearm, when this thing is sliding along the shaft towards his hands.

[@zenhydra]

Here's my speculation about this weapon. I think the shoulders under the hook spikes is there to prevent over-penetration which might otherwise render the weapon unusable due to being awkwardly stuck in its target. I believe Matt's 3rd theory on the primary purpose of the front facing edges is probably correct, and that they are meant to better engage and "stick" to other polearms and blades they come in contact with.

[@RockModeNick]

I was thinking the same thing about the shoulders preventing over-penetration. Everything about the design scheme screams to me that it's NOT for chopping. Those little spikes provide a threat that can't be ignored, but also won't get stuck easily and can give control over a snagged target while still being fast and easy to disengage.

[@balor84]

Thanks for showcasing a corseque! I recently bought one and quite like them… at least insomuch as they look hanging on the wall.

[@silverjohn6037]

Aside from it just being a stylistic choice could it have been inspired by boat hooks for use by soldiers on the galleys of the period? Having the short spikes on the wings might serve for biting into wood. Having the blades sharp on the forward edge you could use it for thrust/cutting ropes attached to a grappling hook (which would have a length of chain close to the hook itself). Which would explain why it was sharpened all the way to the main shaft where it wouldn't have been able to do any damage to a person.

[@titanscerw]

This sounds promising.

[@dangheathen]

If it were indeed Corsican in origin that would make more sense as well.

[@flamandbenoit7247]

@@dangheathen there is no "if" here, it came, for sure, from corsica. At least, that's what the armoury of king Herni VIII said ;)

[@Lemonjellow]

It looks like the hook part of a log Peavy... so sounds promising.

[@arnijulian6241]

You can use the curved prong for thrusting at rigging & such but that is not the primary purpose. said M shape is for thrusting at armpits & thigh though any round limb especially against horses. The reverse blunt end of the M is for rake people off high positions like a horse or a wall/raised platform of any sort for once yanked down you jab them with the pointy end. A korseke has a lot more universal uses then most would think upon 1st inspection if unfamiliar & is universal in it's versatility. long enough without being cumbersome with an array of uses for common inconveniences. Against the siege, horses or infantry a Korseke later called corseque is more then adequate to most any potential threat one might come upon. Bills & French-bills/Guisarme were more common place historically for good reason but a Korseke can fulfil many requirements a bill simply can't do. Do keep in mind that pikes & spears were more common place then even bills though Korseke were not rarities by any means in a formation. No perfect pole arm exists but when they are in unison assisting ranged units & cavalry the odds of victory increased considerably if all troops were well drilled in their respective roles. You have about a dozen branches of Polearms for a reason though some are very specialised nieces that can be not had but a Korseke is better had then not had historically.

[@richard6133]

I had been wondering about these - thanks for the video!

[@bu55c]

I believe the linstock of the cannon / artillery officer was derived from that polearm with the hooks used to then hold the slow matches used to fire the artillery piece.

[@mikesimmons2395]

That's exactly what I thought

[@Joe___R]

As far as the small spikes on the tip of the hooks having the flat end under it. Seems like a feature to keep it from going too deep into something and being difficult to remove. Hooks can be difficult to remove since they have to come out in the same direction they went in. In the heat of battle, having your weapon stuck even for a short time can be fatal.

[@darrinrebagliati5365]

My first thought about the sharpened curves was for slicing ropes. The small spikes for ease of removal. Maybe as a siege weapon, for the guy climbing a ladder to carry up and dissuade spearmen from poking down at you. Then I saw several people mentioning naval uses and it kind of fits as more than likely, in my mind, for severing rigging or grapples trying to bind your ship to theirs. That little hook would be painful if it caught an unarmored sailor or could be used to drag lines/nets into hand reach. Hamstrings and the back of the knee could also be its intended target, though a sharpened inside curve would be better. The one thing that people are mentioning that i have to disagree with is its use against Cavalry. Yes, a horse would recieve massive injury from it, but may carry itself too far onto it to get it out and would definitely tear it from your hands as it fell. I could see the sharpened inner curve maybe being used to cut a girth strap or lift a lance but the light and relatively thin shaft may not survive the torsion applied in that situation.

[@geoffreyganoe5246]

Currently playing an RPG with the Corseque, was wondering about it. Thanks for the vid.

[@vladimirandreevich]

I like Gavin's intimidating backgroud presence

[@philparkinson462]

Beautifully designed. Nimble reinforced point, cutting edges and perfectly designed to hook. A work of art and very well considered weapon.

[@mohammadtausifrafi8277]

Maybe the most beautiful polearm.

[@ElDinosaurioGigante]

"When youve got a long shaft with a relatively slender head, and you've got this curve here....." 😂😂😂😂

[@andrewsock1608]

Maybe it’s for hooking shield rims. Drop it behind the shields pull the shield then push the point. It’s a pull push drill.

[@chickenmonger123]

It could be useful for that. Especially if you are trying to compensate for a lack of armor, and expecting bow or crossbow. Shields cost wood and time. Economical. Though you need an appropriate one handed weapon to accompany it. Anyway, you can pull and push the rim, then stab or cut with a thrust. The wings width also give you more opportunity to control, which you’d want, because that rather long spike will be mostly good for stabbing, requiring time to pull back and push forward to use again.

[@SurmaSampo]

The spike is too long for this.

[@andrewsock1608]

@@SurmaSampo no it’s not too long. A outstretched arm and half the width of a shield is 1.5 -2 meters.

[@SurmaSampo]

@@andrewsock1608 Ok, but shields from that period are not held at arm's length so you are not going to table the shield anyway. To be effective you need to be able to work with the shield at 45 degree tilt with the shield user's elbow being a couple handspans from their chest. The spike is too long to easily work in that gap. When pulling a pavise style shield (these are heavy so again not at arm's length) you can't table the shield as it pivot a lateral to the ground leaving even less space. The spike is too long. In formation fights the man pulling the shield is only making the opening for the man beside or behind him. This would favour shield hooking. The problem then is hardly anyone was using shields in formation combat by the period where this weapon was in use. Much like a boarding pile, I believe the hooks on this are shaped like nails to spike and drag stuff rather than people.

[@chrismorgan9651]

I would speculate that the reason for the small "claw" at the tip of the wings served to facilitate immobilising an oponent. While a gradual taper on the wing will hook around something, that little spike will slip through ring mail like thread through a needle. Also, the "bite" that little tip provides seems like it would go much deeper into a shield and be much more effective in controlling opposed actions than a blunter wing tip.

[@coldwarrior78]

Seems to be a great weapon for marines or sailors. Spike is primary offensive weapon. Those hooks would be handy for grabbing opponents, pulling them off balance or off the boat. Hook tips might be strong enough to use like a boat hook. I imagine the front of the hook would aid parrying enemy weapons.

[@arc0006]

Great vid. Love the name of that weapon. I was just thinking of the awl pike a few days ago. Love that weapon too. I agree with just about everything you mentioned about the corseque(sp?l), especially the bit about the sharpened front edges for biting into the wood of another polearm. While the spikes were almost certainly for hooking, I don't think that was their only purpose. If they were only for hooking I think their angle would be more towards the handle. They seem to be perfectly angled for an arcing hit. I think that spike might be able to puncture plate but would not penatrate deep enough to reach anything beneath. So why? To control an armoured opponent even if only for a moment. Hit an enemy in the helmet and then tipped off balance and then impaled by your buddy next to you with his weapon. The shelf is to prevent over penatration. Or I'm totally wrong!

[@Riceball01]

According to an article I just read on Weapons from History, the corseque was often used as an anti-cavalry weapon against cavalry. They don't go into any more details except to quote "Weapons and Fighting Techniques of the Medieval Warrior" by Martin Dougherty that it was used defensively. The article also mentions that it was used too good effect a the Battle of Ravena in 1512. Maybe some more research into the Battle of Ravenna or the book that I mentioned might reveal a bit more about this weapon. One thing to note about the article on the corseque is that the article shows 2 examples of the weapon but neither matched the one shown in this video. Both example shown have 3 angular blades and no spike and little to no curve on the inside edges.

[@korg20000bc]

George Silver on the use of the Forest Bill against the like weapon: "5. Also if you can reach within the head of his bill with the head of your bill then suddenly with the head of your bill snatch his bill head strongly towards you, & therewithal indirect his bill head & forcibly run up your bill head to his hands, so have you the like advantage as above said, whereas I spoke of running up towards his hands." The same technique would work with this weapon.

[@DerLaCroix1]

I think the forward sharp edge with the inverse wedge would be very good to catch a halberd swinging down. It would be quite secure in there, and teh long spike makes it easy to guide the swing into that catch. Also, from a blacksmithing standoint it is not much harder to make a single spike or to split it off like it was done here. I would propose that people were quite aware of the weakness of pulling with just a spike, so this edge is actually the main hook to catch polearms limbs and other things, and the spike is meant to maybe slide into gaps of armor or catch maille sleeves, or maybe to catch an aventail to rip the helmet off someone's head on a glancing pass.

[@wrekced]

@Scholagladiatoria Aside from being a depth limiting stop for the little spike, I suspect, looking at the right-angled point under the hook, that it is there to bite into things when you hook something with the wing. I paused the video and looked at the tip closely. It is sharpened in a way that makes it into a sharp but thick spike! Kind of like the corner of an axe blade. When I used to have to split wood for heat, I often used that part of my axe blade to stab into the side of a log so I could pull it into place. Basically, I would strike so the bottom point went in perpenicular to the surface on the side opposite me. Then I could pull it and have pretty good control over where it went. That corner looks like it could take a lot of force. I think if you were to put a tin can around a log; you could use that corner to put a hole in the can with very little effort. It would bite into plate armor in the same way. That would give the wielder of the corseque a very good chance of snagging an armored torso, leg or arm without slipping. I just had an interesting thought about the way the front edge of the wing is sharpened. If you wanted to really mess up a guy riding a horse, cutting his reins would be an easy place to start! A forward facing set of blades like that would make it an easy task! And if you miss the reins, the point of the weapon will likely hit them...

[@thewastedwanderer5787]

On the topic of langets. I don’t think that they were recessed into the shaft to provide a better grip but instead for better stability and greater durability. If they were on the shaft without having a divot to lock into, I can see it easily breaking partially from the shaft and beginning to slide or wiggle about. Having it cut into the wood like that makes it locked in place.

[@vedymin1]

Those blades could be used to also slide them over the enemy shaft and wound the hands maybe ? You could do that while still controlling the enemy weapon too.

[@censoredterminalautism4073]

Corsequences will never be the same.

[@jakeshaw4952]

I love unusual military weapons. I love the idea that at some time, in an army somewhere there was a soldier who was the penultimate expert with that weapon. Maybe not famous but the toast of his buddies and the scourge of the training yard. He was, almost certainly, a Sergeant. Love this video as I do so much of your work. Thanks!

[@cracktmonkey3472]

What I see is a dedicated horse killer and rider dismounter.

[@joelthompson4854]

What type of formation was this weapon used in? A dense pike block or solitary guard at a door would help. Also, how are the wings sharpened? Does it have a chisel edge or an acorn edge? Maybe the wings were meant to cut off unarmored/lightly armored hands especially if fighting in mass blocks of infantry. Also, is there a depth of corseques I use where there's a second and third man deep providing cover and short range offense?

[@FirstLast-rb5zj]

The hook things aren't hooked but instead are to limit the penetration. This is likely for stopping power though the likely intent is for more than one to be used. If a horse charged a group of men with these and they all pointed them at it around the same time then the combined effect could halt it earlier. There is a slight springiness as well to absorb shock. These also have the break to be more reusable. If it over penetrates then you lose it or good luck when taking the extra time to try to pull it out. The hooks have an additional purpose in pulling or pushing someone further or striking in an ax like fashion.

[@Sirsethtaggart3505]

Thanks Gavin

[@nilo70]

Thank you Matt ! I have never heard or seen anything like this before 😊

[@daemonharper3928]

Great vid, very interesting - the first time I've seen one. As for the wings - I think you're spot on, to bite into, grip and control other polearm shafts.....of course being a bit slicey when coming into contact with humans doesn't hurt either.

[@mattyneuder4227]

The short spikes make it look more like grain before harvest than if they continued the blade

[@Wastelandman7000]

On the side points my best guess is its for grabbing mail. A full blade point wouldn't get as much purchase grabbing mail as this spike would. You're putting a nail on a long leaver in the links of a chain. Gives you lots of pull. As for the edges on the wings, they could also be used for hamstringing horses with a thrust at the lower leg. Horse fall down = easy meat. They'd also be good at crowd control in a riot. Plus, if someone grabbed the spike you could slide the blades into the hand.

[@ankokuraven]

Thought on the hook ends. The right angle is positioned to where it could dig in a little while hooking, possibly for grip or just to apply pressure when hooking. The spikes on the hooks look reinforced. I think they would be for penetration, not to do serious damage but to hook into flesh or cloth as a point of leverage for hooking and controlling, like a japanese sodegarami. The flat portion of that end may also be to prevent over penetration. I'm actually surprised the inside curve doesn't have any sort of edge, even considering the forward facing outer curve does.

[@danvernier198]

Isn't it somewhat likely that the heels on the side spikes are there to keep those spikes from penetration too deep? If you hook someone to pull tem off their horse of of their feet you would likely want to be able to retract your weapon fairly quickly so that it can be use again. Having a heel on the spike of your hook would prevent the spike from getting lodged in someone's clothing while retaining the largers hook element that can catch limbs or clothing without penetrating them as well.

[@timgchannel3328]

Something that long is probably anticavalry. A spike to skewer a rider, the blades to deflect him if you miss him, and a hook to pull him out of the saddle.

[@black_dragon-carpentry]

Was it meant for Calvary defence? Would the idea be a long spike to hit vital organs and sharpened and barbed like a fish hook... Kinda like a lethal version of those horrid bull fight hooks. Calvary charges in you brace or thrust and horse is dead dying or disabled? Possibly also very good against un armored to lightly armored ( as is less than full plate ) Sorry if I sound ignorant or if it's been asked before.

[@Nabterayl]

Speaking of Marozzo, this looks like what he would call a spiedo. It reminds me of what di Grassi says about the spiedo, as well: "And to the end, the bigness and weight of the Partisan, (which ought to be apt and commodious to be handled) might not be increased, they diminished part of the Iron thereof, and gave the same to the forks or defenses: And by that means they framed another weapon called the spiedo which (because the broadness, and happily the weight and place thereof is diminished) is not very forcible to strike with the edge, but all his power consists in three thrusts ..."

[@danioshea]

To my eye, the spike at the end of the wings has simply been forged using one of the fundamental techniques of blacksmithing, the "set" (or "sett", or "set-down", all in British blacksmithing terms). That is to say, putting the bar over the edge of the near side of the anvil, and hammering down (with the hammer-face overlapping edge of the anvil, "half on, half off", as it were) to create a step. It's the same technique as making a nib (or jaw, if you prefer) for a pair of tongs. Not only would it be quicker to forge that section into a point than the whole width of flat bar, but you're going to get a thickening of the fat end of the point in the other dimension, so if your intent is to make a small, reinforced point (for hooking clothing, mail, other items), it's the obvious thing to do. (Qualifications: Blacksmithing for 20+ years and scraping by something like a living doing it)

[@matthewexline6589]

Sorry if I missed it being talked about during the video, but how much of what kinds of armors would that be reasonably expected to penetrate?

[@Spielkalb-von-Sparta]

About the "shoulders" of the spikes: Maybe they wanted to avoid that the spike runs to deep into something to not get stuck?

[@jodycarter7308]

Keep out of range of his sword or dane ax or... I imagine would be good for boar hunting as well. All that reinforcement would keep it together while it keeps pushing forward despite the spike

[@Immopimmo]

​@jodycarter7308 except you'd probably want a good broad spearhead that causes a wide wound channel and a lot of bleeding if you're gonna use it for hunting. A square spike like that isn't going to make a quick kill on a boar unless you hit hit straight in the heart.

[@gregmaitland7051]

How strong/firm is the heel before the points at the end of the curved wings? Looking at the length of the central point, I can picture it being used with a foot to push the point home on a downed enemy, to help it through armour/mail.

[@fredrichnietze]

my own speculation for the point of the edge would be to keep an opponent from grabbing onto the hooks to create a opening. you are going to have some misses or deflections of the point or perhaps even a hits but missing anything vital with the rather small puncture wound of the point. from the defenders point of view grabbing onto those if they are not sharp seems like a good way to immobilize the enemy weapon stop the ongoing attack maybe give your buddy a chance to counter attack and that angled curved edge would probably even get through leather gloves in a tug of war match. more of one of many reasons then THE reason.

[@adamtennant4936]

Maybe the small spikes on the wings are for hooking into maille rings to make it easier to drag them off their horse? And its on the end of a flat piece for strength/ease of forging? The front edge blades vs horse tack was something that occurred to me too but, as you say, more likely for cutting enemy pole weapon hafts.

[@GeoGyf]

Seems a variant of the Ranseur/Roncone, but the hooks project downward instead. So as the Ranseur & other similar weapons (the chinese also experimented with these types of weapons), the hooks can be used to disarm weapons, trip foes or catch clothing or armor. It seems the Corseque is more specialized in cathing clothing/armor, while the Ranseur is at disarming. Ultimately the Europeans & Chinese preferred the Halberd for its versatility (especially as armor was becoming less common), but the advantage of not having an axe blade means that those weapons can be longer and have a reach advantage (compared to the Halberd). Ultimately however only-spear weapons means that they are even longer than the Ranseur/Corseque.

[@samcavallaro]

You asked about the reason for the shape of the hook points. I had a thought that perhaps they’re meant to jam in and provide a point of leverage. I may be totally off base (I’m not sure everything would line up right for it), but something about the shape makes me think of using it for a leverage point.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

My guess on the rectangular ends to the hooks is that there to help grip. Sometimes I'm boarding axes you see similar triangular "teeth spikes on the backside of the boarding axes which as I understand it are to help grip boxes when dragging them & other tasks. I the ends of the hooks do the same king I'd gripping but are not so pointed, narrow & sharp that they would get easily stuck in an object.

[@graemegourley7616]

I agree that the wings or hooks could definitely be to control other weapons. I think maybe it could also be useful to push an opponent. You stab lets say, up into a person on horseback, that thin point penetrates, but could lead to going in too far, throwing you off balance etc. But it goes in, stops at the wings and you can heave into the person, knock them off a horse. And the hooks, easily could be used to catch straps and again pull or push at the horse/riders arms getting the horse off balance or out of position...

[@grimm4]

The wing spikes with the rectangle are probably like this because if the small spike snaps off you still have a usable "hook" part left.

[@P.T.S.E.]

I think that the shape at the end of the wings is mainly a result of manufacturing. But it could have a functional use too, as it could act as a point of leverage when pulling on something. If we consider an opponent on horse, or on a higher ground, and we manage to hook the weapon onto their shields, when we are pulling back on it, the rider banking their shield towards us could let our weapon slide off. But with that protrusion acting as a pivot point, that motion combined with the pulling of the weapon would drive the spike at the end of the wing into the shield instead.

[@n0tthemessiah]

Always great to see what Gavin has to share

[@bakters]

Other people also had this idea and I'm added mine mostly for statistics. It seems to us, that the sharpened wings would be useful against the hands that held to the offending polearm. The other guy might even be forced to drop his weapon.

[@TITANAS84]

It is not easy for the enemy to take the weapon from your hands even if you miss the target . if the enemy try to touch the shaft for disarming so you can turn your weapon sideways and you can wound his forearms or hands. I don't know if the nail can break the leather straps of others armor.

[@flamandbenoit7247]

that depends of the tanning work. on a raw leather, no doubt, yes. But with the proper work, no, absolutly not. But the point will slide on, into the arm, so... maybe it's irrelevant ^ ^

[@davidchilds9590]

My experience of using a pole-mounted pruning hook indicates that the shaft to hook joint is a significant weakness. My pruning pole broke and my repair required longer and stronger languets.

[@cloudcleaver23]

The shoulder on the side-point looks like a way to prevent overpenetration, especially if it's intended to hook and pull rather than to go for lethal strikes as such.

[@rowronnie299]

Those little points would open up chainmail links nicely and get into gaps at the joints nastily too

[@AdamOwenBrowning]

I feel like Gavin had so much more to say, if only for things like the time to script, and the over a decade's experience of presenting videos!

[@king-oreos4003]

Hello Matt loved the video very informative, could you please do a video on the subject of eye slit kettle helmets or Kapalinhelm from the late 15thcentury, they seemed to be common during the Hussite wars and late 1400s Germany, but I can't find any information on them.

[@markbrown3252]

The small spikes I would believe are an extra offensive weapon. If you mess with the spike, you’ve got the blade part plus, you’ve got the spikes that you could catch a person with and harm to him.

[@kevinreardon2558]

that little needle is great at snatching chain mail.

[@tomyorke3412]

@Scholagladiatoria Could be for firing cannons wrap the burning strings around both ends and stick the burning ends on with the spikes. Plus as its so thick it might be a rather hopeful defence against cavalry if they charged the guns

[@Kodurr]

I could see the edged section maybe being a defense against the spike being grabbed. One violent movement forward (even if you miss your target) would probably mangle an unarmored hand.

[@crazypetec-130fe7]

That's fascinating to me. I'd love to learn more about winged spears and runkas too.

[@wwm84]

12:23 Probably makes it easier to hook the edge into a plate gap or between lams/tassets to catch the armor and pull someone off balance.

[@arnijulian6241]

Matt the Korseke later Corseque came from the 'Knebelspiess' & not the ''Ahlspieß'' as you mistakenly claimed. A Knebelspiess is easier to show then describe as it is like a wing spear but more solid & junky. The Knebelspiess also adapted into the ''Runka/Ranseur'' but adapted as well into the Spetum/Chuave that then adapted further into the souris which the latter I find a bit over the top on the French part in the mid 1500's being more a weapon of show then practicality or mass arming of troops. I could go on about pole arms far more but I would not want to over whelm the readers.

[@kanonierable]

Please feel free to share your knowledge as extensively as possible, It is much appreciated!

[@arnijulian6241]

​@@kanonierableAny questions as I can't recall 1/4 of what I know? On the topic of pole arms a stabkeule=rod/stick club/mace is a thing most don't know about being a 2 handed mace pole arm on the cheap. Brogit Staff is similar being Scottish but less metal overall. I like a Streitkolben as it is the mace equivalent of a bastard sword for it can be used 1 or 2 handed with usually whopping great flanges or a stud projection from a top end globe. Usually has a top spike but not required. Maces are likely the least understood middle age weapons by those that know no old German. Streithammer being a war pick & hammer are fun. I always laugh when sword fans think they could parry a 1 & 1/2 Kilo mace or hammer. I doubt a 16oc/50gram carpentry hammer could be blocked by a sword for they deliver 650PSI acting as a 3rd class fulcrum for 15 times mechanical advantage. The human arm has an average of 32 times. Most war hammer & mace deliver about 2000PSI; if not more. A human arm breaks from 125PSI & the strongest bone being the femur breaks from 1700PSI then amputation even today if shattered is often required. Technically speaking any mace or hammer that is long enough to be wielded in 2 hands is a pole arm if you just choke it rather then holding it down by the handle. More productive to choke up then tap them & as they recover from a knock just deliver a full force blow by sliding down the forward hand to give a clean full force swing. 'Tap then smack' is how I put it. Tap anyone in the nose or something tender then you have all the time in the world compared to them. People spar with swords but not maces for a reason. Even staff fighting & sparing results in broken bones though I have never broken any funnily, touch wood. Broken other mind with English staff. I could prattle on about many things but my mind tends to wonder about unless someone gives me a particular inquiry.

[@miketyree9652]

The tip reminds me of the shape of a manual can opener like a SAK.

[@AnUndivine]

You say that the thin spikey bits are for hooking not stabbing, but I think they are likely for both in a sense. I suspect they can be used to jab and then rip mail and padded armour, manipulating the opponent in the process. Or perhaps they are the best thing for catching the edges of plate and pulling. You're not going to get a thick beefy hook under his gorget, but you can fit a wee spike around it. If you need more manipulation, then you have the stronger hook that can go behind the legs, arms, etc.

[@christopher5723]

with out any context at first glace I would have assumed it was some kind of gunner's tool like a linkstock with a poky bit tacked on for delf defense, but it seems to lack any provision to secure a bit of slow match in place beyond just wrapping it around the head.

[@jeddak]

Oh man. This is making me rethink my spontoon collection!

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Very cool. I'll take two, please. (sorry. only one per customer} Love the obscure stuff along with everything else you do. Thank you for this.

[@MultiFrostProduction]

Always good to see the silver knights get some recognition! Praise the sun! \*/

[@stavroskandianopoulos3860]

I think that the rectangular shoulder works as unhooking lever. You want to hook something or someone but you also want to be able to unhook intentionally for giving another blow or you just want to release or not to be dragged. Just saying....

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

I think this is intended for fighting mounted opponents. Since a rider was likely to be armoured the blades are designed to injure the horse rather than the man and the hooks are for unhorsing.

[@chrisball3778]

Is there actual solid data on what proportion of polearm shafts are modern replacements? The idea that it's the vast majority is something I see repeated a lot, and I've sometimes wondered if it's backed by scientific evidence or if it's just received wisdom. Most of the surviving pole weapons I see in museums are from the 16th or 17th centuries, so not necessarily that ancient in terms of historical weaponry. There are plenty of surviving examples of wooden furniture and art objects from the same period or older, so it's far from impossible for wooden objects to survive 500 years if properly cared for. I'm sure a great many are replacements made to make a weapon head more saleable on the antiques market, but I just have this suspicion that it might not be as many as some people seem to assume. A lot of polearms seem to have been in places like civic armouries and aristocratic collections for very long periods, and if they've been kept dry and checked for woodworm occasionally, I can't see why they wouldn't have survived in something like their original forms. I think people would actually have been more inclined to keep intact polearms around than just a bucket of loose, rusty heads. The former has obvious value as an inherently impressive object, whereas the latter would probably just be seen as scrap by many. All that said, I get that Victorian collectors were pretty infamously destructive and inclined to value appearance over historical authenticity, so maybe they really did just wreck most of the surviving ones to make them better suited to use as decor. I dunno. It'd still be interesting to know how many have actually been reliably dated.

[@superrobotmonkeyhyperteamf3194]

Im not sure but i think i remember contemporary depictions where this kind of weapon was shown to have a fuse wrapped around for cannons or for igniting something. If i remember correctly it was to reignite arkebuses fuses or something like that. This would also explain the side spikes where the fuse would be wrapped or hung around maybe pierced to one of the point so it better holds. Maybe to create some kind of smoke during stomring the castle to blind the attackers or defenders. at least there are somewhat similar polearms that do this. Or simply for light. But its to be taken with a grain of salt The cutting of polearms with swords is one of the main concern in military manuals from the 16-17th century. Lavater mentions it when he says all pikes should have langets because calvary with their heavy swords and sabers will be able to cut those shafts.

[@CholericCounterAttack]

Because when you catch someone, you also want to disengage the catch, and I have a suspicion that the angle being perpendicular as it sits to the rest of the extension has something to do with pain compliance, and repositioning the enemy combatant. Perhaps even having something to do with tripping up, or disabling game animals, such as a boar, or a downed stag.

[@twanzai2218]

I Can confirm that roncone mean the Bill polearm at least in the italian language

[@benbowen821]

Saw some really nice examples of these at the Musee de l'Armée in Paris last week.

[@markobranisel4094]

I would guess the part helps with grip on the location you hook and like others said, the angle is wide, so it does not bite in too deep. I would guess it's most useful for hooking the heel or potentially a neck in fortified defense.

[@RonTodd-gb1eo]

With the cutting blade I was thinking hamstringing horses.

[@martinhuhn7813]

The sharpened edges on the front might also be useful to prevent the enemy from grabbing the tip or pushing it aside with arms or leggs.

[@matthuck378]

To me, the odd hooks with their little spikes seem designed well to hook heavy renaissance clothing and cloaks.

[@EgaoKage]

11:25 That specific shape would limit the depth of penetration when using the hooks to tug at an opponent, maybe to pull them off balance or subdue them for capture. If the goal is just that, you wouldn't want a lot of penetration because that's just going to make the surgeons job that much harder. What use is a captive that bleeds out and gets nasty infections from a bunch of easily avoidable holes being poked in them? In a similar vein of logic, if the hooks could penetrate with impunity, it would be a more possible for your weapon to become lodged in an opponent's armor. If this is your only weapon, that could become seriously problematic. I think of them like a cat's claw & toe; able to catch, but not pierce deeply.

[@walterabernathy5663]

It looks like the wings can also be used for trapping other weapons. The bottom of the wings looks very strong and have plenty of reinforcing metal so they could take the swing of another pole arm

[@brokenblackbird]

I think the blades spike has the square section with the little spike to reduce the weight and to make it more balanced. If the side blades were hammered into a sickle you would essentially have a two headed curved axe with a spike. This would make it heavy and unbalanced.

[@andreweden9405]

Amazing original weapon! My favorites are the ones with the "batwing" style hooks.😁

[@lusteraliaszero]

this reminds me that I hope for you to some day cover a stahlrohrlanze or similar hollow steel lances/spears. I'm super curious about how much of a difference it makes on inertia, I'm also curious if the penetration power is significantly higher because they're less flexible

[@BaronVonHardcharger]

So interesting! Thanks Gavin!

[@iivin4233]

After many videos, polearms are still a mystery to me. Watching them tested, I've never seen a spike end or head go through a helmet. It's hard to judge what a hammer or axe head has done to a helmet. Meanwhile, modern day practicioners seem demonstrate many throws and the treatises seem to end with groundwork. Additionally, it's been said that they were mainly used as spears and axe heads were not sharp. So, why the multitude of polearm heads? Were they generally striking the thinner armor around arms, sides, backs etc? Or were knocks on the head much worse than they appear judging by the dents left on reproduction helmets?

[@Ulvhamne]

If I were to guyess to the small point with a flat stop, it's to reduce the risk of a long point getting wedged stuck in something or someone, robbing you of your weapon.

[@Csatadi]

The nail was made this way to confuse future historians

[@freestatefellow]

Oh man, now I want to see someone make a replica and have at some armor and body analogue materials. Seems nasty. Edit: Regarding the forwards facing blades. If you got the angle wrong and didn’t bite into a polearm shaft, you could still ride that blade right up into their fingers.

[@starsixtyseven195]

Solution? Wear gauntlets

[@freestatefellow]

@@starsixtyseven195 Totally true. But not everybody is wearing gauntlets and they aren't 100% coverage. So maybe more of a nice occasional bonus than a primary feature.

[@zerozerosud]

I find it curious that the corseque has almost an opposite approach to the "Friulian spear" where the central spearhead is wider and bladed but the side hooks are more narrow, like curved spikes.