Poleaxe

[@kasta669]

Honestly I know swords get all the attention in hollywood but polearms were the most used weapon in all of history

[@yeetusyeezesmcfly366]

Sorry to bust ur comment but wouldn't it be swords

[@kasta669]

YeetusYeezes Mcfly No swords take way more work to produce than let’s say a spear. You could make an argument for club like weapons or projectiles.

[@yeetusyeezesmcfly366]

@@kasta669 Fair point

[@irfannurhadisatria2540]

@@yeetusyeezesmcfly366 for formation warfare spears and related polearms are the most used weapons since men in formations can support each other, either in front or besides him.

[@Osvath97]

But enthusiasts also have a tendency to hypercorrect, saying things like: "The sword was not a battlefield weapon, especially during the Middle Ages." I am sorry, but the sources from the High Middle Ages talk about the sword being used A LOT by knights. Of course, lances were used at the start of an engagement but almost invariably the knights would switch to swords (and indeed daggers), as their lances became broken, lost or they became too hemmed in to use them. Then further on they might get fresh lances, but before that they would still have to fight with swords for quite a while, generally. So swords were DEFINITELY battlefield weapons. And let me reiterate: this is not idle speculation from my part, but the way the high medieval sources actually describe it. Not just a singular source I just have happened to have read either: I have read quite a few by now, from detailed first hand eyewitness descriptions to more overview-type ones by chroniclers, and I even complemented with the fictional tales of that time, such as the Arthurian legends. They all follow the same pattern in this regard. One thing which does bother me is that depictions of knights fighting on foot during the High Middle Ages almost always show them using swords from the get-go, even fairly realistic medieval video games. But dismounted knights during the High Middle Ages are very often described as fighting in a phalanx formation with their lances, but for some reason the concept of High Medieval knights fighting in a phalanx formation with lances is just too weird for the popular imagination?

[@OreallyR17]

That's a pretty versatile weapon.

[@jameshill2168]

Oreally V E R S A T I L E

[@elgatochurro]

you can use the back end and even the wood shaft itself.

[@aguspuig6615]

ADMORTEM

[@LecherousLizard]

@@aguspuig6615 INIMICUS

[@user-Noname367]

that’s the point…. blade , hammer, whatever

[@saf5896]

"This is a medieval Tin Opener!" I'm dead😂😂😂

[@andrelaboy2002]

The armor doesnt look like its been fitted to them properly.

[@jonathantitterton9455]

Meme Destroyer tailored armour is extremely expensive while munitions armour is cheaper. Most reenactors might not be able to afford a suit of full tailored plate (you’re looking at about 2 grand upwards depending, on if you want English, Italian or Germanic style armour).

[@augustovasconcellos7173]

TBF, armor that's been properly fitted to your form probably was something only the nobility could afford Most guards and rank-and-file probably wore something like this

[@mortache]

Also, even if they could afford to own good armor they probably don't want it to be used, bashed and abused

[@gm2407]

Then of course the reenactor has to stay consistent with body shape if tailored. So there is that problem as well. I mean where are they going to get a breast plate stretcher from? jk

[@badart3204]

@@munchinondat4321It’s to help you survive IF that stuff happens. Blocking and dodging is ideal to taking hits if you can help it

[@9f81rsd00]

You guys should also check out the goedendag. Basically a club-spear combo. Also quite practical. For all you GTA players who want to bring every weapon type but can only carry one at a time IRL.

[@KieraQ0323]

It's a big thick stick with a spike on the tip. Doesn't look too nice, but you definitely don't wanna be on the business end of one.

[@renewoffles4369]

You could just imagine how this happened in reality, I'm sure those moments would've been filled with rage, violent attacks attempting to kill the man in front of you.

[@Kuhmuhnistische_Partei]

Every time I see fights like this I ask myself how often people in armor got hurt while they defeated their enemies. Like: yeah, you got him right at the head, but while you were busy with that he smashed your leg with a strong blow. You may wear armor, but it still broke a bone.

[@duck653]

They can reposte

[@gm2407]

Well you can still get concussion and fractures all over the place. Then there is also muscle fatigue. Whilst the persons may be fit and deceptively agile they are moving under load and with weight in their arms for hours. Battles are sometimes log affairs that need to be broken up with cycling of combatants. At times that is not possible.

[@ringadingding7667]

@@duck653 as a fencer being able to reposte does not eliminate the chance of afterblow or afterhit

[@k1ll3rbunny]

It was even worse before plate armour. Maille, for example, is excellent at stopping cuts but doesn't absorb impacts nearly as well, so the sword may not cut you but you'll still feel the force of being whacked with an iron rod. The padding you wear underneath can only do so much... Still better than being hit with things while wearing nothing at all though.

[@m1821Z]

@@duck653 Bro thinks they're playing mordhau

[@7dayspking]

Seems a pretty poor demonstration, some interesting intuitive / untrained fighting going on there though.

[@johnrooney507]

I’m sure safety is a consideration, easily could get seriously hurt.

[@ringadingding7667]

@@johnrooney507 ahh yes safety is important when they are not wearing any face protection.

[@grigoriyefimovichrasputin7897]

If they were trying to hurt each other they could and the fight would not last long

[@gm2407]

Arms dealer: Nevermind a sword; which do you want a spear, hammer or axe? Man-at-arms: Yes

[@Psiberzerker]

The man in the Black Tabbard is very good!

[@MrMatchete]

would be way cooler if they fought to the death like their ancestors

[@timothystewart8281]

Brutal!

[@joshualeefoote8740]

Awesome friend!! My old shizmary German fencing school teacher folks

[@maddeninggamer]

Bec de Corbin versus a halberd in close quarters is a bit of an unbalanced matchup. Halberd gets a lot more out of being close while the bec won't get the leverage needed to hammer in on the armor (while being safe), meanwhile the fighter was trying to use it more like a spear the entire time. Points towards the design for the spear end on the bottom of it though. That managed to remove one of the weapon's bigger weaknesses and added a bit of versatility for the moveset. Kind of wonder how valid going for the legs is though when the weapons are contested like that given how a lot relies on solid footing for balance at that point

[@johnnyjimenea3613]

fight good

[@eadweard2214]

I like this side of youtube

[@olegevstigneev5367]

Рыцари пенсионеры.

[@markusjack9208]

tin opener... they dont understand this weapon...

[@fhen_]

Medieval tin cans with a medieval tin opener, you could say this is a (can)on event.

[@AcceptYourDeath]

To be honest I doubt this is how it went back then! Give these guys a polearm made of foam or something and tell both of them kill as fast as possible. I bet you see something very different than poking around with the bottom end trying to be technical.

[@alexmiesch4423]

A heavy weapon which requires a proper swing to do damage requires a wind up and a telegraph means it's also very easy to avoid in a 1v1 situation. Avoiding a wild swing means the attacker is off balance and easy to counter. Swing wild like you mentioned and you're dead pretty much immediately in a big battle, spears, pikes, pole arms from various angles all able to wound you the second they see you unable to guard against them. Knocking an enemies weapon away and off balance with small hits is a great way to create the opened guard so you can hit them properly as is provoking the enemy to take a proper swing at you, it also allows you to keep your guard ready because your not over committing. What you see here is a bit of that going on.

[@KieraQ0323]

It probably went the same way but a bit faster back then. The point was never to kill the other guy asap, but to kill him while getting hurt as little as possible.

[@Lanceolotl90]

What is this and how can I join (real question)

[@losgargabonzi97]

Why didn't they put the visor down?

[@raditicat]

More vision and less heat

[@XPBean]

They weren't "properly" fighting, probably had some sort of structure as in a proper fight the visor would be down and thrusting wouldn't be allowed because it's really dangerous even with blunted weapons, so my guess is it was a structured demo of sorts.

[@ethienosinsky5186]

Why does reenactor armour always looks so bulky and oversized ?

[@yumazster]

I imagine to not enjoy the rest of the event with broken bones... The group fights (bohurt) are rather intense.

[@ringadingding7667]

1 because medieval armor was bulky and 2 tailor fit thin armor is expensive

[@yumazster]

There was another reason for it to look bulky, especially across the torso. Breastplate was shaped a little like a ships prow to get more stiffness and deflect blows. Also there is padded undergarment under the armour with fixing straps to distribute the weight properly and avoid chafing.

[@marcuscicero4231]

Because the armour they are wearing is bought off the rack, instead of tailored to the wearer. A breastplate needs to bend at the height of the natural waist, so that it (the waist) supports it. What is happening due to the breastplate being so flat (especially with the fighter on the left) is that all the weight is carried by the shoulders, which is very uncomfortable. A historically inaccurate depiction of medieval armour.

[@astrotrek3534]

Some reenactors are bulky and oversized.

[@silverswordguy4191]

Why are these fools fighting with their visors open? Did anyone else see how close the guy on the left was to eating the spike? If you're going to fight and harness, you should be doing it properly.

[@raditicat]

the chest plate is too big for the guy on the left

[@rasmasyean]

They aren't real knights, bro! They are just fat dudes who used to play WoW but now make $$$ in the office and decided to blow a paycheck on custom made replicas!

[@sanchezevan898]

Didn’t hear an Ad Mortem Inumicus

[@brewed544]

Sounded like aluminium armour.

[@jan-jans143]

are real medieval knights this slow and almost weak?

[@koerthragsdale6037]

So the only used the wood part of the weapon in the medieval period?

[@dankeykang9220]

There is a spike or sometimes a pommel on the other side.

[@koerthragsdale6037]

@@dankeykang9220 most had spikes on the top as well as axe heads or some other side stabbing spike. The way the butt of a pole arm is used in modern medieval martial arts and combat sports is by using it to keep your opponent at a safe distance to come down with the axe or other top side tool. This just looks like two guys jokingly poking each other with sticks to me.

[@dankeykang9220]

@@koerthragsdale6037 The top spike is most likely used as a spear

[@2lbsTrigrPull]

They don't even try.

[@benjaminyoung9694]

These guys can barely move

[@Monotheism_is_the_way_to_peace]

Be noticed learn about Islam ⛔️

[@goblinoide]

Muhammad married a 6yo