Were Polearms Pointless? Halberds, Spontoons, and Pikes in Linear Warfare Ft. The Far Off Station

On my last trip to New England, I met up with my friend ‪@TheFarOffStation‬, who alongside having an awesome channel is also a sergeant with the recreated 10th Regiment of Foot. And that means that he gets to carry a Halberd (or, a halbert, as it was sometimes spelled back in the day!) rather than a musket or fusil into battle!
But...if you're going up against an army of muskets and guns, is bringing what is basically just a long pointed stick really such a good idea? In this video, Jon and I talk all about the glory that is the Polearm!
Also hey, check out Jon's channel here: / thefaroffstation
Learn more at:
www.nativeoak....
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And finally, you can write me at:
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Dublin, OH 43016

[@TheFarOffStation]

Thanks for stopping by, old boy! We almost make it look like we know what we’re doing!

[@winstonstone]

Almost!

[@lordwunglerbeckett]

...Nearly

[@Dreadnought586]

Excellent presentation

[@joeytodd795]

Excuse me, sir. This whole look, this whole... ensemble you're wearing...my good man... May the contents of your glass be as endless as your drip. Good form.

[@TheFarOffStation]

@@joeytodd795 thank you for the kind words!

[@theaman42069]

I can't begin to imagine the horror of everyday passerby's on their afternoon stroll seeing a crazed menace holding an 6ft spear-axe

[@Movetheproduct]

Cringe

[@lassekankila3807]

If that thing is 6ft then the men carrying it are dwarves.

[@theaman42069]

@@lassekankila3807 well it's a 1:16 replica and brandon is like 5'8 and the thing is like 5 or 6 inches longer than him so it's not 6ft exactly but more like 6'4 inches

[@LegalSC]

@@lassekankila3807 that's just 5'11 vs 6'

[@ethanaamot463]

@@theaman42069 haft of the halberd is easily 6 " above his head the head is at least 9" if not more would say it's very close to 7 feet all in all on the short side for halberds

[@titanuranus3095]

Anyone who claims a pike is pointless are clearly looking at the wrong end of it.

[@Fistmybeer]

>

[@blackegret666]

Get out

[@theultimatederp3288]

Retort: Many polearms have butt spikes. So I guess they are looking at the shaft. ...stop giggling.

[@titanuranus3095]

@@theultimatederp3288 same, tbf

[@JH-lo9ut]

Very useful in a formation, not so useful if you are the only one carrying one.

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Ooh, multi-cam coverage? We fancy, now.

[@thedamnyankee1]

it did take two youtubers to do it....

[@MBKill3rCat]

No, no, no! Multicam is far too modern for the 18th century. That camouflage pattern was only adopted in the 21st century!

[@MBKill3rCat]

​@Filip Olczak My response was also a joke. The OP meant 'multi-cam' as in multiple cameras from different perspectives.

[@pyrrhusofepirus8491]

They were a hangover from the days we still had monstrous troops, like Minotaurs, Trolls or Dragons, but since those fell out of military use due to the massive adoption of firearms, so did the halberd largely. However if a Troll, Minotaur or Dragon did appear, sure, your gun line will probably deal with it, but that’s because these beasts are more distractions then actual weapons. So, we put our strongest men as The Halberdier, and his job was to defeat the terrible beast, while the rest of the line dealt with the actual enemy, with the halberdier using his skills and excellent weapon, to dispatch the foe.

[@nowthenzen]

this is 100 % totally accurate based on all the original sources I have read starting with 1st edition and even OD&D

[@Nerobyrne]

I was so mad they didn't have poleaems in Skyrim

[@PreaterGrussia]

I'm stealing this for my dnd campaign! Thanks my friend

[@nonamesplease6288]

From the quartermaster's returns, it appears that General Washington had several trolls and a few goblins available for service. However, these were undisciplined and unruly, and were just as liable to turn on the Americans as to attack the British.. As a result, they were kept with the baggage train and never deployed in battle. They were kept on inventory for a short period of time prior to being quietly discharged in the Summer of 1778. It appears the British got wind of this, for shortly afterward the last British regiments equipped with halberds and spontoons in America retired them.

[@PobortzaPl]

Is there somewhere on the internets a 30 point list titled "Signs one played Warhammer Total War too much"? Or had this lists died back in early 2010s?

[@nonamesplease6288]

I did Civil War living history with the final rank of sergeant. The records are still available for the regiment we represented and the returns show that sergeants were issued with 2 banded muskets rather than the 3 banded muskets issued to the other ranks. The idea was that the sergeants would have a lighter weight firearm available for self defense or other combat purposes, but their main duty was to help pass along orders, dress the line, and maintain control rather than actually participating in the line of battle. As a result, they were issued with a potentially less effective firearm, and one that wouldn't hinder them in the performance of their duties. I bring this up because, even in the American Army of the 1860s sergeants were issued with distinctive weapons that set them apart from their men.

[@buzzmooney2801]

The same was true, 110 years earlier: Sergeants were issued fusils; shorter, smaller caliber muskets, than the standard Long Land Pattern muskets issued to the regular troops. The fusil is also a LOT easier to carry in the field; and yes, I've gotten it caught in branches, too! Still, it makes it a LOT easier for the men AND the command officers to see where the Sergeants are.

[@nonamesplease6288]

@@buzzmooney2801 Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to carry 2 band muskets because they were against the reenacting community's rules. Apparently, you can't fire a 2 banded muskets from the rear rank without blowing out the front rank's eardrums. Not that we sergeants were firing anyway. I can't remember getting my muskets caught in the trees. :-)

[@SusCalvin]

Officer weapons are fun. Officers sometimes carry that sort of personal defence weapon which would look silly in the hands of the men contributing to the volume of fire. They carry something that would be useful if things go wrong and some of the other blokes end up right in their face. A revolver or an SMG or such.

[@ronal8824]

do you know if they were more like carbines or full infantry rifles with bayonete

[@dajolaw]

It seems the use of polearms was a bit more persistent in the Continental Army. At Valley Forge in December 22, 1777, right at the end of the year John mentions the British had fully abandoned their use, Washington writes in the General Orders: "As the proper arming of the officers would add considerable strength to the army, and the officers themselves desire great confidence from being armed in time of action, the General orders every one of them to provide himself with a half-pike or spear, as soon as possible-firearms when made use of with drawing their attention too much from the men; and to be without either, has a very aukward and unofficerlike appearance-That these half-pikes may be of one length and uniformly made, the Brigadiers are to meet at General Maxwell’s quarters to morrow at 10 o’clock in the forenoon and direct their size and form." British foraging and logistical crises may have distracted them, because in the General Orders of January 17, 1778, GW writes "The Brigadiers and Officers commanding Brigades are to meet this evening at Genl Varnum’s Quarters...The General desires that they will likewise agree upon the most proper and speedy measure to have all the Officers in their Brigades furnish’d with half Pikes agreeable to the General Order of the 22nd of December last." Two years later in Morristown, April 4, 1780: "All battalion officers, to captains inclusively are, without loss of time, to provide themselves with Espontoons...None are to mount guard or go on detachment without being armed with Espontoons."

[@BrandonF]

18:37 Jon, EVERY Brandon F. playlist is a cringe compilation.

[@TheFarOffStation]

I’m happy to have been here with you then, old boy 🤣

[@yellingyank1862]

It's a long sharp stick, it's obviously superior to a musket. FACT

[@spiffygonzales5899]

But a musket is a long sharp SHOOTY stick!

[@TheFarOffStation]

@in desperate need of a scotch the halberd is always loaded.

[@yellingyank1862]

@@TheFarOffStation FACT, see what Im talking about??? Obviously better than a musket

[@nowthenzen]

@@spiffygonzales5899 only sometimes

[@TheFarOffStation]

@@yellingyank1862 💯

[@nicholaswalsh4462]

This is a useful video. I'm trying to put together a fantasy tabletop game and at least 3 factions will be combining polearms with guns.

[@BrandonF]

Awesome! I'm glad it will help out!

[@nicholaswalsh4462]

@@BrandonF your channel has long been an informative source and for that I thank you.

[@thekinginyellowmessiahofha6308]

Same here. Halberds and pikes are still dominant but I’m mostly basing it off of landscknect tactics

[@nicholaswalsh4462]

@@thekinginyellowmessiahofha6308 I've got one faction that is Landsknechts inspired and another that is Streltsy inspired. A third is employing mostly large axes and Kalthoff style repeaters.

[@Quincy_Morris]

I’d suggest looking into the Pike and Shot era.

[@leifewald5117]

Theses were used during the Irish rebellion of 1798 and are used by the Pontifical Swiss Guard

[@tboudewijns113]

On the getting caught in trees part. In the 16th and 17th century you often see halberds carried with the shaft on the shoulder and the head in the hand. This removes the hooky bits from the top so it dose not get caught and if the man might stumble the man behind him wil not get a face full of axe but at most a bonk with the shaft.

[@BrandonF]

That makes a lot of sense! I suppose it speaks to the nature of halberds in this time period being more of a representational piece than anything practical.

[@carn109]

Damn Brandon truly has the power of god and anime on his side!

[@hypersp3ce596]

Brandon saying "I've got god and anime on my side" while wielding a halberd was the last thing I was expecting to witness today

[@podemosurss8316]

In Spain the Royal Guard still uses halberds to this day for ceremonial purposes because they look cool.

[@censorduck]

I mean I can see the point right there, it's on the metal end.

[@obi-wankenobi1233]

The phrasing "Are polearms POINTless?" allows for SO many opportunities for puns...

[@AngryArchaeologist]

Nice video! As a HEMA practitioner, I would highly recommend the channel of Bjorn Ruther, who has created a series of videos on halberd fighting techniques based on the 16th century treatises of Joachim Meyer (maybe you have already seen these). Bjorn has amazing technique and is a formidable fighter, so his interpretations effectively convey the martial potential of this weapon. I suspect that due to advances in firearms technology and battlefield tactics, the halberd would have no longer been trained in a serious or structured way by the 18th century, and so devolved into nothing more than a cumbersome staff of office and elaborate pointer, which is why it fell out of use (when other items could easily fulfill the same purpose).

[@huntclanhunt9697]

Pikes saw use in the American Revolutions for defensive use from atop redoubts.

[@nicholasdalli6303]

Hearing Brandon say "God and Anime on my side" was not something I was expecting to hear nor something I believed necessary to help make my life more whole, but there you go: a most welcomed surprise indeed!

[@robertnett9793]

You can tell at one glance that polearms indeed weren't pointless...

[@Quincy_Morris]

One of the most interesting things I like about this era is how prevalent melee weapons remained even with the wide adaption of firearms.

[@BrandonF]

You could make that same point today! Bayonets can be shockingly relevant, especially in modern close quarters environments.

[@lokenontherange]

@@michaelmurdock4607 To some degree. Swords were almost exclusively used for self defence and are well suited to minimal harm while something like a bec de corbin is so damn lethal it's not really very practical to try and only injure with it.

[@mattjk5299]

@@michaelmurdock4607 have a mate who was a Finnish recon guy for a bit (I don't remember Finnish terms too well) but he always mentioned that their main role was to hide, spot and wait for Finnish artillery to remove their target from existence. They *were* however trained on how to deal with rear support or command units, soft vulnerable targets that you might encounter behind enemy lines. If they were ever to take out bayonets as anything other than a tool, there wasn't much intent on taking prisoners. Not a war crime necessarily, but forward recon units can't exactly handle prisoners and are not intended to be get into big fights.

[@Broski1318]

TRULY HISTORY! Glad to see two of my favorite KZbin Historians working together. Godspeed, my friends, Godspeed.

[@TheFarOffStation]

Thanks for watching, mate!

[@Broski1318]

@@TheFarOffStation You two did well on informing us viewers what the Halberd was used for. Thanks for that!

[@TheFarOffStation]

@@Broski1318 I’m happy to to hear you took something positive away from it and that you made it through our shenanigans!

[@Broski1318]

@@TheFarOffStation I'm glad you two made it. I found multiple points in it very funny.

[@jamesmiddleton1278]

The British used/issued the pike widely in ww2. It was given to the LDV/Home Guard when rifles weren’t available. When General Hobart was sacked by Wavell in 1940 he joined LDV as a lance corporal and was issued a pike, and set about preparing to defend his home town. No wallowing in self pity for him. Luckily for Britain he was able to rejoin the regulars and made a huge impact on D Day with 79 Armd Div.

[@taistelusammakko5088]

Wasnt that home guard only? It would be incredibly stupid to issue spears to your men

[@jonathanhoush2384]

Thank you both so much for this! I am used to seeing halberds and other polearms described as poor weapons that focused more on quantity than quality, generally given to the lowest ranked/least trained soldiers -- to the point I was quite insulted when I was recommended polearm training by my HEMA friend. I am glad to have been proved wrong.

[@ostrowulf]

Oh my goodness is that ever not how it went. The primary weapins of samurai were the spear and the bow, with the katana as a side arm, like a pistol. It only became their primary weapon durring theong time of peace. If you look through much of history for Europe, that was true too. I beleive it was king Gustav who once popped down and joined the pike ranks. There is also refrence to a young Henry Morgan (yes, as in Captain Morgan's rum, though I find captain an odd way to remember him) as being more used to a pike than a book. Spear is cheaper and easier to train on, but also in many (by no means close to all) cases more effective. weapon.

[@akaroth7542]

Spears are Chad weapons

[@m.otoole7501]

Love how this video is equally useful for flintlock-fantasy novelists and Dungeon Masters as well as for historians. While my setting is very much a D&D style setting brought into the 18th century, knowing how the weapons were used historically helps me world-build and extrapolate how they might be used in my own setting. (I am currently trying to bring the 5e D&D equipment list into the flintlock era, and between the real world use as a signaling tool and the fantasy use against fantastic beasts and monstrous enemies, I can totally justify keeping halberds and spears in the arsenal for my game.)

[@theduke1678]

Nice,video chap keep it up ive been hoping you'd cover these sorts of weapons at some point, Pole-arms utilized throughout the 18th century have always fascinated me and so im really pleased you're covering this and glasses up to the far off station too.Thanks again chap.

[@50043211]

The sheer madness of line infantery exchanging volleys at each other at 50-100m (sometimes closer) is mindboggeling.

[@ostrowulf]

I highly agree with your point about a Sgt paying more attention to his suroundings than firing. I remember doing a section attack in training where my Sgt commented on not having fired a single round. Admittedly I am reffering to modern combat, and a Sgt has changed over the years, but there is overlap. If the Sgt is shooting, he is not doing his job, and giving him a musket encourages him to shoot. Much like why the naval supply ship my father worked on did not have guns. Supply ships are to avoid combat. Giving them a gun encourages an ambitious or hot headed captain to fail at their duty. I also feel that a halbard goung forward would be nice and long, so easy for the men to see (in a rather loud and confusing situation) that it was time to get ready to charge or brace for being charged. The crowed control makes sense, and I would be entertained to see a HEMA group try mock ups of musket with bayonet vs halberd.

[@kieranfox6633]

Pikes were used massively in Ireland during the 1798 rebellion, made in secret by local blacksmiths who were hanged if caught making them, they proved to be very effective once the rebels were able to come to close quarters but were no match for cannon and musket vollys, unfortunately for the rebels the pikes were usually the only weapon available to them

[@FlameDarkfire]

4:35 My good sir, there is a poking bit at the top. You use that to annoy your enemy from a slight distance until he either leaves or has lost too much ketchup to put on his burger so he lays down for a nap.

[@johnmurdoch8534]

Good vid..didnt realize these would be on battlefield after pike and shot era and ive gotten spammmed by your channel in algorhythm (not complaining) so youtube is feeling quite generous to you right now.

[@thehistoadian]

Awesome video! 5:42 it's kinda funny I just uploaded a video going over this exact topic of Victorian rifle and bayonet drills lol

[@bellakaldera3305]

I am a reenactor myself, A Lieutenant of Colonial Militia, I carry a spontoon. I made my own, actually...We have a couple halberds too.

[@martinidry6300]

At 03:50, that's Phillopteaux's painting of the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745, The War of the WAustrian Succession, not the 7YW. As ever, interesting & original video.

[@philgreen815]

I find this very interesting. I spent a couple of years with the 2nd Btn 95TH Rifles (1815) re-enactment group and we trained at the old black powder mills in Kent. I was lucky to fight at Waterloo in 2006. We were given a special dispensation to bivouac within Hougoumont Farm. Really good stuff, keep it coming.

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

I feel that halberd would be pretty easy to wield if you've been to the gym once in your life. Alas, poor Brandon.

[@Movetheproduct]

Or atleast Having more testo than a preeteen dutch woman

[@SeraphimRoad]

You mean like this guy? kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpDLdotshbeajZY

[@BrandonF]

@@Movetheproduct How…eerily specific.

[@Movetheproduct]

@@BrandonF yep, sry man. true though,

[@taistelusammakko5088]

​@@Movetheproductwhy you hate him so much

[@elgostine]

(i write this before getting into the main meat of the video btw) while its probably not stupendously historical, one of cornwalls sharpe books paints a intruiging picture of the colours being ringed by sergents with their spontoons as a last ditch defence similarly, 16th century drill roles put the zweihander wielders as being placed in the same rank as the standard, i.e the rank thats about halfway down which, not a bad idea that if the formation collapses, anyone trying to take the flag is gonna find a few dozen angry armoured men with 5ft greatswords protecting it.

[@littleumbrella1763]

Ive remeber reading about how seargents would push a polearm behind soldiers, keeping them in rank and preventing breaking

[@edi9892]

Good points. One thing to add though: The officers are discouraged from fighting themselves, that's why they are often less well equipped, but in the old days, they were often given weapons that were better at defending than the regular service weapons. Sabers are for instance very good at protecting against incoming strikes (unless axes or polearms are involved) and spears can keep even multiple opponents at bay.

[@kingwolf9447]

An officer or NCO carrying a big halberd or pike just makes sense from a military point of view. If I'm the average regular, the battlefield is full of smoke, screaming, and gunfire. The Halberd is a big "I'm your NCO!!!" Marker. It's a show of authority I can look to in times of chaos.

[@maxshumylo1921]

2:37 - The Sgt of my reenacting unit uses his sword for this exact purpose!

[@craigthescott5074]

I own three original halberd’s from the late 1600’s to the mid 1750’s all American. Two appear to be black smith made one is English and much more refined. I believe American halberd’s are among the rarest do to the fact they were not used very long in America.

[@MIMALECKIPL]

In movie "The Crossing" we can see Hessian sargeant trying to tell soldiers where to form line using a spontoon (or halberd).

[@Aramis419]

Well, I can only speak of my own experience, but the more rambly someone is, it just means they have so much information in their head, it’s hard to organize into words.

[@TokenChineseGuy]

Great content, Brandon. Always enjoy this kind of stuff.

[@n1ksf]

Absolute pleasure in meeting you at the redoubt in Hoosick Falls after Matt was speaking!!, Keep up the great work you do!

[@erikkarlsson861]

"How often is it actually going to enter into that melee fight to justify their presence as oppose to say another firearm?" Carolean army : Hold my bible.. Although about 75 years earlier, we still used the pike as a main battlefield weapon for the common soldiery, not just NCOs and such because of our aggressive army doctrine at the time. We would prefer to close into melee with pikes and rapiers because we couldnt take the manpower losses in a prolonged firefight between line-infantry, acting as shock melee infantry would cost us less casualties because the enemy would usually break pretty quickly if forced into a melee engagement. Another big plus, the enemies we faced at the time wasnt as drilled in melee as we were so it would give us actually tactical advantages, not just less casualties. #GlassCannon #GåPå #FattaPiken As I said, my example is from the great northern war, not the american war of independence as you talk about in the video but since we are talking about polarms in the 1700s I thought it might be worth a mention. Cheers!

[@Draftsman17]

Should collaborate with Britishmuzzleloaders to talk about bayonet in more detail.

[@ohnenamen2843]

The German army has this concept called “Kompaniefeldwebel” (sergeant of the Company) it’s usually the oldest NCO of the company, and his job is basically to take care of and discipline the soldiers. He usually is the guy that gets the food when in the field and shouts at you for ur boots being dirty. And the nickname for that guy is „Spieß”, which is German for pike. Nobody knows where it come from (there are some theories, but there is nothing proven), but that video sounds plausible

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you both for covering this polearm. 😃

[@puschelhornchen9484]

Looking at the background I can't stop the silly thought: "At least with the advent of overhead power lines the use of pole arms became quite unpopular."

[@connorthenativeman6126]

my dad was in the 10th regiment during the bicentennial

[@anonymousm9113]

I served in Alpha Company of The Old Guard (Commander-in-Chief's Guard), and our First Sergeant (usually a Platoon Sergeant filling the ceremonial position) carried a halberd. They usually padded the heck out of their shoulder, as after the NCO-officer exchange they had to stand behind the formation with the halberd at shoulder arms. The officer's spontoon was much lighter. Regardless, some ceremonies can go for an hour-plus, with the 1SG and officer shouldering their pole arms the entire time.

[@TheSpritz0]

Thought I saw some of the Scottish Regiment carrying these in the Waterloo movie when they were ordered forward to halt the French Infantry advance (when Napoleon looks through his telescope and comments "Does Wellington have nothing to send me but these Amazons")😀

[@bombswabs3041]

I was always of the impression the halberd was specifically designed to pull knights off their horses hence the hook shaped side. This was used to hook into a knights armor and yank him down where he could then be dispatched. Its also obvious they could be used as makeshift pikes and even swung at an adversary using the hatchet side. Probably not much use in more modern wars but likely very useful when swords , arrows , and armor were the dominating tech used.

[@Nosliw837]

End of video- Brandon's mate: *Tries to have actual conversation with Brandon* Brandon F: *Dares everyone to generate Brandon F memes with him dancing around with a polearm*

[@americafirst3562]

Outstanding. Of instruction gentlemen. I would take a history class from you two in a heartbeat

[@AtheistPirate]

Remember, kids: never confuse a spontoon for a spittoon unless you want to lose an eye.

[@charlesdeleo4608]

@Brandon F. So, as a HEMA practitioner with a focus in Medieval warfare, the halberd was used in the 14th and 15th centuries as a way to counter the re-emergent pike on the battlefield. The halberd was first used by early Swiss armies to fight against both knights and enemy pike formations. It was effective against cavalry because with the spike on the back end of the head, one could effectively hook a horseman from the saddle, get him on the ground and dispatch him that way. Throughout the 15th century, the halberd became a supplement weapon for massive armies that used pikes on the battlefield, and it was also seen as a cheaper alternative for the knightly pollaxe. The spear tip was perfect for getting into the gaps of a full suit of armor, the spike could hook parts of the armor to immobilize the knight, and the axe head would do devastating damage to unarmored soldiers. The halberd also became associated as one of the many weapons used by the Swiss pikeman’s rivals, the Landsknecht. This was a German mercenary who was hired to deal with pike formations. Generally they were armed with a variety of anti-pike weapons, including halberds, great swords and short swords, and were renowned for their flamboyant clothes and armor. By the 16th century, as muskets became more commonplace on the battlefield, halberds were used less and less, and they became more of a weapon used to protect musketeers and arquebusiers from enemy cavalry, part of the “pike and shot” tactics that were used in conflicts like the Thirty Years War. But by the 18th century, they were largely ceremonial, used by palace guards.

[@kennethreese2193]

its fun watching you guy have fun making a video like this.

[@pepearagoneses6908]

8:12 - Most realistic fake death ever.

[@lalli8152]

I dont think Lindybeige or Shad really do that much Hema, but Matt Easton is instructor. Obviously Lindy, and Shad makes sort of hema related content, but im not sure if they practise actively any martial art. Lindy for example to my understanding mainly does reactment combat occasionally

[@semi-useful5178]

Yeah, Skallagrim is the biggest HEMA youtuber.

[@killerkraut9179]

About Halbeard i think Björn Rüther is the best !

[@robertmills8640]

I've seen paintings of Sgts using polearms to level the men's muskets, and to stand behind the men to keep them in line and push them forward in a charge situations 🙂 Not really used as a melee weapon per se

[@hueyiroquois3839]

The pun in the title gave me a stabbing pain.

[@stephenwood6663]

Regarding what you were saying about the halberd facilitating the sergeant's job, there was similar reasoning behind officers and ncos generally carrying pistols or submachine guns in WW2. The British found in WW1 that, if a man is equipped with a rifle, it's difficult psychologically to prevent him from firing it. This is a problem for officers and ncos, as their job isn't to be firing a rifle, it's to be commanding their men: giving them a weapon with a shorter effective range provided a neat solution to the issue.

[@rayceeya8659]

I will always consider the pole arm to be the most superior pre-gunpowder weapon.

[@cruzaider5339]

One of the questions you ask but immediately forget

[@cjthehistoryperson]

Excellent video, Brandon and Halberd Guy!

[@dajolaw]

Pikes were used to by the Yanks to defend the earthworks around Boston. Boarding pikes were used in naval engagements. Then there was the interesting idea of a hinged "Rifleman's Pike" that was meant to serve as a backup weapon for American riflemen (whose civilian rifles were not designed to mount a bayonet), but there's scant evidence that any of these spears made it into actual use.

[@dajolaw]

5:33 = While true, IIRC around the time of the Seven Years War, although there weren't any formal treatises on bayonet fighting, there were apparently attempts to adapt older pike techniques to the firelock. I know I've seen contemporary illustrations showing the techniques (including something similar to 14:19), but I'll be darned if I can find them right now, so I can't really cite my source.

[@richardmattingly7000]

The Halberd like a modern sword worn on a uniform became a symbol of authority more than a weapon over time but its still was a Pike. The era of every soldier carrying a firearm came slowly and the Pike Square was still as formidable when mixed with those firing for maximum effect. Indeed the reach of the weapon meant it could pull mounted Calgary of a horse by hooking them and for those with what ever farm tool or other such hand implement were at a disadvantage. One thing people forget that it was also used at both ends like a quarter staff not just lodged into the ground hoping an enemy would impale themselves. Indeed occasionally someone will be filmed swinging a pipe or using something like it as a weapons towards others and as a thrusting device ite length gives an advantage for awhile but not long...

[@chrisball3778]

Polearms were used by British officers going back over a hundred years before the American Revolutionary War. They were often carried during the English Civil War/ War of the Three Kingdoms, when military tactics were transitioning from the 'pike and shot' tactics of the 16th century into a version more focused on firearms. A halberd or equivalent was useful for crowd control and signalling (as mentioned here), but if combat did enter a melee phase, then the extra reach of a polearm would allow an officer to assist his men from behind the front rank- he could move along the line and stab or hack at the enemy from over their heads. Giving officers a polearm would make sense as a tradition, but it was probably a pretty dated one by 1776. Differences in terrain and tactics during the American Revolution (with a greater emphasis on marksmanship and ranged combat) might have made polearms less useful, whilst simultaneously marking carriers out as targets, even from a distance. I'm sure the average British officer then, as now, would probably ditch tradition (and the massive stick it was attached to) for a reduced chance of having his head blown off.

[@jackdorsey4850]

One thing I notice is the polearms make it easy for a sniper to pick out a person of rank and target them.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

It was probably a really good third rank complement to bayonets in saving powder in riot supression roles...

[@josephcolton2614]

First of all, the pole arm is a badge of rank. It can also be used as a rally point for the men, to dress ranks, prevent men from breaking ranks to the rear and also for the Sergeant covering his officer to reach past him from behind and put a point of defense for him to his front.

[@philipcunningham4125]

In my reading, I ran across a reference to Stonewall Jackson ordering a quantity of polearms. The war was over before they were delivered. Not sure of final outcome of this story.

[@henryhaven9296]

In the movie "Revolution" Donald Southerland plays a sargent who carries a pole arm , as well as other sargents . It's a good example how it was carried and its use in battle early in the American Revolution .

[@jakublulek3261]

As a lot of things in the army, usage of polearms was traditional, kinda a hangover from pike-and-shoot era. At least in the British Army, sword was the weapon of a gentleman, so mere sergeant cannot have it (era of temporary gentlemen was long in the future) but he still needs some distinction of his rank, that is visible on the battlefield. Halberd was a logical extension of that line of thinking. And some armies (like Swedish or Imperial one) hold on pikes much longer than others because there were edge cases where pikes proved to be useful.

[@andybrace9225]

Except that during the pike and shot era the common soldier carried a short sword as a secondary weapon, continued into the early 18c

[@MorgFreak]

Having done English Civil War re-enactment (1640's) for the last 20 years, during that period the polearm is pretty much the best melee weapon, if you are in a musket block clubbing butts and drawing swords the polearm is devastating and halberd so versatile enough to counter both musket butt or sword and unless you have some really good fighters in your block it has to be countered by either another polearm or it will take 2 or 3 people to take down an experienced polearm fighter. I used to be really good at taking them down by myself but I'm getting too old and fat now and taken to carrying one myself lol

[@WarlordWulf]

Big stick vs Gun. The legendary battle

[@mikegrey3835]

Polearms were absolutely used by NCOs to dress lines by holding them sideways against the backs of the ranks. If people in line start shuffling backwards in line when the enemy approach it can be used the same way to remind people that they aren't going anywhere.

[@hermocrasbreadlord9557]

Y'all are both so cute to watch. Brandy with the Halby

[@fuge74]

there are uses of pikes halberts, and bayonets in the american civil war. it could be a reference because of the strict adherence to nepolianic fighting especially in the early war. for example the state of Georgia specifically made pikes as a last hold out to arm the militias.

[@jarongreen5480]

4:35 The reason we're all really here.

[@ReviveHF]

Lindybeige and Scholagladiatoria actually did some experiment about the advantages of polearms against swords due to their longer reach.

[@kaffemachine102]

in conclusion; polearms are not pointless because they are pointy.

[@tophercaesar5375]

“A sergeant only fires his musket when the two men in front of him are shot, and even then only if he wants to show off” Irish sergeant in gods and generals

[@thejackman687]

It’s use as an identification and rally point was probably it’s best use.

[@xdenricoudx]

POV: you have God, Anime, and the British Empire your side

[@Digu213]

If we look about 70 years prior as you know, the swedes did use pikes and swords in their charges to quite the effect. The tactics used allowed the pikes to have the advantage, fighting rather fiercely in hand to hand combat, I believe it is the point were the use of pikemen was still prevalent and useful. Though being less advantageous as tactics, drills and musket use became more advanced. The battle of Narva did see a lot more action than given credit for and there were both plenty of shooting and stabbing involved rather than simply breaking and running.

[@haraldisdead]

Beautiful maples around you

[@paxluporum4447]

If you're in a battle and you're nco goes down, I can see how slinging your musket and picking up something so iconic can keep a unit from breaking. Instinct and training would kick in. "Oh God our leader is dead what do we do?" Someone picks it up and holds it aloft, "Well at least we know who's in charge now."

[@Nervadane]

That fellow looks like he could be your brother!

[@omarrp14]

16:45 ohhhh that hurt 😞 us modern NCO’s aren’t the same as those of the past though lol

[@karlslicher8520]

Drive a counterweight in to the base of the pole so it is more practical to carry and faster in a fight.

[@coling3957]

Donald Sutherland did some sterling work with the polearm in "Revolution" , 1985 movie where he sent Al Pacino fleeing, he should have thrown in "say hello to my little friend" .. :P missed a great opportunity there i think..

[@dasy2k1]

A story that was told to me by a (English civil war) reenactor freind was that they were walking through a field with pike from the camping area to the display field when they suddenly came under attack by an angry bull! The order rapidly came to charge pikes for bull! I think the bull had second thoughts about charging at a square bristling with pikes

[@indiomoustafa2047]

Short answer: No Long answer: No, but situationally yes. Edit: OHHH in linear warefare. Lol Helps to read the whole title.

[@austincottrell5122]

I can't help but think that Wellington, master and advocate of massed musket fire as he was, would have phased out spontoons for sergeants if he hadn't seen some utility or at least propriety in keeping them around (for instance, as a visible and tangible sign of hierarchy). By that era, officers had ditched polearms, and apparently fusees, altogether. I can't help but think that the availability of better swords for the officers (not to mention the popularity of Baker rifles as a fashion statement for young subalterns) had something to do with that. Another side note: we know for a fact that many officers used spontoons at Culloden, but in the famous painting that was done not long after the battle, we see an officer armed with a fusee and bayonet engaging with a highlander. Likewise we see Donald Sutherland's infamous sergeant major impression carrying a spontoon, when most pictures (and accurate fiction and reenacting) depict them, irrespective of era, with a pimp cane and some kind of a sword, usually a hanger. Long story short, I think all us enthusiasts can agree that the variation in equipment, uniform, and even practice makes the period(s) more fun to delve into. Great video as always.