• PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Most of the pull arm weapons eventually devolved into halberd type pulling and slicing weapons. They were used primarily to remove mounted troops from the tops of horses, while slicing off their limbs.

    There were lots of variations of halberds, pole axes and the English Bill.

    There is a great book on the matter. Weapons in international encyclopedia from 5000 BC to 2000 AD.

    • Adlach@lemmygrad.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      Poleaxes were certainly used for more than yanking people off horses—they were the knightly weapon of choice for a couple centuries at least. I’d hardly call it a “devolution” of the spear.