Polearms

A popular group of weapons during the ancient and Medieval periods were the polearms. Their length was a distinct advantage and, for the peasant, they were a relatively easy weapon to make. Thus, there came to be an abundance of polearms of different sizes and shapes. Polearms consist of various weapon blades and heads mounted on long poles. Polearms are two-handed weapons and a shield cannot be used with them.

Note: I am lazy.  I do not want to make individual pages for each and every tiny variation.  Therefore, when there are two very similar weapons that are just slight variations on each other, I list the less well-known variant under "Other Names."

• Example

All Polearms

• Ahlspiess - two-handed fighting spear with a long, square-sectioned spike fitted onto a wooden handle
• Arbir - a bladed staff; pointed wooden staff to which a wide, curved blade is attached
• Awl Pike - polearm with a long square-sectioned spike on the end
• Beaked Axe - polearm with a beak mounted opposite the blade
• Bill - A polearm with a wide cutting blade, with or without spikes and hooks in various locations, derived from the common agricultural tool. The billhook became the mainstay of English infantry forces during the High Middle Ages, and remained such for centuries. This fearsome weapon was capable of killing both armoured opponents and horses, an important factor when facing cavalry forces. Billhooks came in a large variety of shapes and dimensions.
• Bisento
• Bo - The collective name for all types of Japanese staffs; a staff usually between 6 and 8 Shaku in length
• Brandestoc - two-handed polearm with a long, double-edged blade concealed in the handle
• Catch Pole - forked polearm
• Chacing Staff - A 12-foot long iron-shod staff
• Couteau de Breche
• Falcastra - consists of a straight, single-edged blade with a hook or point opposite the edge
• Falx
• Feather Staff - 36 in. walking stick with three 16 in. concealed blades which could be brought into action by a downward jerk of the weapon; usually two-handed weapon
• Feruzue - staff consisting of a hollow wooden tube, inside which is hidden a chain attached to an iron ball
• Fuscina
• Garami - Japanese spiked polearm.  "Garami" means "to entangle" or "to wrap."
• Glaive
• Godendag
• Halberd
• Hippe - 14th century European halberd with a short, wide point.
• Jedburg Axe - Scottish polearm with a hook opposite the blade
• Kongo-zue - wooden staff with iron rings at the end; used with both hands
• Korseke
• Kumade
• Lajatang - The Lajatang is an unusual polearm, made of two iron cresent blades on either end of a bamboo or other staff, some 2 meters long. Designed for attacking multiple opponents, use of the Lajatang incorporates great speed and reaction time. It is often a favorite of masters of Kung Fu.
• Langue de Boeuf
• Lochaber Axe
• Lucerne Hammer
• Magari Yari
• Military Fork
• Moon - polearm consisting of a crescent-shaped blade mounted so that its tips are facing the butt of the shaft
• Naboot - two-handed polearm weapon
• Nakamaki - Naginata with blades similar to katana which were mounted on short poles (circa 3-4 feet) are termed nagamaki-naoshi. Nagamaki were used primarily during the Kamakura and early Muromachi eras in Japan.
• Naginata
• Partizan
• Pike
• Quarterstaff
• Romphaea - curved, double-edged blade mounted on a wooden staff
• Sarissa - a polearm weapon measuring about 6 meters in length with a spear attached at the end; used for jabbing or throwing.
• Scythe - European polearm made by mounting an agricultural tool in line with a wooden shaft.  See: glaive.
• Thrusting Spear
• Spetum
• Spontoon - Polearm, fitted with a large spear-head blade, Europe, developed mid 16th century from the partisan.
• Tetsubo - A tetsubo is a simple crowbar or iron-shod staff made completely out of iron.
• Trident
• Toyak - bladed staff, used for slashing.  Much like a glaive, except with a straight blade.
• Voulge - European polearm with a broad axe blade topped with a spike.  Much like a halberd.
• Yoribo - wooden japanese staff used with both hands