Polearm

A polearm is a weapon on a long stick.

The stick is usually made of wood. A sharp part sits at the very end. This helps a person reach far away.

Many of these were made from farm tools. This made them cheap to make. Farmers already knew how to use them. They could use them to swing or throw. Some even had hooks to pull riders off horses. These tools were very useful in battles.

A polearm is a weapon with a long shaft.

This shaft is usually made of wood. A fighting part is fixed to the very end. This design gives the user more reach. It also gives them more striking power.

Many polearms were made from farm tools. This made them cheap and easy to find. People like farmers already knew how to use them. They could use them to swing or throw. Some weapons had hooks. These hooks helped pull riders off horses.

There are many different kinds of polearms. The dagger-axe was used in ancient China. It had a blade made of bronze or iron. Later, people made the ji. The ji combined the dagger-axe with a spear. In Japan, samurai used the naginata. This was a wooden pole with a curved blade. They used it to keep distance from enemies. Other weapons include the glaive. A glaive has a blade like a kitchen knife. It is fixed to a pole using a socket. These tools were very useful in many battles.

A polearm is a type of weapon used for close combat.

The main fighting part is attached to the end of a long shaft. Most of these shafts are made from wood. This design is very helpful for the person using it. It gives them a longer reach against an enemy. It also increases their striking power.

These weapons are very versatile. They can be used for many different fighting styles. Some are meant for thrusting like a spear. Others are meant for swinging with great force. Some even work well for throwing during a fight.

There are three main ways these weapons work. First, some are built for long reach. These are used in large groups called pike squares. Second, some are made to increase leverage. This helps a person swing the weapon to hit riders on horses. This uses angular force to make a big impact. Third, some are designed for throwing. These are used by soldiers in skirmish lines. Many polearms were actually made from farm tools.

Tools like scythes or pitchforks were cheap to make. Farmers already knew how to use these tools in the fields. This made them perfect for peasant armies.

History shows many different kinds of polearms across the world. In ancient China, people used the dagger-axe.

This weapon had a bronze or iron blade. It was used from the Shang dynasty until the Han dynasty. Later, the ji was created by combining the dagger-axe with a spear. In Europe, the Dane axe was a famous Viking weapon. It was used by the Anglo-Saxons and Normans in the 11th century. It spread through Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries. Different cultures created their own unique versions over many years.

There are many specific names for these weapons. In Japan, the samurai used the naginata. This is a wooden pole with a curved blade. They used it to keep distance from their enemies. Another type is the glaive. A glaive has a blade that looks like a kitchen knife. In France, the voulge was used a lot in the 15th century. The Thai ngao was used by soldiers riding elephants.

It even had a hook to help command the elephant. These specific tools helped soldiers in many different ways.

Today, we do not see these weapons used in real battles. They are mostly used for ceremonies. For example, the Papal Swiss Guard uses them. The Yeomen of the Guard also use them in special roles. You can also find them in traditional martial arts. Chinese martial arts have kept many different types of polearms alive. Even though they are old, they are still very interesting to study. They show us how people used tools and clever designs to protect themselves throughout history.

A polearm is a close combat weapon designed for melee fighting. The primary fighting component is attached to the end of a long shaft, which is typically made of wood. This specific design provides two major advantages to the user. First, the long shaft extends the user's effective reach. Second, the length increases the weapon's striking power.

Because they were versatile and effective, polearms were used widely on battlefields across Asia and Europe for many centuries.

To understand how polearms function, one must look at their three tactical categories. The first category includes weapons designed for extended reach and thrusting. These are often used in dense formations like a pike square or a phalanx. The second category focuses on increasing leverage. By allowing the hands to move freely along the pole, the user can maximize angular force. This swinging tactic was especially useful for attacking cavalry.

The third category consists of weapons designed for throwing tactics, which were used in skirmish line combat.

Many polearms were actually adapted from common agricultural implements. Tools like scythes, pitchforks, and rakes were abundant and inexpensive to produce. Because these tools contained relatively little metal, they were much cheaper than dedicated military weapons. This made polearms the preferred choice for peasant levies and peasant rebellions. Since these conscripted farmers spent their lives using these tools in the fields, the cost of training them was comparatively low. This allowed even the poorest classes to participate in warfare.

Classification of these weapons can be quite difficult for historians. European weapon names often change over time, and original descriptions are sometimes uncertain. Mistranslations and the inventiveness of later experts also cause confusion. For example, the term "halberd" has been used to translate the Chinese ji and various medieval Scandinavian weapons like the atgeir. Experts like Ewart Oakeshott note that while professional soldiers had custom weapons, militias often used whatever was available.

This makes precise definitions a constant challenge.

In ancient China, the dagger-axe, or ge, was a prominent weapon. It featured a bronze or iron blade mounted to a perpendicular wooden shaft. This weapon was used from the Shang dynasty until at least the Han dynasty. Later, the ji was created by combining the dagger-axe with a spear.

In other regions, the Thai ngao was used by infantry riding elephants. The ngao featured a curved blade and a hook used for commanding the elephant during battle.

Europe saw many distinct variations of the polearm throughout the Middle Ages. The Dane axe was a heavy, crescent-shaped weapon originally used by Vikings. It was adopted by the Anglo-Saxons and Normans in the 11th century. Another European type was the glaive, which featured a single-edged blade similar to a kitchen knife. The voulge was also used extensively in France and Burgundy during the 15th century.

Each of these designs served specific combat needs, from dismounting knights to piercing armor.

In Japan, the samurai class utilized specialized polearms like the naginata and the yari. The naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved blade and often includes a sword-like guard called a tsuba. Samurai used it to maintain an optimal distance from enemies in close combat. The yari is a spear that comes in many forms, such as the cross-shaped Jumonji yari.

After the 15th-century Onin War, many infantry groups began using the yari, longbow, and gun instead of the naginata.

While polearms are no longer used in modern warfare, they remain significant in culture. They are now largely restricted to ceremonial military units. Examples include the Papal Swiss Guard and the Yeomen of the Guard. Additionally, many traditional martial arts continue to preserve these weapons. Chinese martial arts, in particular, have kept a wide variety of polearm techniques alive for study today.