ALL TYPES OF MEDIEVAL WEAPONS PROFESSIONAL

I'd imagine in combat a spearman would rely on fending off a swordsman if the sword gets inside the spear's reach the spearman's at a serious disadvantage.īows have range. But formation fighting is different from dueling. They were also good for infantry formations fending off horsemen in this form they eventually lengthened into the pikes that persisted into the age of firearms in pike-and-shot warfare. Throwing spears and spears for melee usually differ in construction, but you can adapt one as the other in a pinch. It's easy to make a simple one just by sharpening a stick. Many had a spike on one end-not to pierce breast plaes, because it quite often couldn't, but to smash through the weaker joints and lighter helmets. War hammers are an extension of that principle: as steel armor came to prominence and could reliably repel swords, the need for massive blunt force gave rise to huge two-handed hammers. They tend to be shorter weapons than swords. They were made for crushing through the chain that stymied swords. Maces just expand on that, eventually by adding flanges.

The mace is descended from the club, which is simple to make and relatively simple to use.

ALL TYPES OF MEDIEVAL WEAPONS PROFESSIONAL

It's probably not coincidental that the right to carry a sword publicly-effectively demonstrating that you are a professional killer of men-was reserved for the aristocrats. You can hunt with bow or spear, use an axe to cut wood, and of course a hammer is a tool. Swords are also, unlike many weapons, suited only to killing. They could also be used in very close quarters by putting one hand against the blade (yes, you can do this without cutting yourself) you can maneuver the thing very quickly and close to your body. Arming swords had respectable reach, especially when thrusting. It's decent against the armor of the day heavy plate eventually required more force than the arming sword could provide an led to the development of heavier weapons for concussive force and greater reliance on thrusting to pierce armor. If you're thinking thinking of the common longsword of fantasy, which is more often actually what would be historically called a bastard sword or arming sword, it's a one-handed weapon that can cut on the forward or back stroke, so it's quick. They're pretty maneuverable, for the most part. They come in varying shapes and sizes, one- or two-handed, can can slash and stab and parry, although not all swords are made for all strokes. You might be able to throw one, but not terribly effectively throwing knives are a specific thing, very hard to use, and not terribly effective anyway. Daggers are concealable and very easy to carry around.

All types of medieval weapons