Polearms and Hafted Weapons
Investigates hafted implements developed to keep cavalry at distance, hook armor, or penetrate plate defenses on ancient and medieval battlefields.
Inside this collection
Lances and Cavalry Spears
Details mounted spears from ancient kontos to medieval couched lances and Polish hussar kopia.
Infantry Pikes and Formations
Focuses on long mass-formation spears used by Hellenistic phalangites, Swiss pikemen, and Spanish tercios.
Complex European Polearms
Examines hybrid chopping, hooking, and thrusting weapons including halberds, poleaxes, and bills.
Japanese Polearms
Covers the naginata, nagamaki, and varied socketed yari heads developed for foot soldiers and samurai.
Chinese Polearms
Details the bronze and iron ji, guandao, and related staff weapons described in military manuals.
Spears of the Americas
Analyzes flint-, copper-, and bone-tipped thrusting spears and javelins across pre-Columbian cultures.
African Spears and Assegai
Covers long throwing spears and short stabbing variants, such as the Zulu iklwa, alongside their forging methods.
Glaives and Single-Edged Staff Arms
Traces cleaver-like polearms including the European glaive, fauchard, and sovnya.
Legendary objects deserve
a closer reading.
We study materials, makers and surviving evidence. Legends open the question; history guides the answer.
Our approach