Swordstaff
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A swordstaff (svärdstav) is a Scandinavian polearm, used in the Middle Ages. It is made by placing a blade at the end of a staff.[citation needed]
Evidence of the weapon in use at the battle of Elfsborg (Alvesborg) in 1502 is provided by Paul Dolnstein,[1] a landsknecht mercenary who fought in the battle, who refers to the Swedes carrying "good pikes made from swords". He also provides sketches of the weapon.[2]
Although Dolstein believed the weapon was made from swords, there is no independent confirmation of this.[citation needed]
Origins[edit]
The weapon has visual similarities to the partisan and langue de boeuf and may share common origins. However, Scandinavian sagas make references to a number of pole weapons, usually translated as "halberd" or "bill".[3] These weapons are used to cut and to stab but their names suggest they were derived from the spear rather than a cutting weapon, such as the hewing spear (höggspjót) and the atgeir.[4] While clearly identifiable artistic or archaeological evidence of the form of these weapons is lacking, it is possible that the swordstaff may be a late derivative of this family of weapons.
Chinese swordstaff[edit]
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Chinese swordstaff called a pi (鈹), Han dynasty -
Han dynasty Sha 铩 with bat shaped guard and scabbard -
Closeup of a modern recreation of the sha with a bat shaped guard
Chinese polearms that resembled swordstaves were also commonly used in ancient China from the late Warring States/Qin dynasty to the Han dynasty era. These were known as the pi (鈹), translated into English as either "sword-staff" or "long lance", and a long bladed ranseur-like swordstaff weapon called the sha (鎩) with a blade that was around 62 cm (24 in) long (up to 80 cm (31 in) long) and a hilt that was about 19 cm (7.5 in) long.[citation needed]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Hodnet, Andrew Arthur (2018). The Othering of the Landsknechte (PDF) (MA thesis). North Carolina State University.
- ^ Richards, John (2002). Landsknecht Soldier 1486–1560. Warrior, No. 49. Osprey. pp. 51–52.: media:dolstein 2.gif
- ^ Orkisz, Jan (2016). "Pole-weapons in the Sagas of Icelanders: a comparison of literary and archaeological sources". Acta Periodica Duellatorum. 4 (1): 177–212. doi:10.1515/apd-2016-0006. ISSN 2064-0404.
- ^ "Viking Age Arms and Armor: Other Viking Weapons". Hurstwic. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13.
