Weapon Type	Approximate Weight in Pounds	Size S or M	Size L	Notes	Length	Space Required	Speed Factor	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Halberd ()	17.5	1-10	2-12	Halberd : includes Lochaber Axe <x?>.  Ko <x: dagger axe>, <Ji> ch'i chi, pi chi, bisento. The great axe is a bardiche or halberd (which are both poleaxes). (79.16)	5' +	5'	9	0	+1	+1	+1	+1	+2	+2	+2	+1	+1	0

This form of a pole axe is seen as a convex-headed broad axe in early
examples, but the head is set at a convenient angle (considering the
point where the blade is most likely to impact upon an enemy), so this
alone makes it quite distinct from an ordinary long-hafted axe. The
whole weapon often reached 8 feet in length. It was also always
topped with a fairly long spear point and backed by a spike, which was
often angled or hooked slightly downward. The spear point is, of
course, designed to keep opponents at bay and deliver a thrusting attack.
This proved quite useless when opposing mounted knights
armed with lances (cf. Battle of Arbedo, 1422).
The opposing spike was for penetration of heavy plate armor, with a secondary function as
a hook for dismounting opponents.

The halberd was used extensively, particularly by the Swiss && Germans,
and considerably modified and developed over the course of
two centuries. Concave blades, some very pronounced, were not uncommon,
and some halberd heads were made smaller (as the piercing-axe)
in order to better penetrate armor. Many of these weapons
pictured in texts on arms are not battle arms, but rather fanciful parade
arms. There are examples of bills and voulges which are called
halberds, but the discerning reader will note the differences in form,
especially when keeping in mind the weapon's possible USE. According
to C.W.C. Oman, the English brown bill was a halberd in all respects save the back spike.

<Oman, C.W.C., A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages (two volumes, London 1924)>
<perhaps, quote relevant paragraph/image, or give a link to such>

 
 

Weapons

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Pole Arms : The Axe Family

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Unearthed Arcana