Poleaxe

There are a great many different types of polearms, all going by different names depending on their shape, origin, and who you speak to. The poleaxe, halberd, and even footman's hammer all tend to share certain properties. A weapon head is mounted on a wooden pole varying in length from four to seven feet long. The head consists of three weapons, including a top spike, a back spike of some sort, and a axe or hammer. The weapon also tends to include a butt spike on the bottom and various forms of reinforcement or guards on the pole.

The different parts of the head gave the wielder many options in combat. The spike could be used in formation to brace for a charge, and once in melee was effective for quick stabbing attacks. The back spike was useful for hooking and dragging down an opponent, both on foot or on horseback. The axe head was used against lightly armored opponents (or the hammer for opponents in plate mail) for a powerful finishing blow.

In the 14th century, the halberd was the primary weapon of the Swiss, although by the 15th century they adopted long pikes for stopping cavalry. Halberdiers remained useful for the close fighting after the charge and for shoring up the flanks. The hammer head gradually replaced the axe in an attempt to counter heavier armor. However, the poleaxe became a favored tournament weapon because even a vigorous match would rarely penetrate full platemail. The halberd became a symbol of rank, useful for dressing the lines of formations. The poleaxe can still be seen in its last vestiges as the "battalion axe" on the top of unit flags and standards.