Talk:Landsknecht/@comment-101.98.214.232-20141212050603

I find it intresting that no-one has mentioned poleaxes, The german basically invented fighting with them in War, one of the main treastest the has survied till today by: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Talhoffer has an entire section devoted to the weapon.

I am a re-enactor whos personna is a landsknect so I am Biase but the poleaxes is an amazing weapon of war you have 3 attack points (tip, blade and butt spike) and a Hook (opening shields, hooking riders) it is shorter than a "pike" but the idea of using a pike outside of massed warfae is laughable, no self respecting landsknect would carry a pike around they would be store on baggage trains.

The Zweihander is a mostly ceremonial weapon (espically if it is shaped, fishtail/flame) thier is little evidence of it being used in war but it was used in duels/tournements, the suppose purpose of the Zwi is to cut the heads off pikes but tests have proven that this cannot be done effectively, you have to take quick a few good hits on a brace pike shaft to cut it (avg - 8 - 10 swings) is is a nice weapon in a tourney though, better balance/desgin than a claymore and I have seen one fold a katana in half with the impact of a block.