Why No Love For AXES

[mtnbkr]

What about the lowly hoe?

What is it about men and hoes.

Chris

 

[Luchtaine]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but in reference to the axe vs the sword. When the axe is used as a weapon one has to keep in mind it is a purely offensive weapon it has no defensive properties. That being said it can be far more effective than a sword (Excludeing katanas, sabres and other light fast swords in most situations), or a sword and shield combo, the axe's focused weight also make defending against it near impossible as well, forget parrying it, most shields either the shield or your arm will break after repeated blows. It gets its power from being intimidateing and unerveing the opponent. That would be refering to berserkers who were quite possibly hopped up on something to give them that added aggressiveness to make the axe truely effective. Also the Huscarls used beared axes the big 2 handed kind left handed because most of the world being right handed would have to turn to block with a shield. Bearded axes were moderatly effective against calvary as well after the intial charge I would assume.
The Axe really became irrelevant on the battlefield after 1066 however, When william the conqueror won at the battle of Hastings was it? at anyrate the axe can be just as effective as the sword when used properly.

Most swords up to a certain time peroid are only glorified clubs with a thrusting point also.

 

[Cosmoline]

They were hopped up from freebasing lutefisk.

 

[Luchtaine]

hrmm lutefisk...

The worst Germanian types have to offer is food.

 

[Balog]

I'm always hearing how light, fast swords would take out an axeman. I don't think so.

Once a swing is initiated, you could prolly stab the weilder w/ a sword. But that axe is still coming your way. Trying to parry would be pretty ineffective. If we look at the pre-gunpowder era when hand to hand was the norm, the most effective and popular weapons were spears and other polearms, axes, hammers, clubs, and heavy bladed chopping swords. It was only after armor went the way of the dodo that lighter parry and thrust weapons became dominant.

 

[CARRY'IN]

Hawks are sooo cool. Easy to throw and very American. I can get a away with a tomahawk (or spets shovel) strapped to my daypack almost anywhere; even riding on the subway (BART in the bay) it is just a handle sticking out of a big pocket. Instantly accessable and lethal. Any kind of a big knife or anything else is fairly recognizable and will get me in big trouble. Forget about any camoflauged weapons like sword canes or staffs with blades- you go to jail in Cali for that.

 

[Vic303]

Carry'in, you should look at the Cold Steel City Stick. It's just a walking stick--no sword or spike in it. But it DOES have a large stainless steel knob for the head of the cane. I sure wouldn't want to get hit with it...

 

[CARRY'IN]

In my experience, unless you are very old and gray, sticks draw too much attention.

 

[fistful]

more fantasy than actual history, much like this list
Quote:

Longswords, broadswords, bastard swords, and the ubiquitos katanas ....

too much dungeons & dragons

So, those ancient wars were not fought with broadswords and katanas? I don't get it.

From the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts website, http://www.thearma.org/essays/broadsword.htm

The true "broadsword" can actually be defined as a sword with a wide, straight, double-edged blade used mostly by mounted troops from the 1700’s to 1800’s. The appearance of broadswords belongs to the late 1600’s as a distinction from civilian thrusting swords. During this time a gentleman’s blade for personal defence had become the slender small-sword descended from the rapier, whereas the military (and specifically cavalry) used wider cutting blades. These weapons are in fact a form of short cutlass. The various cage and basket hilted "mortuary" blades used by cavalry starting around the 1630’s were also in form, "broadswords."

I found no good info for katanas on the web, and didn't look up the others, but to my knowledge all of the weapons in the above list were historically used in warfare.

 

[Preacherman]

Someone has to say it... axes are not too popular because President Bush made such a fuss about the "axes of Evil"!

 

[countertop]

My father in law was a calvary officer and has his sword/saber hanging in the living room. Its quite nice - though he never actually rode ahorse in the military - he did get some training with it (this was in the 50s and 60s)