[Robert Hinds]

Hello,

I am currently in the process of putting together a WotR era kit based on a picture that was in one of my books (file attatched, still havn't figured out how to post pic's on here).

For the glaive I was going to get these item's from KoA and put them together:

http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=XB2733

http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=OX005

http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=600248

At first I didn't think twice about using a rounded pole, but after reading Chris Arrington's topic about pole axe hafts,

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...ollaxe+diy

I started to wonder if maybe a square or octogonal haft would be better. You can't really tell from the picture, so what do you guys think would be the most historically accurate?

Also how would I attach the glaive head to the haft? Do I drill holes in the pole and insert, clip and peen off nails? Is there a certain type of rivet I should use? I really have very little information on how I should do this...

And last thing, how long should my haft be before I add the glaive head? Or how long should the whole thing be when im done?

Any and all info is appreciated.

[Chris Kelson]

Go with the octagonal (essentially squared with the corners planed down) haft, it is a much better shape for gripping.

For the length, at my height of 5'10'' I've found about 7'6' or so is a good total length of weapon, though a little longer to about 8' is pretty good, I just find that and longer to be slightly too long if anything more complex than thrusting is going to be done with it. I suggest that you just attach the head to the haft without the butt spike, give it a good whirl or twenty, and then cut down to suit what you find. You'll probably not have to trim more than about 4 to 12 inches off the whole length.

Drilling through the pole and riveting would work (I tend to use a flat/period appropriate nail and just peen over the pointy side in that case) although John Waldman's "Hafted Weapons in Medieval and Renaissance Europe" has some good x-ray cross sections showing that often a pair of nails were used and the tips of the nails are bent over under the opposite lagnet. For that I believe you'll need period appropriate nails with their flat, wedge shape being far more prone to bending than modern nails.