[Nathan Robinson]

Today's update:


Arms & Armor Hungarian Axe
A hands-on review by Russ Ellis


Eric McHugh Custom Halberd
A hands-on review by Eric Nower


Museum Replicas Hewing Spear
A hands-on review by Greyson Brown


Museum Replicas Limited Battle Witch Axe
Added to Nate's Collection


Blacksword Armoury "Swiss Axe"
Added to Nate's Collection


As always, you can see our Complete History of Updates listed right from our home page.

[Ryan A. C.]

Oh goody, hafted deadly bits!

I never fully realized how pretty A&A's Hungarian Axe was before. It really is pleasing, if not flashy at all. I quite like it and I have just decided I need to add more to my weapons collection than just swords.

I do love reading about the common soldier and I should have at least one weapon suited to his station.

[Matt Phillips]

I really enjoyed these updates. Everything was well written and very informative. I like seeing more hafted weapons. Thanks for the good work.

[Jonathon Janusz]

Nice to see another piece from Eric. He really seems to be developing a knack for axes. . .

[Jason Daub]

Glad to see the other sharp and pointies getting some coverage, thanks to Greyson on the article on the hewing spear. I have been curious as to the quality of this one since I saw it on the Reliks website so now I guess I've got another project.

[Chad Arnow]

Hopefully people are noticing that we're publishing more and more groups that aren't just medieval-sword-themed. This is the second hafted weapons group we've published this year. This year has also seen groups featuring nothing but:

-Gauntlets
-Rondel Daggers
-Hangers and other colonial era swords
-Martial Arts & training weapons
-Event & Museum Experience articles
-Rapiers

I'm personally very excited by all of this. We have more groups in the works that will explore more armour topics, other weapons, and even things from other cultures not normally covered here. We won't leave behind our medieval and renaissance sword reviews and articles, though. Rather, we're expanding into new areas while not losing track of what we've become known for.

I'm happy that we're maintaining our quality and our unprecedented & ambitious publication schedule while growing in new directions. This is pretty fun and I hope the readers are enjoying it, too.

[Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom]

Thanks Greyson!
Really nice and interesting reading about that spear head

[Jean Thibodeau]

Greyson;

I notice that in the side view the blade of the hewing spear seem very thin: Now this may be an advantage with a spear intended as a cutting weapon as long as the blade is still strong enough to not bend and take a set. Also assuming decent heat treating.

My A & A Viking spear has a much smaller head that is also much thicker, at least I think it is just based on the photos.
The Viking spear does seem to me capable of making effective cuts but is scaled more like a knife sized blade than the hewing spear's blade that is almost sword like in length.

The extra blade length of the hewing spear should make for easier to aim cuts while with a short 8" spear head one would mostly be getting tip cuts or also risks hitting with the end of the shaft rather than the blade if the spear is extended too far or the target moves in closer.

Just wonder what your thoughts are about the +/- of short or long spear blades when used for cutting ?

With a thrust the length of blade should be of minor importance assuming equal lengths of shaft + blade i.e. total reach.

Oh, great articles by the way.

[Greyson Brown]

I had a shorter spear head that I once tried to use for some cutting. It, like your spear, was thicker, and it just never felt right. As you pointed out, there is a very small area with which you can strike, so you have to judge distance better than I am comfortable with. It also helps if you manage to extend your arms the exact same distance every time, and that gets harder as you change the height of your attack.

The hewing spear does have a thin blade, but I do not think that it presents a major problem. No, it does not have the rigidity to punch through heavy armour, but it was never intended for that. along similar lines, my Albion NG Agincourt has a lot thicker blade than my NG Sherriff. Your A&A spear was design to do a job more along the lines of the Agincourt, while my hewing spear is pretty much just the Sherriff on a stick.

I, at least, tend to notice and appreciate the variation in sword designs because that is the information I have studied (and which is readily available). It seems to me that there is similar variation and complexity among all weapon types.

-Grey