[Dustin Faulkner]

Hello Everybody:

I am new to this forum, and I've developed a serious interest in medieval pole arms - particularly the pole axe - ever since I saw a demonstration by Mike Loades of Britain. They aren't just wall decorations!

I can't afford a replica pole axe by manufacturers like Arms & Armour right now. I don't doubt their quality. However, I am wondering if anyone can comment upon a replica pole axe made by Windlass Steelcrafts. It looks cool to me and I like its configuration. I get the impression Windlass has a mixed reputation, but I've seen no direct review of their pole axe.

I'd include a picture, but can't figure out how yet in this forum. The pole axe I am discussing can be found at www.museumreplicas.com product #600640. Thank you gentlemen.

Also, are there any organizations which teach the use of polearms? I know ARMA focuses on swords.

Sincerely,
Dustin Faulkner
Boerne, TX

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[Joe Fults]

I don't trust their wooden shafts.

No experience with the Pole Axe in question but I had a war hammer from them. Wooden shaft was made of some of the crappiest wood I've ever encountered. Pretty much self destructed when I tried to use it. Metal components held up well though.

[Lin Robinson]

I have one pole arm from MR, a Viking spear. I bought the ash pole on which it is mounted from MR too. No problem with that combination but this is not a javelin or throwing spear.

My experience with the wood on most weapons from India, China and other parts of Asia is that it is OK for grips and small parts but when you attempt to mount a Lochaber axe or spear head on the tropical hardwoods they use, breakage is a definite problem. Axe handles are no exception. There is nothing wrong with the way the handles are made, it is just the wood that is available to them will not stand up to use like hickory or ash.

I would query MR about the type of wood used for this pole axe, since they don't say what it is. It may be ash or some other hardwood that will stand up to use. If not, then consider replacing the wood if you buy the axe, or look for a maker that sells the metal without the wood, allowing you to fit your own.

[Shane Smith]

We have done considerable testing of MRL's polearms. The heads tend to be kind of okay if a bit soft and clumsy...we've never broken one at least. The shafts are the real problem in my experience. At a large ARMA event, we broke the poles on every one of their polearms present by striking an 18 gauge helm. I personally own one of their smaller battle axes which I had to re-haft after striking into soft brush and a small limb or two. The shaft broke at the attaching pin and then split lengthwise. I replaced the broken wood with a good hickory handle and it's solid now. I have an MRL flanged viking spear that feels whippy and weak so the next spear I have was made by pinning their head and buttcap to my own hardwood shaft. That one came out great!

I also have their polaxe and their ravens beak here still wearing their stock shafts. I've had no time to test these yet and don't really intend to. I'm just going to replace the wood with good stuff as time allows since it looks and feels just like the others I've seen break. I've handled a period original or two and they feel stouter of shaft than the reproductions by MRL do.

[Christian Henry Tobler]

Hi Shane,

You know, I've have a pair of the older Bec de Corbins that they sold a few years back. Just in the last couple of weeks, I started thinking about replacing the hafts (Bill Grandy has told me the horror story about his). I think you've just raised the priority level for me! Thanks.

All the best,

Christian

[Russ Thomas]

Dustin,

I cannot comment on the pieces that you mention personally. However, if I were going to purchase such a weapon, I would have a serious look at Paul Binns weapons. Paul is well known for producing weapons that are nigh on indestructable. Check Paul out at:

http://www.paul-binns-swords.co.uk

I can vouch for his weapons, their quality and their destructive capability ! They are definately not mere wallhangers!

Hope that this is, perhaps, of interest.

Regards,

Russ

[J. D. Carter]

If you do go with the Windlass piece a smaller pricetag would mean more money for a replacement shaft should one prove necessary.

http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~600640~name~Pole+Axe.htm

[Sean Flynt]

If you're willing and able to replace a Windlass haft, I'd encourage you to ask the Arms & Armour folks if they'll sell you an unmounted head. If they'll do it, it will at least save you the HUGE shipping expense of the mounted piece. They have this new poleaxe they're selling, mounted and shipped, for around $450. Almost $50 of that is shipping. If you could cut the shipping down by eliminating the haft, and get at least some kind of discount for the unmounted head, you might be able get one of the nicest poleaxes made for less than $400 and mount it to your own specs. I don't know if A&A is willing to do that sort of thing, but it's certainly worth asking if you're serious about polearms. Just think about what you'd spend for the equivalent quality sword.

[Sean Flynt]

You also might want to consider the new poleaxe from Get Dressed For Battle:

http://www.gdfb.co.uk/acatalog/GDFB_Weapons.html

It's sold head-only for under $100. I think I've seen those for sale in the U.S. but I don't recall where. If I wanted a classic poleaxe on a tight budget, this is the route I'd go. Otherwise I'd save for a head-only purchase from A&A.

[Tim May]

Kult of Athena may be able to get the pole axe head for you from Get Dressed For Battle, it seems their new shields and bosses are made by them. I own two of the bosses and have to say that they are great for DIY jobs, and the pole arm certainly looks great.

[Shane Smith]

[Corey D. Sullivan]

[Joe Fults]

I have not seen on in real life that is flat. That said I've only been able to see items in a few museum collections in the United States so its not like I have exposure to a huge sample of them.

[Reece Nelson]

Here is the same windless steelcraft pole axe for much cheaper.

http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~600640~name~Pole+Axe.htm

[Mark Millman]

Folks,

Hal Siegel's Therion Arms Web-site has a profile view of the GDFB pollaxe head. The photo--the upper one of the two on that page--makes clear that the hammer-face is cut with grooves, probably waffle grooves, but is not toothed as many historical examples are. The URL is:

http://therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c1016.html

For comparison, the Arms & Armor pollaxe does have a toothed hammer-face:

http://www.arms-n-armor.com/pole010.html

I hope that this proves helpful.

Best,

Mark Millman

[Bill Sahigan]

bummer..

so.. looks like it is impossible to get a decent quality Pollaxe for under $200 then?

[Chuck Russell]

i have the GDFB axe and its nice. some of the welds are a lil ruff but its def worth the cash. i've seen the windlass axe as well and its ok. nothing super nice but ok. i would agree to change the handle on it though.

[Shane Allee]

I don't know anything about them other than the seller posted the link on the armour archive the other day. Didn't think that they looked too bad, but I don't know that much about these type of things.

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/fnoog

Shane

[Nathan Keysor]