Misc > The Sage's Guild - Historical Discussion
Battle-axes in Western Europe
Llew:
--- Quote from: Silver on March 04, 2007, 12:12:01 PM ---I have no idea what the correct term is... But an axe has a lot of advantages. You need only strenght to be able to use it efficiently, with sword you need some training to be able to survive a battle with it, with an axe you can swing like a maniac (and hopefully some of the people armed in that way survives).
--- End quote ---
I don't altogether agree, I mean, sure you can swing like a maniac but you can be tons move effective using a bit of technique. And using technique, (same as with stick-fighting) you can almost negate recovery time.
--- Quote from: Aryndil on March 04, 2007, 08:14:17 PM ---Also, when Olav Tryggvason faced an adversary in wooing an English noblewoman, him and his men all picked long axes, and disarmed their opponents before pinning them to the ground without killing them.
So there is a lot of technique involved - and axes are CERTAINLY not as clunky weapons as most people would like to think.
--- End quote ---
Yes.
GreySaber:
--- Quote from: doorknobdeity on March 04, 2007, 10:11:04 PM ---
Do you know how they would fit into a tourney setting, like the one mentioned below?
" . . .and said he would like to tilt with him three courses with the lance and three strokes with the battle-axe." From Book II of Froissart's Chronicles
Everyone, thank you; this is all very interesting.
--- End quote ---
There are a few possiblities here, since touneys change from place to place. The most likely one in this context is that they get to swing on each other (in full armor so it won't hurt... much) a set number of times. Whoever gets more hits will win. (And yes, the other guy can defend.)
Silver:
--- Quote from: Llew2 on March 05, 2007, 04:27:52 AM ---
--- Quote from: Silver on March 04, 2007, 12:12:01 PM ---I have no idea what the correct term is... But an axe has a lot of advantages. You need only strenght to be able to use it efficiently, with sword you need some training to be able to survive a battle with it, with an axe you can swing like a maniac (and hopefully some of the people armed in that way survives).
--- End quote ---
I don't altogether agree, I mean, sure you can swing like a maniac but you can be tons move effective using a bit of technique. And using technique, (same as with stick-fighting) you can almost negate recovery time.
--- Quote from: Aryndil on March 04, 2007, 08:14:17 PM ---Also, when Olav Tryggvason faced an adversary in wooing an English noblewoman, him and his men all picked long axes, and disarmed their opponents before pinning them to the ground without killing them.
So there is a lot of technique involved - and axes are CERTAINLY not as clunky weapons as most people would like to think.
--- End quote ---
Yes.
--- End quote ---
Of course with more technique it's better, but if you have fifteen muscular farmers and you have a choice of giving them swords or axes, they don't have any technique with either weapon, then an axe would be preferable. It's cheaper, more readily avaviable, and easier to use with no training whatsoever. With training it can be even more dangerous, of course.
Llew:
--- Quote from: Silver on March 05, 2007, 01:12:36 PM ---Of course with more technique it's better, but if you have fifteen muscular farmers and you have a choice of giving them swords or axes, they don't have any technique with either weapon, then an axe would be preferable. It's cheaper, more readily avaviable, and easier to use with no training whatsoever. With training it can be even more dangerous, of course.
--- End quote ---
True.
Silver:
Someone agreed with me, yay!
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