Pole Type Arms and Zombies

[Darkness]

"Staves, Spears, Scythes, even Sickles can be used as weapons, just ask your fellow farmer. Come share your thoughts on where, and when, to use these type of tools, in the battle against the Zombies."

[UseYourHeadCutOffTheirs]

Another favorite of mine!:lol:

Polearms are great because they give you range which is awesome because no one wants to be too close to that nasty zombie mouth.

I don't agree so much with things like the sycthe and threshers because once again you have the problem of getting the blade stuck in the zombie and not being able to easily pull it out. I suppose you could chop some heads off. Myth Busters kinda busted my bubble on that though when they proved it practically impossible to do in the "can a ceiling fan chop your head off?" myth. If anyone wants to know the story on that just ask, otherwise I'm not going into detail. It just really is all but impossible for someone to do.

Poleaxes are good because it's a smaller blade and you could just chop away at the thing without out so much blade to get stuck. Honestly though, what damage are you going to do with a blade on a stick if not using to cut the zombies head off?

Spears are great because all you have to do is just stab them in the eye or ear. One shot in each eye or ear and you have a dead zed!

If you are a real bada** then Javelins would be cool. Just like a spear though it's the eye, ear or bust.


I guess in this field I would have to go with the spear or javelin. They would probably be your best bet.

[AN OLD SHOE]

spear is my weapon all the way!

you could just duct tape a knife to a broom stick and wham! instant spear:clap:

[UseYourHeadCutOffTheirs]

That would work for awhile...But I don't see you getting far with that ghetto weapon. You can do better, keep thinking.

[detpat]

http://www.coldsteel.com/89pa.html

[Seway]

http://www.coldsteel.com/89pa.html
Pole axe is not the best of weapons. I'd have a polearm, or a pike. Or the classic knife on a broom handle :evil:

[UseYourHeadCutOffTheirs]

Yea, poleaxes are really not the best but they can be useful. I already stated my thoughts on the Poleaxe, so I won't really go into it.


Don't get me wrong they are great. I just think we can come up with something way more effective in zombie slaying.


Nice website though detpat! Maybe I can find a nice set of Katars on there!

[detpat]

i would prefer a thrusting blade on that model, but i have one that i cut the staff down to a more manageable length for close quarters use.

what makes you think that a knife taped to a broomhandle is gonna be an effective weapon? that's just silly.

[Seway]

i would prefer a thrusting blade on that model, but i have one that i cut the staff down to a more manageable length for close quarters use.

Me too. Excluding cutting the staff down.

what makes you think that a knife taped to a broomhandle is gonna be an effective weapon? that's just silly.
It was a joke.

[detpat]

oh, sorry, didn't mean to be a dick.

spears would be a good weapon, particularly if you have several skilled people using them. I would opt for something about 6 ft in length, not really pike time.

[Seway]

oh, sorry, didn't mean to be a dick.
It's ok :)

About spears: Unless the handle is made out of metal most of the spears will break easily when not used carefully.
Also i've got an idea for a polearm-like weapon, but it would be kind of expensive to make...
A steel rod with a curved blade. I made a drawing:
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2889/bladeweponzk0.jpg
I personally think its cool. Made of some light and durable metal it would be an awesome weapon to defend yourself against the dead.

[detpat]

You'd have to make one and test it. I don't think i would want too many hooks, they tend to catch things you don't want. A good wooden shaft is not nearly as delicate as you think. It's just like a quarterstaff, solid and durable.

[Augustus Desius]

I'm not wild about using a polearm to slay a zombie. It's field of damage is insanely small (slightly larger than a rapier, in terms of effective damage area) and it requires thrusting, or very accurate swings (bec de corban, halberd), each having a lot of downfalls when dealing with things that don't react to vital area punctures or wide surface gashes (such as with the ever beautiful pudao, I want one soooo bad).

Now using one in conjunction with a killing party, on the other hand, makes it an incredible asset. One could hold a zombie in place, at a safe distance, while others could finish it off. In general, it's good for pushing zombies away from you and others at a safe distance.

Still it's zombie slaying potential leaves something to be desired if not used in coordination with others.

EDIT:
p.s. Awesome the US&D board is back! When did this happen?

p.s.s. Hey, I noticed that Darkness has mod status now. Grats Darkness!

[kai055]

the range of a two handed sythe is pretty big depending on the size of the handle mine is about 6ft long

[kai055]

also wat about game weapons like lu bu's pole arm halberd type weapons or that guy with the gaint ball but with blades or spikes on it

[Victor Clark]

I don't think I would use a spear-like pole weapon if zombies are around. Using one effectively would require space and distance, so if you're in a small room or too close to a zombie, all you can use it for is to hold it back horizontally. And the other problem is that they can break easily (especially wooden ones), so if you swung one at a zombie and it broke, then you would be screwed if it was too short to make any real damage.

[jim96sc2]

The problem with pole arms is that they work well for piercing attacks, but poor for any attack that would be realistically effective in hitting a head target with sufficient force to destroy the brain. Better bet would be to work in groups with a piercing spear to grab the zombie and your companion to smash the skull.

[kai055]

could still have a pole arm but it could spilt down to two hand weapons, just a thought, but there uk based website that sell the 300 film spear but 7ft long

[kai055]

another type of weapon that most people in their shed have something like a hoe, long handle and is sort of got a blade on the endish

[jagus12]

At the back of my house I have some kind of short spear, It's real function is to make barbecues (asados, here in Argentina, if you say someone "quiero una barbacoa" in Argentina they're all gonna laugh at you and correct you) but it would be a nice weapon, it's 80cm long and the blade is like 20cm long

[Jimmy]

Wrong thread... Sorry.

[Umbrela]

There is a problem though: All pole-type weapons are useless inside. Spears are completely useless. Pole arms are heavy and unwieldy.

[JakAttak]

yeah go with a crowbar for hand-to-hand use guns if you're farther away.

[DemonChild]

well, I don't have any spears or anything remotely resembling a pole type thingy, as I do tend to find them difficult to use. I'm more skilled with blades anyhow. But, I agree with Jak on this one. Use projectile weoponry if you're far enough away. No use purposely getting close enough to hit them with a pole in the first place.

[OutbreakElite]

I would always prefer a large Blade that is much like a sword on a stick becuase even if i would think about using a pole-arm it would be to slice not to stab..im not the ranged melee guy im a close combatant becuase the undead even though fierce in numbers..cannot withstand a a small group of well toned fighting machines working together with skills in many types of armed and un-armed combat.

[mattifikation]

Erm.. yeah they can, because all they have to do is bite you.

[JakAttak]

beside a direct head shot with a spear is one in a million if you got it through the body it would probably just walk up the spear towards you

[Dave Of The Dead]

If you used a thrusting-style pole arm, you would need to have a crossbar behind the blade so, like said before, the zed just doesn't run its body up the handle. If you were to have any kind of thrusting pole arm, the best would to have an ax blade facing outward like a very sharpened shovel, so you can just go straight for the neck.

A scythe could work, but you would have to train an ungodly amount for it to be effective, just like any improvised weapon.

[Darkness]

"This thread is about Pole Arms Only. There are other threads to discuss other weapons. Keep to the topic please."

[JakAttak]

I think a medieval mattock would be okay for defense but not in a house or on the road

[Dave Of The Dead]

Is a scythe considered s pole-arm? Or even a shovel?

[Darkness]

Is a scythe considered s pole-arm? Or even a shovel?

"Scythe, I'd say yes, definitely. But I wouldn't put a shovel in this category"

[Faran Brigo]

Use projectile weoponry if you're far enough away. No use purposely getting close enough to hit them with a pole in the first place.

Polearms can preserve ammunition on static defense, and they'll suffice if you have the high ground, say being on the roof of a building and just thrusting down at a crowd of zombies to thin their numbers. There's no point in wasting valuable ammunition when all you have to do is drive a rod through the skull.

I agree, it's not easy to hit a head sized target with a spear, but it's not nearly as hard as "one in a million". About a month's practice with the weapon you're going to use should be enough to make anyone competent. Not a zombie killing machine but enough to hit a zed's head from a safe place above. Just grease the shaft in case one of them gets smart enough to pull on it.

[detpat]

gotta agree with you, if you can teach salvadorans to shoot effectively [well, mostly] in that time you can teach a man to hit a 9 inch circle with a spear. probably allot less time actually.

[Dave Of The Dead]

A nice, long trident would be good in that situation. Poseidon would be proud.

[Faran Brigo]

I think tridents are unnecesarily heavier and the extra tips can snag and are unwieldy, but I've never seen one in action so I'm not sure.

[Dave Of The Dead]

Well, I figure that is just triples your chances to get a kill and also prevents from going too deep to where you can't pull it out.

[Behemoth]

The only time they were used in battle was in the gladiator combats in ancient rome the retiarii were a big favorite with the crowds. The trident i belive is an old fishermans tool.

[detpat]

I don't think I've even seen a real trident in person.

[Darkness]

"What about a Symitar?" (I think I got the right name. I certainly know I spelled it wrong.) :lol:

[voyager]

I have trained with the naginata and yari to a degree at my dojo. In my opinion I think they would make excellent weapons on smaller groups of zombies. Considering the room it takes to weild japanese pole weapons, it could be very easy to get over run. Especially if the zombies were anything over slow-medium movers.

Also, I don't belive peircing with a pole arm weapon should be the first thought. It can be difficult to retreive the weapon from "flesh" consistincy medium. But then again with zombies the partial rot could make that much easier. Slicing at heads, necks, arms and legs would be the way to go I think. You would be able to follow up one movement with another, in essence never stopping. With stabbing motions you have to reverse your momentum and start again.

Again just my opinions based on my experience, just food for your thoughts.

[kiltedninja]

Seriously, I'm surprised that no one's mentioned the Assegai yet.
Someone got close when they said that they'd cut their shaft down for a shorter weapon.

The assegai, coupled with a shield would be extremely effective. If you could get a group of people armed with both, a phalanx could be formed. It worked for the Spartans.

[Dave Of The Dead]

"What about a Symitar?" (I think I got the right name. I certainly know I spelled it wrong.) :lol:

If you're thinking about a scimitar, then that is a kind of sword. Other than that, I really don't know what you are talking about. Hmmm... there's the Ranseur (sort of a trident but longer), the Guisarme, a Glaive... and a few more that aren't coming to mind.

[3030]

I dont know if any of you guys watch the show Warriors on the History Channel, but a few nights ago they reviewed the Barbarians, and it was crazy watching them with their spears. They had a demonstrator who was trained with a spear using the ancient barbarian forms and anything within a good 10 to 12 feet from them would be decapitated no problem. They never threw them, but they could spin the things around like a chain of death. It didn't seem to matter to them majorly whether the cutting end hit their enemy, because at the speed they were swinging it, anything that metal end hit would be crushed or cut off. It's all about practice, I'd much rather have a spear and be trained with it and practice with it a lot rather than a firearm I don't even know how to operate. I know, I know... "well then learn how to operate it", but it's not the point. I hope everyone sees that. If not, go down to arkansas, the only state you can legally spear hunt :)

[Darkness]

If you're thinking about a scimitar, then that is a kind of sword. Other than that, I really don't know what you are talking about. Hmmm... there's the Ranseur (sort of a trident but longer), the Guisarme, a Glaive... and a few more that aren't coming to mind.

"I don't know if this helps, but it looked like a Glaive, or Guisarme, with a smaller version of the Falchion blade attached. Sound familar at all?"

[DarthJoe8]

I dont know if any of you guys watch the show Warriors on the History Channel, but a few nights ago they reviewed the Barbarians, and it was crazy watching them with their spears. They had a demonstrator who was trained with a spear using the ancient barbarian forms and anything within a good 10 to 12 feet from them would be decapitated no problem. They never threw them, but they could spin the things around like a chain of death. It didn't seem to matter to them majorly whether the cutting end hit their enemy, because at the speed they were swinging it, anything that metal end hit would be crushed or cut off. It's all about practice, I'd much rather have a spear and be trained with it and practice with it a lot rather than a firearm I don't even know how to operate. I know, I know... "well then learn how to operate it", but it's not the point. I hope everyone sees that. If not, go down to arkansas, the only state you can legally spear hunt :)

This show is pretty cool, I didn't catch the episode that your talking about but I did see the one with the Apache vs Gladiator...Apache won!! :drinking:

[detpat]

they misused the term barbarian, it was a roman term that meant "not roman" sort of the equivalent of gaijin. those guys were goths, alans, Visigoths and other Germanic tribes. the vikings and other euro tribes also liked the spear.

spear techniques are much more complicated than sticky pokey.

that show comparing warriors types was way bad. fun to watch what they did but some of their "experts" were wacked! in a straight stand up fight the gladiator would win hands down! all they did was fight and train to fight. the Apaches had lives and livelihoods. guerrilla type fighters hit and run specifically because they can't stand and fight. besides stone age weapons against iron age is a loser every time. the reason they lasted so long against the US Army was because they were very good at hiding and living off the land.

[DarthJoe8]

^They said that the only reason that the Apache won the simulation was because of the bow. With the speed and range advantage, the Apache was able to eek out the win. :think:

[detpat]

that should have been wrong, the Apache bow was a very short range, light poundage weapon that was usually used for hunting and less for war as it wasn't almost ever immediately fatal.

of course the sling wasn't a classic gladiator weapon at all and only included to balance out the game. if you watched the simulation it was so poorly done that the gladiator just bumbled up and still almost won they assumed that the gladiator didn't have a polished combat system, ala' martial art and that was just not true!

[DarthJoe8]

Agreed, I thought it was entertaining but I was surprised that the Apache won.

Anyone see Battle BC on the history channel? :eat:

[detpat]

saw several of them and could without the stupid looking actors and bad Chinese opera choreography.

[Chaos Nightbringer]

obviously all of these are not be used inside, or near your baby brother. (unless he too has become a zombie of course.) I personally think most of these would be fairly useless compared to shorter bladed weapons like swords, and the only one I would use would be a scythe.

But when to use Death's Favorite Farming Implement? I'd only use it in wide open areas like city streets that aren't littered with burning cars, and only as a weapon of last resort, and I would never, ever carry one around, between ammo, guns, (you notice how everybody tries to carry two rifles? Stupid, stupid, stupid.) and of course, your collection of improvised explosive devices for those special occasions. ("Take this, you blood-sucking vampires!" "WHOOOOHOOO!!! TEN POINTS!!!") A zombie hunter/survivor should carry a long gun (Shotgun, assault rifle, or rifle), a melee weapon (optionally, and not very long,) and at least one pistol, plus at least 10 reloads for both.

[Creeping Death]

Who needs a weapon, when you've got Creeping Death around? :roll:

I'll just use my fists. :lol:
:?

[Darkness]

obviously all of these are not be used inside, or near your baby brother. (unless he too has become a zombie of course.) I personally think most of these would be fairly useless compared to shorter bladed weapons like swords, and the only one I would use would be a scythe.

But when to use Death's Favorite Farming Implement? I'd only use it in wide open areas like city streets that aren't littered with burning cars, and only as a weapon of last resort, and I would never, ever carry one around, between ammo, guns, (you notice how everybody tries to carry two rifles? Stupid, stupid, stupid.) and of course, your collection of improvised explosive devices for those special occasions. ("Take this, you blood-sucking vampires!" "WHOOOOHOOO!!! TEN POINTS!!!") A zombie hunter/survivor should carry a long gun (Shotgun, assault rifle, or rifle), a melee weapon (optionally, and not very long,) and at least one pistol, plus at least 10 reloads for both.

"Yes, and we have threads for discussing all of the above, if you care to check them out. Just click on the US&D Index Thread at the top of the thread list." :)

[Bob]

10 reloads?
That's a lot of mossy nugget ammo to have jangling in your pockets...

Defiantly going to need web gear to carry that much.
Has web gear been discussed?
I see lots of threads on weapons but don't recall how y'all intend to carry them.

[detpat]

very good point. i don't recall ever discussing that aspect here.

[hotlead]

I tried a thread on that very subject, but since we like threads 47 pages long with 5,000 replies and 17 topics, it got merged with a completely unrelated thread and buried :x

I wonder where it would go if we started another one ?

[detpat]

i don't know and have no input on that end of things here.

[hotlead]

I'll try again and see what happens.

[detpat]

see you there.

[Darkness]

"The Web Gear Thread was merged with the standard Gear Thread, because its part of that topic." :)

"Now, please get back on topic in here." :roll:

[Dave Of The Dead]

"I don't know if this helps, but it looked like a Glaive, or Guisarme, with a smaller version of the Falchion blade attached. Sound familar at all?"

Well there are a lot of weapons that look like that. The closest thing besides a Glaive would be either the Chinese Guan dao or a little further off, the Japanese Naginata. Its its neither of those, then I'll just keep doing research until I find something or die.

[Darkness]

Well there are a lot of weapons that look like that. The closest thing besides a Glaive would be either the Chinese Guan dao or a little further off, the Japanese Naginata. Its its neither of those, then I'll just keep doing research until I find something or die.

"Thank you deeply." :)

"I'll look those two up, and see if they fit the image. It's something that has been kinda puzzling me for a bit now. I saw a pic, got told it was a Scimitar by one person, but the rest said its not a Scimitar, but they didn't know what it is called."

[Dave Of The Dead]

Some Naginatas tend to have a blade that looks a bit more like a scimitar than a katana, so there a plenty of variations of the weapons that we have already discussed and who knows what you actually saw?

[Darkness]

"Too True!" :lol:

[kiltedninja]

I'd still go with an Assegai or Dori spear, 4-6ft long, leaf bladed, a thrusting spear if you will, Shields could be collected from the SWAT armory near my house(Yes, I know where it is.) All of the people I plan on bringing with me know how to use a spear to some extent, one of them taught me how. The only problem I could see, is finding five spears.

Anyhow, I'd use the shields to create a phalanx, I find that with discipline and enough people, this would make for a good fighting force.

I wouldn't bring the spear with me on the run, unless my bike was scrapped, and I was walking.

[ZackWelder]

3-Part Sectional Staff
http://www.karatemart.com/images/products/main/rattan-three-section-staff.jpg

In most of the US, and where I live in Australia, "Nunchaku" and anything similar are restricted weapons; a license for ownership is required. I love using them for cardio workouts, and building them costs around 10-15 dollars. Building them is EASY, since there isn't much to do wrong.

I would imagine this weapon could be extremely useful as a defensive implement in a one-on-one confrontation with the undead.
One method of use is hold each of the outside limbs with left and right hands so the middle section can act as a "shield". If a zombo tries to grab or bite, you just bash their head or push them back by the neck.

The range one this tool makes a great addition to a defensive strategy.

What do you guys think?

[kiltedninja]

my sister's ex had one of those, they're fun. I have some nunchaku but I use them for hand-eye coordination practice. I dunno if I'd use a 3 section staff as a weapon though.

[ZackWelder]

Yeah, obviously you wouldn't use the sectional staff as a swinging weapon, since it was intended for use against shields and other defenses. It would have little use towards a zombie as a weapon. I'm thinking the way I described using it in above post might by effective for defense.

[detpat]

I have one. interesting relic of my misspent youth. i once tried to teach a friend how to do the spinning pattern and he tried to do it slowly [against my instructions] and bashed himself briefly unconscious. pretty funny!

it's easy to tangle the weapon and if attacked by zeds who have no fear and feel no pain i think you would end up as zed chow.

[ZackWelder]

Any weapon, device, or tool of any sort that can bash your nuts and your head at the same time is far too dangerous in the hands of mankind.

[mattifikation]

Why's that? It's not like we ever use both at the same time.

[ZackWelder]

Don't you solve long division problems while screwing girls? I thought everyone did...

[kiltedninja]

Psshhh, I do Algebra.:lol:

[mattifikation]

I can only do simple arithmetic. Add me plus her, subtract the clothes, divide the legs, and pray I don't multiply.

[ZombieAddict33]

shaolin spear hands down

[SWAT Zombie]

I can only do simple arithmetic. Add me plus her, subtract the clothes, divide the legs, and pray I don't multiply.

BAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I know we're not far into 2010 but Post of the Year right there :clap:

[detpat]

that's been my prayer since i read your first post...............
:evil:

[50 cal]

A halberd. Those things are bad azz!

[kiltedninja]

Feel the wrath of....POINTY STICK!!

[ZackWelder]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mattifikation
I can only do simple arithmetic. Add me plus her, subtract the clothes, divide the legs, and pray I don't multiply.
BAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I know we're not far into 2010 but Post of the Year right there

Gonna have to agree with you on that one.

[homelitexl]

the pointy stick is mans oldest most trusted weapon we have used it for trillians of beers and i think we should know what were doin so i choose a pointy stick if that dont cound i choose a polesaw

[ZackWelder]

Research with an experienced fencer told me that while a trained fencer may be able to keep himself self from a one-on-one zombie, he'd literally have to poke the zombie to death. Really?

Having to poke a zombie to death with a stick or rapier doesn't sound appealing to me at all.

[homelitexl]

:poo:i just thought of something a manpole could be a weapon l:lol: but i wouldnt advise it lol :lol::lol::lol::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

[kiltedninja]

That's bad homelite.

My stepmom has a scythe, how about that?

I have a new jo. If I fix something pointy to it I'll have a spear.

[ZackWelder]

Yo dudes, found a neat little vid showing the effect of Blunt Trauma Weapons in slow motion. Shows how effective they can be, since our zombuddy counterparts don't react much to stabs or cuts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omJSE9VLv60&feature=related


Also at KN
I guess if the scythe can be used to effectively decap in one go, it might be worth while, but I wouldn't bet my eggs on it.

[detpat]

a real rapier would one well aimed thrust to the head to make a kill. penetration of the skull isn't difficult with one. otoh, while a trained and experienced swordsman, i would prefer a reliable firearm and something a bit more compact and multitasking than a true rapier for the zpaw!

[kiltedninja]

a real rapier would one well aimed thrust to the head to make a kill. penetration of the skull isn't difficult with one. otoh, while a trained and experienced swordsman, i would prefer a reliable firearm and something a bit more compact and multitasking than a true rapier for the zpaw!

Good rapiers are tough weapons. I'd prefer a firearm over a blade as well. Simpler tool of destruction.