Pike Axe

RBasler · 04-22-2019, 09:58 PM

OK, here's a question that has been bugging me for years: Exactly what is a "Pike axe"? I've checked the references in my library (including G.C Stone), I've exercised my Google-Fu, but I am coming up with a blank (well, not exactly blank: Google redirects to "Halberd.) Pikes were pikes, and when you've got something that long and skinny, adding extra weight at the tip for something like an axe blade is generally a bad idea.
There was the "Pole Axe", which was generally a longer, more axe-like halberd-ish weapon, The "Pick Axe", which is a tool, and the rather handy "Poll Axe", which was a shorter (~6" overall) halberd-ish weapon with a pronounced top spike and often had a broad hammer-head opposite the axe blade, and was usually used for armored single combat. CQB the the tin-can crowd.
What did Steve Jackson have in mind when he wrote "Pike Axe"?

larsdangly · 04-22-2019, 10:44 PM

It's the thing that occupies the ST 15 slot in the pole weapon list.

Seriously though; you are right that 'pike axe' isn't a super-helpful on ramp to the minutia of medieval pole arm nomenclature. If you've ever seen a good sized collection of these weapons you'll realize they mostly had broad design elements in common but in detail were so wildly diverse that it's hard to imagine describing them with the couple of names the game uses to cover these sorts of weapons. If you were to pick a few names that suggest more common weapons, you'd maybe include halberd, glaive, polaxe, bec de corbin (or pole hammer). But then as you think about it you'd be leaning toward voulges and forks of every description. And then your head would explode. I don't think it's terribly important which name is used for each of these (though I do think the list should have a couple more, at least one at every ST score from 12-16).

RBasler · 04-22-2019, 11:10 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92_TKngfYFQ

Lindybeige on polearm nomenclature. :)

Anaraxes · 04-25-2019, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RBasler

Lindybeige on polearm nomenclature. :)

Or the OOTS reference.

JLV · 04-26-2019, 12:08 AM

Love me some Order of the Stick!

larsdangly · 04-25-2019, 12:17 PM

I think I'd use my time machine to kill Hitler, but on my way back I'd do your thing too!

FireHorse · 04-26-2019, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larsdangly

I think I'd use my time machine to kill Hitler, but on my way back I'd do your thing too!

Really? But if there was no World War II, then…

No, wait, never mind. I just glimpsed the future, foresaw the 812-page long argument about Time Travel: Risks & Consequences (as well as my own permanent ban for Catastrophic Thread Hijacking), and I think I'll pass on that one after all.

xane · 04-29-2019, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles G.

there is NO SUCH THING as a pike axe

Sure there is, right there between Molotail and Piranhakeet.

KevinJ · 04-29-2019, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles G.

:-) Ought to lob a petard into your bunk for that one...

A petard is a real historical item. There can only be one!

larsdangly · 04-29-2019, 05:48 PM

Sounds to me like the Prootwaddles have been at the dictionary again...

04-22-2019, 09:58 PM	#1
RBasler Join Date: Aug 2018	Pike Axe OK, here's a question that has been bugging me for years: Exactly what is a "Pike axe"? I've checked the references in my library (including G.C Stone), I've exercised my Google-Fu, but I am coming up with a blank (well, not exactly blank: Google redirects to "Halberd.) Pikes were pikes, and when you've got something that long and skinny, adding extra weight at the tip for something like an axe blade is generally a bad idea. There was the "Pole Axe", which was generally a longer, more axe-like halberd-ish weapon, The "Pick Axe", which is a tool, and the rather handy "Poll Axe", which was a shorter (~6" overall) halberd-ish weapon with a pronounced top spike and often had a broad hammer-head opposite the axe blade, and was usually used for armored single combat. CQB the the tin-can crowd. What did Steve Jackson have in mind when he wrote "Pike Axe"?

04-22-2019, 10:44 PM	#2
larsdangly Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Pike Axe It's the thing that occupies the ST 15 slot in the pole weapon list. Seriously though; you are right that 'pike axe' isn't a super-helpful on ramp to the minutia of medieval pole arm nomenclature. If you've ever seen a good sized collection of these weapons you'll realize they mostly had broad design elements in common but in detail were so wildly diverse that it's hard to imagine describing them with the couple of names the game uses to cover these sorts of weapons. If you were to pick a few names that suggest more common weapons, you'd maybe include halberd, glaive, polaxe, bec de corbin (or pole hammer). But then as you think about it you'd be leaning toward voulges and forks of every description. And then your head would explode. I don't think it's terribly important which name is used for each of these (though I do think the list should have a couple more, at least one at every ST score from 12-16).

04-22-2019, 11:10 PM	#3
RBasler Join Date: Aug 2018	Re: Pike Axe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92_TKngfYFQ Lindybeige on polearm nomenclature. :)

04-26-2019, 12:08 AM	#5
JLV Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Arizona	Re: Pike Axe Love me some Order of the Stick!

04-25-2019, 12:17 PM	#6
larsdangly Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Pike Axe I think I'd use my time machine to kill Hitler, but on my way back I'd do your thing too!

04-29-2019, 05:48 PM	#10
larsdangly Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Pike Axe Sounds to me like the Prootwaddles have been at the dictionary again...