Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

KuKulzA28 · 20th September 2014, 08:30 PM

Just want to ask, for semantic sake
In english
Spears are long pointed sticks for fighting, primary goal is the pierce... but there's many kinds

I thought the ones for throwing are called javelins, usually tapered so the weight is at the head
The ones for cavalry charges are lances
the really long ones for open battle are pikes (10-20' long)... these are used by infantry, almost always in dense formation and always tapered for practicality
and well, the ones good for individual combat, single or two-handed, are just.. spears. Usually 5-8' long. These are usually but not always tapered so the butt end has more wood

I thought Yari was just a Japanese word for any spear
same with Qiang in Mandarin...

20th September 2014, 08:30 PM	#8
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Just want to ask, for semantic sake In english Spears are long pointed sticks for fighting, primary goal is the pierce... but there's many kinds I thought the ones for throwing are called javelins, usually tapered so the weight is at the head The ones for cavalry charges are lances the really long ones for open battle are pikes (10-20' long)... these are used by infantry, almost always in dense formation and always tapered for practicality and well, the ones good for individual combat, single or two-handed, are just.. spears. Usually 5-8' long. These are usually but not always tapered so the butt end has more wood I thought Yari was just a Japanese word for any spear same with Qiang in Mandarin...