[NR] Sword vs Spear...

[Stryver]

Greetings All!

    I have seen a sword and shield used very effectively in SCA combat.
When I was first learning to fight in the Outlands, a certain squire was
forbidden by his knight to use a sword for some period of time.  He swapped
to spear and shield, and soon had a short spear customized to the task of
killing people one handed.  It was just about a light as he could get, while
still being stiff, and he'd thinned it down to give a better grip.  He was
fortunate to be a very mobile fighter, for that's what is needed.  If you
step into a swordsman's field of fire, you'll die, but if you can keep him
at your own distance, he can't hit back.

    I don't know how this guy's doing now, if he's still using the spear or
not, but I know he was very effective then.  He won a few tourneys with that
combo, one of which was half foot-race, and half fighting.  I beat his time
by a great deal, but he killed every opponent along the way with that spear,
and walked in to a victory.

    So my answer is Yes and Yes.  One on one it requires the agility of a
florintiner or madu to keep out of range, in melees it may require a back up
weapon, or trustworthy friends on either side with short clubby-things.  But
it can, and has, been used effectively.

  Jubal

mka Chad Bieber
eka Stryver

> A question: is it possible to effectively use a spear and shield
combination
> on the battlefield? The key question being can a 6 foot spear effectively
be
> used one handed?
>
>
> Lord Jean Paul and myself just reciently had a very interesting discussion
> about the flexability and effectiveness of a spear and shield combination
as
> compared to a sword and shield combination.
>
> Lord Jean paul was of the opinioun that a spear would too easyly be
blocked
> or parried, and that it would be to difficult to deliver a killing force
> blow with only one hand.
>
> I, on the other hand would argue that a spear can effectively be used even
> against an extremely well defended opponent, and I know for a FACT that a
14
> foot pike pole can be used single handed with enough force to punch 1/4
inch
> plywood (though it's not easy.)
>
> The discussion stemed from Lord Ainar's lecture about vikeing weapons and
> how they were used. It seems tha the primarly weapon's combination was a
> shield (kite, round or squair) and 6 foot spear used one handed. Swords
were
> used, but were expencive and comparitively rare. Numbers from my own
reading
> sugest that the battle of Hastings would likely have had as many as twenty
> to thirty spears for ever sword found in the infantry.
>
> Anyway, My reason for bringing this to the list is because the discussion
we
> had was very lively, and informative, and I would like to take it to the
> list because I think that it would prove interesting to see what others
have
> to say. While I have never personaly fought a spear and shield
combination,
> I know that others have (I remimber killing a few of you at B3K a few
years
> back ;) Also, a lot of people who are die-hard spearmen will likely know
how
> well you can wield a spear one handed as they are more likely to try that
> than simply walk off the field after being struck in the arm.
>
> So, anyone else have anything to contribute to the discussion, I really do
> look forward to seeing who has what to say.
>
>
> Lord Ivo Blackhawk
>
>
>
>
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