The Armour Archive

I would like to start a chat about the construction of SCA legal polearms that don't look like a ugly stick. So If you have pics or tricks about making them look somewhat more historical make a post. Also tactics or just discussion about SCA polearm tactics could be fun also.

Here's a start

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=120367&hilit=split+rattan

The search function is your friend

Here are some other threads:

Axes/Axe heads
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=134790

The Vitus thread referenced in the thread above:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=132775

In addition, I use a belt sander and a dremel tool to carve designs into my hafts:









Once I have flattened the sides of the haft, I free hand the pattern in pencil and use a dremel to carve it out. I then go back in with wood stain to color it.

For my heads, I use carved foam for the main part, then cover the edge up sith some nice, stout leather. My spears I simply add foam incrementally towards the base to get the shape. If you just contour the striking edge, you can get a nice "fullered" effect if you lay the tape flush to the haft between the foam edges.

Whether or not my poles look like ass or not may be subjective, of course .

Even a little bit of effort can really help turn a polearm into something that looks a little less like a plain stick and a little more like a partizan.

thats awesome! It's going to be a shame after you smash it over some guys head. How long does some thing like that take?

About half an hour.

Actually, I use an unpadded pole, specifically because that IS a period weapon, for the period (16th century German) and style (civilian unarmed sport combat) that I'm interested in.

http://tinyurl.com/3ebbne2

Do you use that in SCA rattan combat? how's it work for striking surfaces and such?

My current hafted weapons:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee26 ... 0_4092.jpg

Staining exposed rattan goes a LONG way to improving their appearance.

My leather axe inspired by Sir Justus.

viewtopic.php?t=63017

I should add updated photos... also, I have a hand axe constructed the same way.

Meinhard wrote:Staining exposed rattan goes a LONG way to improving their appearance.

+1

Also, planing down some thick rattan to a good haft shape can be quick and add a lot to the grip feel (and the aesthetics).

wow those are quite sexy axes I would like to make one like that but for a halberd. I wonder how that would work out?

Swiss_pike wrote:wow those are guite sexy axes I would like to make one like that but for a halberd. I wonder how that would work out?

If you use the white archetectural foam from Windrose Armoury you can make a pretty good Halberd:



My knight, Sir Malachi, using his 7.5ft pole/halbred. It is made of a piece of the white foam. works great.

AwP wrote:Do you use that in SCA rattan combat? how's it work for striking surfaces and such?

Which that would that be?

hmm it is pretty cheep too. How would you attatch it just wrap it around? Would you still make a claper for it too?

Thomas MacFinn wrote:

AwP wrote:Do you use that in SCA rattan combat? how's it work for striking surfaces and such?

Which that would that be?

cfournier, using an unpadded pole, basically a quarterstaff I'd guess.

Swiss_pike wrote:hmm it is pretty cheep too. How would you attatch it just wrap it around? Would you still make a claper for it too?

You can approach it in many different ways, but I made a foam cored poleaxe with leather sandwiching the foam. I made a little flap that I glued to the haft then taped the hell out of the hammer side and the axe side separately, then taped like crazy over the top of it.

Swiss_pike wrote:hmm it is pretty cheep too. How would you attatch it just wrap it around? Would you still make a claper for it too?

No clackers needed on a polearm. Build up foam in layers to the shape you desire and tape it in place.

No clackers because they feel the hit I would guess? I am going to make one of them after I get some time. I will post pics of it as I go. How do you keep it from ripping off? Just tape it like hell? Also I would have to put a poking end on if I was wishing to stap with it no?

cfournier wrote:Actually, I use an unpadded pole, specifically because that IS a period weapon, for the period (16th century German) and style (civilian unarmed sport combat) that I'm interested in.

http://tinyurl.com/3ebbne2

Not being argumentative here but how do your opponents adapt their perception of a noble armored (sport or deadly) combat to the framework of civilian unarmored sport combat? If an unpadded pole is safe enough for unarmored sport combat then it is likely ineffective against armored combatants fighting in ernist. Likewise how do your opponents calibrate their strikes against you if you are portraying someone unarmored? I don't have time to quote the rules but we are supposed to behave as if the weapons used were 'real'. A real unpadded stick isn't nearly as deadly as a weighted club or edged polearm.

I only mention this because I also like unpadded single-handed sticks (kolben) for noble armored sport combat and I have wrestled with the rules myself about weather I was 'counting points' against an opponent or 'fighting to the death'... each opponent is a different person and has a different interpretation of the rules.

Sean

Swiss_pike wrote:No clackers because they feel the hit I would guess? I am going to make one of them after I get some time. I will post pics of it as I go. How do you keep it from ripping off? Just tape it like hell? Also I would have to put a poking end on if I was wishing to stap with it no?

I am dead set against using glue of any type on weapon heads. Not because it may be illegal, but because glue if a final solution. Meaning, if the rattan fails/breaks, you can't easily get the weapon head off to put on a different pole. Here is how I make my shaped weapons:


The black bits are the white architectural foam. I cut a "V" notch in the foam that rests against the haft so that is sits easier.
The blue bits are the black EVA foam (windrose sells as well) at 1/2" thickness

You can make the polearm with or without the clacker, it is shown made with a clacker.

To attach the foam to the haft, I use strapping tape:


I tape the entire foam head with strapping tape. THEN I tape the foam head to the haft using liberal mounts of tape. Tape the front first then tape the back/hook(if you have one) to the front head. I pretape the foam head because later if you want to take the duct tape off it will come off much easier without tearing up the foam.

Once the foam heads are taped on, I THEN tape on the additional foam along the edge with the clacker. I do this seperate because the squishy edge will fail first, so, if at an event/war I can replace the collapsed foam along the edge without having to retape the entire weapon.

I then tape up the thrusty, using the same reasoning as the clacker end. Being able to replace the thrusty without replacing everything.

Cover it all in a layer of grey ductape for aesthetics. Test for give and you are good to go.

Swiss_pike wrote:No clackers because they feel the hit I would guess? I am going to make one of them after I get some time. I will post pics of it as I go. How do you keep it from ripping off? Just tape it like hell? Also I would have to put a poking end on if I was wishing to stap with it no?

I've never had anybody not take a good hit with my poleaxe yet. I am testing it out this weekend, but it's been described to me that when it hits you can't hear it but you sure as hell feel it.

Thanks for the directions that is going to be a huge help! I just don't like seeing so many ugly halberds out there. It is nice to see guys like you doing it the way it should be done.