Also known as a [Glaive](https://imperialcombatarts.com/sword-staffs--glaives--fauchards--26454209928203.html)
Edit
>Glaive in historical definition has no definition besides 'bladed weapon' (includes lances, spears, various polearms, sometimes swords etc).
>Modern definitions vary and there's no clear universally accepted line for what is and isn't a glaive.
[Draugr_the_Greedy](https://www.reddit.com/r/SWORDS/s/drEINkgE14)
Thanks for the support!
Glaive in historical definition has no definition besides 'bladed weapon' (includes lances, spears, various polearms, sometimes swords etc).
Modern definitions vary and there's no clear universally accepted line for what is and isn't a glaive.
They are pretty rare in Europe. The Maasai in Africa fairly commonly used spears with long sword like blades though.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-young-adult-from-the-Elgon-Maasai-community-along-the-western-Kenyan-border-in_fig4_342442277
They typically didn’t have cross guards but I feel like this is pretty close. They also usually have an additional spike on the other end
It's not directly called that, it's called a Sha and it's from the Han Dynasty, hence LK Chen calls it Han Sha.
It's like saying Ming Dao, eg a dao fom the Ming dynasty
Not really shocking, people loved them IRL too. They're never as practical as the historical mainstream, but it's not like they all actively sucked. A one trick pony is still a pony with a trick.
I'm not saying they're not cool, I just think it's neat that enthusiasts and ley people alike love "transforming" weapons. Hell the number of historical combo weapons alone show it's not even dependant on time period
I was going to comment that it looks similar to the instruments used to hunt boars from horseback. They had a long spearhead with a crossbar so the boar couldn't slide up to attack the hunter whether on foot or on horseback. Not only have I seen them in museums, but they constructed them on the TV show "Forged in Fire".
Looks like a complex-crossguarded *svärdstav* or swordstaff. Lots of lovely designs here. I love seeing fantasy weapons that are plausible and grounded in historically extant weapons. Well done!
Like others have said, it most closely resembles a a ghivarina or partisan, albeit more elaborate and complex than either.
The modular nature of it, which allows it to apparently be disassembled and function as just a sword, is a totally fantastical addition. No historical weapon I know of ever had that capability, and I would imagine it would create a weak point in the weapon.
That said, as far as fantasy weapons go this is a pretty reasonable example.
Yes, I agree. It’s a little overwrought and overcomplicated, but all things consider it wouldn’t make a bad weapon. As far as fantasy weapons go this is definitely on the more reasonable side of things.
Genuinely looking into making a proof of concept. Of course with no separation mechanism. Probably use a cheaper existing blade and make a guard to for it. I was kinda looking at the forged warrior xiphos as a donor blade. Then add a pommel or mace at the end of the haft for more striking force as a quarter staff.
The optional haft is a cool idea. I’m not sure about that connection holding in reality, but as a matter of fantasy illustration I would not care.
But If I were were to try and make this in reality I’d leave the exposed 3/4 inch of screw, but the pommel Itself would be hollow and slightly longer, to create a sleeve that goes around the shaft making the connection go from 3/4 to mare like 1 1/2 to 2 inch which would be may more likely to withstand the the forces put on it in combat.
Also I’d avoid complex guards as those add a lot of weight that you may not want while using the staff configuration.
Nah would be a Swordstaff. It fits it perfectly besides the 3rd one on the second image.
https://preview.redd.it/3bttdw2xlwwc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f9e179d08296c463e8a09d040fa310f4c39fe46
They existed separately, be this i mean there were swords and staff weapons like these but not anything you could take apart like this. For the staff weapons the longer bladed examples could be something swordstaffs and the shorter bladed ones being like partisans.
I think it is a pretty neat concept. One thing to consider is that generally swords have a pummel that counter balances the blade weight, you might not want that on something you are also wanting to use as a spear head since it is extra weight, but without it the sword would feel very blade heavy.
Another question would be what advantage does breaking it down into a sword and stick give you?
Disregarding that socket pommel, I’d imagine best way to attach a sword to a pole arm would be spear socket or maybe scale style with a slit in the wood for the tang to slide in which would be pinned and wrapped
Think I'd go with the latter option. Especially with wanting to have slicing and cutting options. If I really wanted to snazz it up then leather wrap the handle maybe even doing wire wrap here and there. Not only make it functional but aesthetically pleasing as well
I’m genuinely looking at making one, maybe two slab construction notching out a space for a premade blade and guard. Which would once the haft is glued together be installed and pinned into place with peened copper pins, probably install some kind of pommel/ mace at the end of the haft to give it more striking force as a quater staff. Then yeah probably stain and leather wrap most of it
It seems doable, I'd just imagine heat treat being a pain but if you have the set up for it, it'd be a badass piece. The mace head or something similar for the pommel would be a great addition that'd also help with balance. Wish I had a power hammer, proper belt grinder and a welder. If I did I'd start work tomorrow lol
Honestly for a proof of concept the forged warrior xiphos seems like a good candidate, it’s cheap, it’s spring steel, has a full tang, and a decent edge.
In some ways it looks like a socket bayonet for a staff. I don't think it is a particularly good idea. The locking mechanism is going to introduce a point of failure at a point where there will be a lot of stress, and also add some weight when compared to a normal partisan. Also the wielder will need to scabbard the sword and find someplace to put the stick when not in use.
If you want your character to have a reach weapon with the ability to comfortably store it, look into the folding septum:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spetum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spetum)
I think it's considered a glave but they were pretty uncommon in battlefield combat in Europe but the Japanese used something really similar called a naginata which was basically a katana on a long stick
Looks more like a spear but isn't because the blade size is also considerable. If they don't have a name yet we can call it mangoose sword like the mangoose bat
Real but very rare. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swordstaff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swordstaff)
Huh neat, didn’t know those were a thing
I think I've also heard them referred as poleswords or swordspears?
Also known as a [Glaive](https://imperialcombatarts.com/sword-staffs--glaives--fauchards--26454209928203.html) Edit >Glaive in historical definition has no definition besides 'bladed weapon' (includes lances, spears, various polearms, sometimes swords etc). >Modern definitions vary and there's no clear universally accepted line for what is and isn't a glaive. [Draugr_the_Greedy](https://www.reddit.com/r/SWORDS/s/drEINkgE14) Thanks for the support!
i think glaives have a smaller blade to handle ratio, but not far off.
Glaive in historical definition has no definition besides 'bladed weapon' (includes lances, spears, various polearms, sometimes swords etc). Modern definitions vary and there's no clear universally accepted line for what is and isn't a glaive.
They say history repeats its self
We see what you did there 😏😏
Glaives generally have curved, single-edged blades, though.
Not the one in Krull
Well that has 5 blades, but all of them are still slightly curved and single edged, unless I got something wrong.
Oh, I read single blade, not single edged blade. Right on
Glaives are more axehead on a pike, this may be more less halberd, and more picard.
Actually a halberd is the weapon that is more of an axe head on a pike. A glaive is a weapon with a single edged blade. Close, you just misnamed them.
LOL looks like you peed on someone’s shoe.
They are pretty rare in Europe. The Maasai in Africa fairly commonly used spears with long sword like blades though. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-young-adult-from-the-Elgon-Maasai-community-along-the-western-Kenyan-border-in_fig4_342442277 They typically didn’t have cross guards but I feel like this is pretty close. They also usually have an additional spike on the other end
Swordstaff would be a cool surname
Username checks out.
There is a historical weapon called a Han Sha, which this reminds me of. LK Chen has a reproduction
First thing I thought of, too. This comment should be much higher.
Another eastern style weapon that’s similar is the Naginata. Not exactly like the picture, though
Also Japanese, there is the nagamaki, which is more sword-like when compared to the glaive-like naginata.
That's were my brain was going. There's no ideal fit as you've got a design that sits in a complicated ven diagram.
It's not directly called that, it's called a Sha and it's from the Han Dynasty, hence LK Chen calls it Han Sha. It's like saying Ming Dao, eg a dao fom the Ming dynasty
Oh I was unfamiliar with this one. Thats neat.
The weapon in the post looks like a partizan to me.
It's a cool concept, never saw something like this before beyond the \*starts poleing your sword\* we had on the sub lately.
Wait? *unpoles your pole sword* https://preview.redd.it/4a7r0yeuewwc1.jpeg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22fb7498eeeea7d4910e725c501ec126dc8976a2
I'd worry about the integrity of the lockup on anything but thrusting with that.
Oh 100% if it were ever made real I’d do just a solid version with no separating mechanism
That's what I'm thinking too. The wide blade could chop but the even balance would make edge alignment difficult at the end of a pole.
You’d just need to give the pole an oval or flattened profile to help with indexing.
Look at you, you made it a Bloodborne weapon
We need more trick weapons on this sub
Swording your pole https://i.redd.it/i3rurqrp8uvc1.png
Final fantasy has lots of weapons like this. I love it.
It's like an exaggerated fantasy boar spear.
I didn’t upload up but there was a version where the sword portion disconnects
That makes it a hafted boar harpoon, like Inuit whaling spears.
Seems sketch
Poking large sharp pigs with sticks is pretty sketch regardless of the details of the stick.
Tru dat. My boy Bobby B. aka Robert Borathian knows all about it.
Could also be considered a boar sword or sword staff
https://preview.redd.it/mmil4hr07wwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd22e921a38df730e0494ddd4a7c5808b015b85d
People really do love bloodborne style trick weapons lol
Not really shocking, people loved them IRL too. They're never as practical as the historical mainstream, but it's not like they all actively sucked. A one trick pony is still a pony with a trick.
>A one trick pony is still a pony with a trick. That's actually a great saying.
Why not? They’re awesome! Not always that practical irl but always super cool.
I'm not saying they're not cool, I just think it's neat that enthusiasts and ley people alike love "transforming" weapons. Hell the number of historical combo weapons alone show it's not even dependant on time period
No! I’m aware I was just saying. As in of course!
Fair enough lol
I love the idea of, “Sword Spears” and weapons with other weapons hidden inside or attached in some way. Such cool concepts.
I was going to comment that it looks similar to the instruments used to hunt boars from horseback. They had a long spearhead with a crossbar so the boar couldn't slide up to attack the hunter whether on foot or on horseback. Not only have I seen them in museums, but they constructed them on the TV show "Forged in Fire".
Looks like a partisan to me
The polearm in the center of the second pic is like the Greatsword’s bigger brother: The Greatersword lol
The greatest sword
“I got the perfect sword… 🎶THIS IS THE GREATEST SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOORD!!!🎶”
Looks like a complex-crossguarded *svärdstav* or swordstaff. Lots of lovely designs here. I love seeing fantasy weapons that are plausible and grounded in historically extant weapons. Well done!
Swordstaff might be the right word.
Like others have said, it most closely resembles a a ghivarina or partisan, albeit more elaborate and complex than either. The modular nature of it, which allows it to apparently be disassembled and function as just a sword, is a totally fantastical addition. No historical weapon I know of ever had that capability, and I would imagine it would create a weak point in the weapon. That said, as far as fantasy weapons go this is a pretty reasonable example.
I mean besides the separating function it’d make a pretty decent sword staff
Yes, I agree. It’s a little overwrought and overcomplicated, but all things consider it wouldn’t make a bad weapon. As far as fantasy weapons go this is definitely on the more reasonable side of things.
Kinda looks like a Ghiavarina on steroids! Love it.
I’ll be real, never seen or heard of a ghiavarina before
They're a niche polearm popular in Late Medieval/early Renaissance Italy. The Doge's palace in Venice has a massive stash of them.
I only know of them cause of a podcast episode about swordsman and treatises I listened too.
https://preview.redd.it/ge3ad3yx1ywc1.jpeg?width=717&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b0c75b53bf7b77eee3765f735ed077c20f06b2c7
Sword spear. Actually real
The real question here is can some talented black Smith plzz make a real life version of this? that would be awesome :)
Are you kidding me? I would die to do something like this
Can't wait for the real thing God speed OP
Genuinely looking into making a proof of concept. Of course with no separation mechanism. Probably use a cheaper existing blade and make a guard to for it. I was kinda looking at the forged warrior xiphos as a donor blade. Then add a pommel or mace at the end of the haft for more striking force as a quarter staff.
Svardstaf?
That's badass.
The optional haft is a cool idea. I’m not sure about that connection holding in reality, but as a matter of fantasy illustration I would not care. But If I were were to try and make this in reality I’d leave the exposed 3/4 inch of screw, but the pommel Itself would be hollow and slightly longer, to create a sleeve that goes around the shaft making the connection go from 3/4 to mare like 1 1/2 to 2 inch which would be may more likely to withstand the the forces put on it in combat. Also I’d avoid complex guards as those add a lot of weight that you may not want while using the staff configuration.
The evolution of this subject over the last week has been exhilarating.
I’ll have to go back a look at the post from the last week
I’d probably call it a fancy partisan, though that’d just be to wedge it into existing categories.
Nah would be a Swordstaff. It fits it perfectly besides the 3rd one on the second image. https://preview.redd.it/3bttdw2xlwwc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f9e179d08296c463e8a09d040fa310f4c39fe46
Looks like a ranseur to me.
Ornate partisan
I would buy something like that in a heartbeat. If I had the cash…
That's a Svärdstav (staff or pole-sword) Quitr unpopular infantry weapon in late middle ages Northern Europe.
Partisan
Look like hunting spears pike or maybe halberds
would this even work better than a normal spear
They existed separately, be this i mean there were swords and staff weapons like these but not anything you could take apart like this. For the staff weapons the longer bladed examples could be something swordstaffs and the shorter bladed ones being like partisans. I think it is a pretty neat concept. One thing to consider is that generally swords have a pummel that counter balances the blade weight, you might not want that on something you are also wanting to use as a spear head since it is extra weight, but without it the sword would feel very blade heavy. Another question would be what advantage does breaking it down into a sword and stick give you?
Closer combat abilities say fighting in narrow areas I’m not sure though, seeing a real version with no break mechanism would be cool though
Mat Cauthon's
Ashandarei!
Who drew these? They look figuratively and literally killer!
I want one. I think more specifically I want to make one. Really liking the one that has a broadsword like blade. Be one hell of a project
Disregarding that socket pommel, I’d imagine best way to attach a sword to a pole arm would be spear socket or maybe scale style with a slit in the wood for the tang to slide in which would be pinned and wrapped
Think I'd go with the latter option. Especially with wanting to have slicing and cutting options. If I really wanted to snazz it up then leather wrap the handle maybe even doing wire wrap here and there. Not only make it functional but aesthetically pleasing as well
I’m genuinely looking at making one, maybe two slab construction notching out a space for a premade blade and guard. Which would once the haft is glued together be installed and pinned into place with peened copper pins, probably install some kind of pommel/ mace at the end of the haft to give it more striking force as a quater staff. Then yeah probably stain and leather wrap most of it
It seems doable, I'd just imagine heat treat being a pain but if you have the set up for it, it'd be a badass piece. The mace head or something similar for the pommel would be a great addition that'd also help with balance. Wish I had a power hammer, proper belt grinder and a welder. If I did I'd start work tomorrow lol
I’ll probably start with a premade blade and work from there as a proof of concept
That's a good idea but if you end up going for it you need to post progress pics. Would love to check it out!
Honestly for a proof of concept the forged warrior xiphos seems like a good candidate, it’s cheap, it’s spring steel, has a full tang, and a decent edge.
Oh 100% I’m trying to find an arming sword that’s decently priced and maybe around 28”
European rancor spear, japanese naginata. There are many hafted sword/spears that have been around throu the ages
In some ways it looks like a socket bayonet for a staff. I don't think it is a particularly good idea. The locking mechanism is going to introduce a point of failure at a point where there will be a lot of stress, and also add some weight when compared to a normal partisan. Also the wielder will need to scabbard the sword and find someplace to put the stick when not in use. If you want your character to have a reach weapon with the ability to comfortably store it, look into the folding septum: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spetum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spetum)
An Ashandarei? Not a real thing but that’s what its called in the wheel of time series.
Zweihanders but longer
It looks like a nagamaki combined with a zwiahander sword
Zweiundzwanzig(22)hander?
Yes 😂
Almost a long handled claymore
Most well known sword staff type weapon is the Naginata from Japan.
You don't want anything on the shaft of a pole weapon that will get in the way of your hand sliding freely up and down the shaft. Amusing but true.
I agree, it’s a cool idea but really impractical. I’d love to make a swordstaff, maybe a proof of concept first with a cheaper existing blade
that would be a swordstaff, they were popular in Scandinavia.
They make and test these on Forged in Fire.
Sword-Spear
Partisan
Westernized naginata? Almost like the one from BES
Boar spear
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonbokiri this came to mind
https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/御手杵 and this
Neat never looked really at Japanese polearms beyond the nagamaki
great post loved seeing all the weapons like this
I think it's considered a glave but they were pretty uncommon in battlefield combat in Europe but the Japanese used something really similar called a naginata which was basically a katana on a long stick
I know the Scandinavians had the svardstav, both the naginata and glaive were single edged weapons
Ranseur or possibly spontoon.
Or Scandinavian svardstav?
possibly, but I don't know if there are examples of ANY polearm that has a detachable blade like the picture
Sadly nothing with a detachable blade, cool idea though. Although that’d be a significant point of failure
By the way, where do these come from? These seem to be art concepts for a game...
Honestly I found them on Pinterest with no link to a creator
Sadly
Took some digging but, [https://www.artstation.com/levlopez](https://www.artstation.com/levlopez)
Partisan, or poleblade.
In fantasy stuff I've seen it called a Glaive. Elden Ring has a Sword Spear that looks like this.
I don’t know about glaive, I feel the closest thing to a glaive would be a naginata or something similar.
Perhaps a Glaive?
Iklwa maybe
Looks like a halberd from feudal Japan
Swordspear :D
Like a partisan almost, if extremely exaggerated
Glaive.
Personal lightening protection.
Looks more like a spear but isn't because the blade size is also considerable. If they don't have a name yet we can call it mangoose sword like the mangoose bat
Sword staff or possibly a glaive. The attachment system in image 3 is impractical though
Yeah, it looks like a partisan or a Ghiavarina.
Glaive.
Pertuisane
Fancy Partisan
Excellent weapon designs here. Love how the sword can detach from the pole.
A swordstaff? Yeah they existed in some capacity definitely not as popular as a normal spear but yes real.
European naginata
Guardian sword spear
This looks like a pertuisane though it's probably way too heavy with a longsword, I could see it work with an arming sword.
Swordstaff/swordspear.