Spetum
Encyclopedia
A spetum was a pole weapon
of Europe
during the 13th century. It consisted of a long pole some 6-8 feet long which was mounted with a spear
head with two projections at its base. Many variations of this design flourished over time; some feel that the ranseur
is a variation of the spetum. Other names include: chauve souris, corseca, corsèsque, korseke, runka, and rawcon. The spetum is usually distinguished from the ranseur
and partisan
by its "prongs" being single edged and used for slashing. The main blade was 12–14 inches long, and the side blades were only about half that length and were set at acute angles.
The design of a spetum is very efficient for combat. The main blade is long enough to destroy any significant organ in the human body with one quick thrust. The blunt backs of the side blades make the spetum extremely useful for a variety of uses such as tripping and knocking aside shields, but more importantly they provide far more strength to the sharpened side and points than is possible with any dual-edged construction. The sharpened front ends are useful for piercing or chopping in situations where precision is difficult. For example, one quick thrust of a spetum can easily remove the lower foreleg, ankle, and foot of an opponent with a side blade. Trying to do this with only a single spear point is incomparably more difficult. Similarly throat-level thrusts with a spetum can miss a direct hit by a huge distance and still completely impale the victim's neck.
Pole weapon
A pole weapon or polearm is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is placed on the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range. Spears, glaives, poleaxes, halberds, and bardiches are all varieties of polearms...
of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during the 13th century. It consisted of a long pole some 6-8 feet long which was mounted with a spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
head with two projections at its base. Many variations of this design flourished over time; some feel that the ranseur
Ranseur
A ranseur was a type of polearm used across Europe up to the 15th century. It was still seen in court as a ceremonial weapon through the 17th century...
is a variation of the spetum. Other names include: chauve souris, corseca, corsèsque, korseke, runka, and rawcon. The spetum is usually distinguished from the ranseur
Ranseur
A ranseur was a type of polearm used across Europe up to the 15th century. It was still seen in court as a ceremonial weapon through the 17th century...
and partisan
Partisan (weapon)
A partisan is a type of polearm that was used in Europe during the middle ages. It consisted of a spearhead mounted on a long shaft with protrusions on the sides which aided the user in parrying sword thrusts...
by its "prongs" being single edged and used for slashing. The main blade was 12–14 inches long, and the side blades were only about half that length and were set at acute angles.
The design of a spetum is very efficient for combat. The main blade is long enough to destroy any significant organ in the human body with one quick thrust. The blunt backs of the side blades make the spetum extremely useful for a variety of uses such as tripping and knocking aside shields, but more importantly they provide far more strength to the sharpened side and points than is possible with any dual-edged construction. The sharpened front ends are useful for piercing or chopping in situations where precision is difficult. For example, one quick thrust of a spetum can easily remove the lower foreleg, ankle, and foot of an opponent with a side blade. Trying to do this with only a single spear point is incomparably more difficult. Similarly throat-level thrusts with a spetum can miss a direct hit by a huge distance and still completely impale the victim's neck.