[MR] Polearms

[Siegfried]

> i do wonder why for years it was a safety issue that
> Great Swords could only have an 18inch grip, and then
> suddenly 7 1/2 foot long sticks (which incedentally do
> not handle at all like any medieval weapon) were safe
> and legal.

Actually, do realize that 7.5' greatswords were actually legal for quite 
a long time before 7.5' polearms came around.  Just no East Coast 
Kingdom allowed them.   Same goes for 12' spears.

My understanding of the allowing of 7.5' polearms was simply the 
argument: Well the greatswords are that long and not padded, why 
shouldn't the poles be?

(Again, note, just my 3rd hand hearing of the ruling, many many years 
ago when I lived in AEthelmearc, and then AEthelmearc was jumping at the 
chance to use them)

I know I've seen a few 7.5' greatswords, usually from people who moved 
out this way from the West, and we have to, unfortunately, tell them to 
cut a foot and a half off their favorite weapon.

> it is definately true that we are playing a
> sport, and not truly doing re-enactments, but there
> should be a line drawn somewhere. i merely applaud
> this particular line and express my hope that others
> will adopt it. 

Personally, I will agree with you that I MUCH prefer seeing the shape of 
a well made padded style polearm, than just a stick.

However, I do also see some of the arguments I have heard from folks on 
the other side of the fence.  Some who wish to represent different types 
of polearms, such as some Glaives, Ranseurs, Partisans, etc ... that is 
fact were not really wider than a sword is, which we represent as a 
single stick of rattan.

In Service,
Siegfried

-- 
THL Siegfried Sebastian Faust                      http://crossbows.biz/
Barony of Highland Foorde                       Baronial Archery Marshal
Kingdom of Atlantia       Deputy Kingdom Earl Marshal for Target Archery
http://eliw.com/                        http://archery.atlantia.sca.org/