| From: | Achille Autran aautran@*************.fr |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Scythe |
| Date: | Wed, 21 Jun 2000 10:53:52 +0200 |
scythes were quite frequent polearms, they looked like naginatas with
oversized blades, less curved than on an agricultural scythe. The best
pictures I got on the net were those:
Crude weapons like number 1 or 8, with one sided-blades.
http://therionarms.com/armor/polearm4.jpg
What's funny is that my fifty-years-old, two tomes encyclopedia does
contain a picture of a war scythe, whereas big online encyclopedias
don't even have a reference. :) Old is good.
Also, from lesser reference (Al-Quadim...) arabs possessed some
convertible scythes with a mobile blade, that could be set in line with
the shaft to become a good weapon.
About Koshciuzsko, a pole leader that our pole comrade cited:
from
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,47178+2+46103,00.html
>>>>
Having no war industry, his forces could not be equipped with
conventional firearms; hence, he armed his peasant recruits with pikes
and traditional war scythes.
After a smashing victory at Raclawice (April 4), won by the
scythe-bearing formations under his personal command, special new battle
tactics were developed based on columns of men attacking on the run and
backed by artillery fire.
<<<< (that was in 1794, IIRC)
More SR-related, if I dare say so. A war scythe is as good a polearm as
another, it just lacks the thrust point. A standard scythe however...
>From personnal experience they are quite potent at slashing dogs, cats,
your friends' ankles and occasionaly grass. But I would set them more as
a cumbersome item when fleeing than an actual fighting weapon. The
harshest version around here is probably the best: reach 0, +2 TN,
damage (Str)S. IMO, of course.
If anyone owns the "guide to medieval weapons and armor" by Palladium or
something on this line, they would probably settle down this debate.
There ARE people well-informed on this list, just show-up guys !
Achille
