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A polearm is any blade or head mounted on a long shaft, and for most of recorded history it was the weapon most soldiers actually carried. The spear is older than the sword and outlasted it in the ranks. The halberd and poleaxe were the answer to plate armour. The naginata and yari armed Japan for a thousand years, and the Chinese ji and guandao have their own lineage running back to the Bronze Age. This page gathers every shafted weapon Battling Blades makes; the family collections linked below each carry a fuller guide, and the polearms buying guide compares the types side by side.
Our 1095 high carbon and Damascus pieces are hand forged. A small number of heads are made in stainless steel and are marked as such on their listings. Steel, shaft length and head dimensions are stated on every product page.
Browse by type
Spears and javelins
Leaf-bladed war spears, the Greek hoplite dory, short javelins and the Zulu iklwa, from 36 to 70 inches. The spears collection has the full range, and the custom spear builder lets you choose the head, shaft and finish yourself.
Halberds and poleaxes
The European axe-and-spike polearm, from a 43 inch short halberd to 84 inches. See halberds and poleaxes, and the poleaxe versus halberd article for how the two differ.
Naginata and yari
The Japanese glaive and spear, 71 to 79 inches, in 1095 and Damascus. The naginata collection covers both, and they sit alongside the katana and wakizashi in Japanese swords.
Chinese polearms
The qiang spear, fangtian ji, ji axe and guandao, 78 to 84 inches. See Chinese polearms.
Choosing a polearm
Length
The range here runs from a 36 inch javelin to an 84 inch halberd. Anything past about 72 inches is taller than a standard door and is usually displayed horizontally on wall hooks or upright in a corner stand. Measure first.
Steel
1095 is the traditional monosteel, typically finishing around 56 to 58 HRC. Damascus is layered high carbon steel forged so the pattern runs through the head. Both are high carbon and want to be kept clean, dry and lightly oiled. Stainless heads are chosen where corrosion resistance matters more than blade performance and need less upkeep.
Mounting
The head carries most of the weight, so a horizontal wall mount needs its fixing into a stud at the head end. Our wall mounts collection has hooks sized for shafted weapons.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a polearm?
Any weapon with a blade, point or head mounted on a long shaft: spears, javelins, halberds, poleaxes, glaives, naginata, yari, and the Chinese ji and guandao.
What is the difference between a halberd and a poleaxe?
Both put an axe blade, a spike and a hook on a shaft. The halberd is longer with a larger axe blade and was an infantry weapon. The poleaxe is shorter with a hammer or axe head and was favoured by armoured knights on foot.
What is the difference between a naginata and a glaive?
They are the same idea from different traditions: a single-edged curved blade on a long shaft. Naginata is the Japanese form, glaive the European.
Do these ship assembled?
Each listing states how that piece ships and how the head is fixed to the shaft.
Can the heads be engraved?
Yes. Engraving and etching are done in our Illinois workshop. See the options on each listing.
