Spear vs. Longsword

[KyleStickling]

So I recently made a padded spear a little longer than 6 feet and my small group started adding it into our sparring routines. Everyone else seems to think the spear is simply a better weapon in a duel, but I think we have not been using it long enough and that eventually things will even out. I'm curious to know others thoughts on this and perhaps any advice on using a longsword against a spear.

[Keith Culbertson]

Ringeck has a section devoted to it---primarily use halfsword very agressively to deflect and close the range. Otherwise the spear will jab endlessly from range outside longsword cut path. So basically use the sword as a short staff vs a staff-like weapon to have success. It takes practice to get the timing right of course...

best

[Shane Smith]

I'm a fairly expert Swordsman and only a competent Spearman but I have to freely admit the spear is a better weapon in many ways in my experience.

I have sparred longsword against spear with some success half-swording and closing past the point against guys who are good polearm guys, but the guy with the spear is a fearsome opponent and if he be expert with his weapon, he has the advantage in many cases against the expert Swordsman.

I as a competent spearmen have also sparred with spear against expert Swordsmen and performed well against them with the polearm as a rule.

If I had to fight for my life, I'd probably grab the spear first and firmest.

[Ted Collins]

I think the usual advantage for a swordsman is that he has a shield or dagger in the other hand. I wouldn't expect someone armed with just a sword to do well against someone armed with a spear. Does your spear vs. sword experience involve off-hand items for the swordsmen?

[Shane Smith]

I think the usual advantage for a swordsman is that he has a shield or dagger in the other hand. I wouldn't expect someone armed with just a sword to do well against someone armed with a spear. Does your spear vs. sword experience involve off-hand items for the swordsmen?

If I have a buckler and an arming sword, I can do much better work against the spear than I can with longsword only.

[Stacy Clifford]

Using off-hand weapons such as a dagger or buckler winds up gaining about the same advantage as half-swording with the longsword on average (user experience may vary however, as I see Shane disagrees), though sometimes it can actually be less. Polearms have major advantages in reach, leverage, power and point control and require far less skill to use effectively than the sword. A dagger or buckler is pretty small and easy to disengage around with a spear, or the spearman can just use two hands to overpower one. A larger shield may work better, but it can't maneuver as quick as the spear can thrust at openings. Even if you get past the point, a spearman can choke up on the shaft very fast to keep the point between you and him, and of course he can still use it as a staff to bludgeon you. The only time I would say a spear gets at a disadvantage against shorter weapons is in tight quarters where there is no room to shorten the spear or turn it, or if it's just too long and unweildy. Interestingly though, Silver recommends using a longer staff at night because your opponent can't see well enough to defend himself properly against thrusts.