Blocking with wooden hafted weapons

[Eddie Smith]

I find that parrying with a wooden hafted weapon such as an axe or spear works for me fairly well, but when blocking against steel the edge does all to much damage to the wood to make me comfortable. Any thoughts or suggestions? I realize that langlets pretty much solve the problem, but I am working on weapons that didn't have them, such as Danish axe.

[Jay Vail]

The Bayeaux tapestry shows a Norman knight cutting through the haft of an English sword. Others who attend this forum have used their swords to cut firewood without damaging the sword. So wood v. metal is not a good competition, it seems.

[Jake_Norwood]

I recall during the cutting portion of 2003's international gathering that Tim Sheetz held out a long staff-like pole while JC cut through it with a few round strikes.

Jake

[david welch]

My biggest question on this is why are you parrying? Pole weapons give you range, range gives you tme, and time keeps you safe by letting you keep the fight in the before and after.

He might need to strike at your weapon to deflect it, but it shouldn't be the other way around unless you let him get too close.

And with an axe the same lenth as a sword, you should be going after the flats when you deflect like you would with a sword anyways, instead of using stop parrys to the edge.