Weapons+of+the+Crusades+(Cont)

Foot Soldier's weapons
 * Pike: This weapon was particularly suited for use against those on horse back. It consisted of a long wooden pole, sometimes over 10 feet long, that was fitted with a sharp point at the end which was usually made from metal. Soldiers could thrust them at oncoming Calvary and yield significant damage to the rider or the horse. Soldiers armed with a pike always had a second weapon they could use for close combat because of the ineffectiveness of the pike against multiple enemies in close combat. **




 * Spears: The spear was usually made from wood and at the head it was equipped with a metal point. They could be made different which made them invaluable. With a short length spear some one could either use it as a projectile on another soldier or it could be even used to slash at your enemies. The spear was also highly used because of the cheapness at which it was to manufacture them as well as the ease at which they could be made. It also did not require to much training to be able to wield a spear. A spear bears much resemblance to a pike, the only main difference being a spear is shorter than a pike. **

Mace:


 * Caltrops: Caltrops were another way for soldiers to combat against calvary units. The word Caltrop actually derives from a word in latin which mean "foot trap." A Caltrop is a piece of metal that has 4 metal points that come out of a central point. When put on the ground one point will always be pointing up. The points were designed to pierce and penetrate the hooves of horses. Soldiers would spread multiple Caltrops over a certain area and this would slow the movement of the horses. It was a brutal but effective. **




 * Billhook: A Billhook resembles a knife but the blade is curved downward. It has handle which is typically less than a foot long. Then the blade extends out ward and curves down toward the hilt giving it a hook appearance, which is where it gets its name. It was used to hack at other soldier and their horses. It had the capability of hooking onto armor and ripping it. The Billhook could also take out an enemy with one well placed slice, making the Billhook and invaluable close combat weapon. **




 * Battle Axe: The shaft was usually made from wood and could range from being 1 to about 5 feet in length. Attached to the top of the shaft an axe head, which could be a single or double head axe made of some type of metal. The blades of the axe could be 10 inches long or more. The battle axe was used as a close combat weapon with the ability to substantially warp armor and even dismember your enemy. The battle axe could also be used as a projectile to be hurled at the enemy and still cause damage. **