What was the point of this endless variety of bladed polearms in the olden days?
A spear is cheaper to make and thrusting is more effective than waving a pole around, why not just use that?

>>63962752 (OP)
A the simplest one to make is a (s)pike which is lightest and cheapest, but it cant slash or cut on glancing blows
A bladed spear inflicts a larger and more debilitating wound, so its more effective for knocking out an enemy fighter, but is naturally quite blockable
A pole-axe is much slower and heavier, but it is top-attack with much more striking force so better for piercing armour
A bec de corbin focuses that top attack into even better armour piercing
A hammer head adds concussion and negates issues with edge allignment
Glaives can sweep huge areas, better for multiple enemies and crowd control

What is best depends on what, where and how you expect to fight, not just simplicity of design

>>63962752 (OP)
hard to yank a guy off a horse with a spear

When you pull out a spear that is deeply stuck in an enemy's body, you will be killed by the next soldier.

>>63962873
Spear the horse. The faggot will get his fat ass off the horse soon enough.

>>63962752 (OP)
It's more like anything can have a longer handle.

>>63962752 (OP)
yanking guys off their horses
being able to hook other pole arms so your buddy could stab the other guy on the otherside of the formation
some number of polearms were also used for dueling or guarding so a pike wouldn't be as good
and a bunch of shapes were people trying to figure out what's meta

>>63962752 (OP)
>What was the point of this endless variety of bladed polearms in the olden days?
same reason we got a zillion ar-15; people love fucking with shit that works trying to make it work better. Like oh look here's my spear with a hook on it, so much better! woah!

>>63962752 (OP)
>endless variety of bladed polearms in the olden days

Many were farm tools hammered into weapon-ish shape and attached to a haft.

>>63962752 (OP)
Because adding cutting ability is basically a straight fucking upgrade. Then you get into adding hooks and spikes and lugs and hammers and shit.

You‘re fucking retarded.

>>63962752 (OP)
Spear is good at stabby stuff, but sometimes it would be better to do choppy, smashy, or grabby stuff instead.