War scythe

A war scythe is a kind of improvised pole weapon, similar to a fauchard, usually created from standard scythes. The blade of the scythe is transformed so as to extend upright from the pole, thus forming an infantry weapon practical both in offensive actions against infantry and as a defensive measure against enemy cavalry.

History

The scythe, a farming tool could be easily transformed into an effective infantry weapon.

They were a popular weapon of choice and opportunity of many peasant uprisings throughout history. To name just a few examples, ancient Greek historian, Xenophon, describes in his work ("Anabasis") the chariots of Cyrus the Younger which used scythes. Polish peasants used war scythes during the 17th century Swedish invasion (The Deluge). In the 1685 battle of Sedgemoor, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, fielded a 5000 strong peasant unit armed with war scythes. They were used in the 1784 Transylvanian peasants Revolt of Horea, Cloşca and Crişan, in the 1th War of Schleswig in 1848 in Denmark, and again in various Polish uprisings: November Uprising in 1831, January Uprising in 1863 and Silesian Uprising in 1921. The name was used even in 1939, but the unit Scythemen of Gdynia was armed rather with hunting guns.

Specifics

As a pole weapon, the war scythe is characterised by long range (in melee combat), and powerful force (due to leverage): there are documented examples where a scythe has cut through a metal helmet. They could be used, depending on construction and tactics, to make slashing or stabbing attacks, and due to their uncommon looks and significant power, could have a psychological impact on an unprepared enemy. However, as most pole weapons, their disadvantages were their weight (which could quickly tire the user) and slow speed. The war scythe was probably an early ancestor of more professional pole weapons like halberds.

See also

* Fauchard
* Kama--Japanese Hand Scythe

References

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Modern popular culture

In the tabletop War game warhammer 40,000 Warscythes are the strongest melee weapon that the Necron race has at its disposal.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrons#Warscythes

Scythes also make an appearance in the Warhammer 40,000 universe as "Manreapers," weapons used by the Death Guard Space Marine Chapter's elite soldiers, the Deathshroud. They have been used pre-Horus Heresy and have made appearances in the tabletop game (post-heresy) as well.

In the video game Medieval 2: Total War one of Lithuania's pagan units, The Followers of Perkunas, uses this weapon.