langvåpen

Langvåpen is a broad term used to describe long melee weapons designed for reach and leverage. The category includes spears and lances, pikes, and a range of polearms that have a long shaft with a point, blade, or hook. It excludes shorter weapons such as swords and daggers, though some weapons may combine elements of both classes.

Common forms include spear and lance for thrusting; pike for anti-cavalry lines; polearms like halberd (blade with a hook and spike), glaive (single-edged blade along the shaft), bill, partisan; in East Asia, yari (Japanese spear) and qiang (Chinese spear); in other regions similar long weapons existed.

Function and tactics: Langvåpen gave infantry reach to strike from behind fortifications, disrupt or defend against mounted troops, and form defensive lines. They required coordinated training and disciplined formations, such as pike squares or tight phalanx-like arrays. The design varied by region and era to balance weight, length, and cutting vs thrusting capabilities.

Decline and legacy: The widespread adoption of firearms reduced the battlefield dominance of langvåpen from the 16th to 18th centuries, though some types remained in use for ceremonial purposes, specialized roles, or martial arts training. Modern museums, historical reenactments, and martial arts traditions study langvåpen to understand historical combat and technology.