this post was submitted on 15 Mar 2024
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Forgotten Weapons
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Given that spears and halberds exist, what’s what’s the utility? Hidden for assassin shenanigans?
Same reason cannons exist when guns also exist. They serve different purposes by having different profiles.
I mean, if a military were to have the financial means to offer a cannon to every soldier, they would. Economics are the backend of every war. In 600 BC, a flexible sword would be both far more expensive and less effective than a spear, which is the crux of my question. I only read the wiki after my comment so I take back halberds. 7355608 proposed an interesting use case in a casual carry belt that feels reasonable.
But if they did that, a light infantry squad would grab their rifles, run around to the side of the cannon squad, and completely destroy them.
“Thaddiffer, I do say, what are those Frenchmen doing across the hill?”
“My dear Billiam, I believe they’re attempting to flank us. Shall we preemptively prepare a ceaseless 500 grape shot barrage to render them, the landscape, and everything else within a quarter mile into an unidentifiable vapor?”
“No, no, we shan’t be rude, we simply must offer them first volley. Anyone for tea in the meantime?”
*raucous agreement*
(Yes, I know what you’re referencing but this is magic “everyone gets a cannon” canon)
It was basically a weapon so that when you got in a bar fight, you could grab the band saw off your waist lol