Halberd, Bill, and Poleaxe

The halberd (left; German, late 15th century) was a foot soldier's weapon, especially popular in Switzerland and Germany. It was the most versatile of polearms, with an axe blade for hacking, a spike for thrusting, and a beak for piercing plate armor and pulling a knight from the saddle.

The bill (center; Italian, ca. 1480) is derived from an agricultural tool, the pruning hook used by farmers to lop off unwanted branches from fruit trees. Particularly popular in Western Europe, it is one of the few types of polearms that Spanish conquistadors and English colonists used in America.

The poleaxe (right; Western European, ca. 1500) was designed for hacking and stabbing and for piercing plate armor. Although it was used by foot-combatants in formal duels, the poleaxe was primarily a serious battle weapon.