Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Is some of the skepticism and animosity towards flexible weapons you see online justified? Let's try a more nuanced approach and give the long hafted military flail (AKA Hussite flail) a fair shake.
Is it as good as most "high tier" polearms (halberds, polehammers, bills, etc)? Definitely not. But how does it compete with a quarterstaff? That's basically the same comparison as stick vs. nunchaku, just upscaled (which makes a significant difference).
So I'll be talking about the pros and cons of the pole flail and giving you my perspective on why it's underrated.
*** Sources / Credits ***
Videos:
"Flail FAQ - What hits harder? Flail vs Staff" by Björn Rüther
youtube.com/watch?v=f7a3jLx8ZJQ
"War flail vs hardened steel armor" by @dequitem
youtube.com/shorts/atjaLoDJ640
"Selfmade WAR FLAIL test" and "Flail vs Buckler and sword (sparring)" by @MonkeyFist
youtube.com/watch?v=LDP1I94-nZ0
youtube.com/watch?v=j0Lapr5IG8U
"Threshing Flail vs Longsword Sparring" by @HEMASimian
youtube.com/watch?v=t4lmVuk_PCI
"Flail vs Broadsword´n Shield" by @zukuru
youtube.com/watch?v=Rngul46pJQY
"Korea's 'WAR FLAIL' breaks with a katana" by @weaponism
youtube.com/watch?v=bnleD_z0d5o
Images:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Freydal_fol.35_(Taschen).jpg
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/33867
wiktenauer.com/wiki/Joachim_Meyer#Gr.C3.BCndtliche_Beschreibung_der.E2.80.A6_Kunst_des_Fechtens_.281570.29
wiktenauer.com/wiki/Das_Ander_Theil_Des_Newen_K%C5%AFnstreichen_Fechtb%C5%AFches_(Cod.Guelf.83.4_Aug.8%C2%BA)
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flail_(AM_690176-1).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Weapons,_Korean_War_Memorial.jpg
Background music at the start of the video:
“Rising” by Horror Pen
opengameart.org/content/game-music-loop-rising
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #medieval #history #historicalweapons
Is some of the skepticism and animosity towards flexible weapons you see online justified? Let's try a more nuanced approach and give the long hafted military flail (AKA Hussite flail) a fair shake.
Is it as good as most "high tier" polearms (halberds, polehammers, bills, etc)? Definitely not. But how does it compete with a quarterstaff? That's basically the same comparison as stick vs. nunchaku, just upscaled (which makes a significant difference).
So I'll be talking about the pros and cons of the pole flail and giving you my perspective on why it's underrated.
*** Sources / Credits ***
Videos:
"Flail FAQ - What hits harder? Flail vs Staff" by Björn Rüther
youtube.com/watch?v=f7a3jLx8ZJQ
"War flail vs hardened steel armor" by @dequitem
youtube.com/shorts/atjaLoDJ640
"Selfmade WAR FLAIL test" and "Flail vs Buckler and sword (sparring)" by @MonkeyFist
youtube.com/watch?v=LDP1I94-nZ0
youtube.com/watch?v=j0Lapr5IG8U
"Threshing Flail vs Longsword Sparring" by @HEMASimian
youtube.com/watch?v=t4lmVuk_PCI
"Flail vs Broadsword´n Shield" by @zukuru
youtube.com/watch?v=Rngul46pJQY
"Korea's 'WAR FLAIL' breaks with a katana" by @weaponism
youtube.com/watch?v=bnleD_z0d5o
Images:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Freydal_fol.35_(Taschen).jpg
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/33867
wiktenauer.com/wiki/Joachim_Meyer#Gr.C3.BCndtliche_Beschreibung_der.E2.80.A6_Kunst_des_Fechtens_.281570.29
wiktenauer.com/wiki/Das_Ander_Theil_Des_Newen_K%C5%AFnstreichen_Fechtb%C5%AFches_(Cod.Guelf.83.4_Aug.8%C2%BA)
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flail_(AM_690176-1).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Weapons,_Korean_War_Memorial.jpg
Background music at the start of the video:
“Rising” by Horror Pen
opengameart.org/content/game-music-loop-rising
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #medieval #history #historicalweapons
