490832 Three Halberds (steel & wood) by European School; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA; (add.info.: Left: German, 1475-1500. Centre: Swiss, 17th century. Right: Swiss, 17th century. The word \'halberd\' comes from the German words Halm (a staff) and Barte (an axe). The halberd is, in fact, an axe mounted on a long pole with a very specialized shape and function: the axe blade was used for hacking, the spike for thrusting, and the beak either for piercing plate armour or for pulling a knight from his saddle. The halberd was a weapon for shock troops and was used frequently by Swiss and German mercenaries.); Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance; European, out of copyright.