Editing Halberd (section)

== The development of the halberd ==
[[File:Halberd MET 14.25.35 003dec2014.jpg|thumb|A late-14th/early-15th-century Halberd from [[Fribourg]]]]
The word '''helmbarte''' or variations of it show up in German texts from the 13th century onwards. At that point, the halberd is not too distinct from other types of broad axes or [[bardiche]]s used all over Europe. In the late 13th century the weapon starts to develop into a distinct weapon, with the top of the blade developing into a more acute thrusting point. This form of the halberd is erroneously sometimes called a '''voulge''' or a '''swiss voulge''', but there is no evidence for the usage of these terms for this weapon historically.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Waldman |first=John |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/704633881 |title=Hafted Weapons in Medieval and Renaissance Europe The Evolution of European Staff Weapons between 1200 and 1650 |date=2005 |isbn=978-90-474-0757-7 |location=Leiden |pages=17 |oclc=704633881}}</ref> There were variations of these weapons with spikes on the back, though also plenty without. In the early 15th century the construction changes to incorporate sockets into the blade, instead of hoops as the previous designs had. With this development back spikes are directly integrated into the blade construction and become a universal part of the halberd design.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Waldman |first=John |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/704633881 |title=Hafted Weapons in Medieval and Renaissance Europe The Evolution of European Staff Weapons between 1200 and 1650 |date=2005 |isbn=978-90-474-0757-7 |location=Leiden |pages=17–98 |oclc=704633881}}</ref>