Cold Steel Assegai Question

[vikingblade]

These look like an awesome CQB Weapon. Pretty damn cheap too. i was wondering about the steel, temper, edge holding etc... ive heard the steels pretty soft. any input and opinions would be appreciated.
thanks

 

[PWork]

The steel is left a little softer so that it doesn't break on impact. A bent blade can be easily straightened, a broken blade is just that...a broken blade. Edge holding is adequate for the intended use.

Paul

 

[MelancholyMutt]

I may be wrong, but in my opinion, due to a lack of weight, this tool lacks the "chop" or "swing" ability of an axe, tomahawk, or even E-tool that is required for close in H2H. It makes a wonderful thrusting weapon, but so does a rifle w/bayonet, yet the spear lacks the clubbing energy a good rifle stock can produce. I think it makes an excellent hunting tool or medium range combat weapon (keeping yourself outside of an opponents' CQB weapon range).

 

[bquinlan]

IMHO...

The short spear was originally used more in mass combat than in one-on-one, which helped to compensate for its lack of head weight. I would probably try to wield it more like a Jo stick than a spear unless I had a half-dozen friends around me.

Most swords would have a distinct advantage against the assegai under most conditions.

--Bob Q

 

[texascarl]

And while it's a design that was popular in Roman times, it requires proper Roman fortitude to get in close and stab. Slashing is the art of the wild warrior but the trained soldier gets in close behind his big shield and stabs the slasher in the breadbasket. And stabs the next guy, and stabs the next guy and then steps back in rank and lets the second line take their turn for a while. Slashing looks pretty cool, but soldiers stabbing warriors won the wars.

The Zulu who made the assegai famous in the 19th century were VERY disciplined troops, and used the spear in conjuction with a large but light cowhide shield. IIRC, the Zulu troopers won some of the early battles with their neighbors by the simple (but sorta unsportsmanlike) tactic of not throwing all their spears, local custom demanding that both sides toss, then reply, until 'face' is saved by a few deaths. The Zulu and their assegai showed central Africa a better way.

Note that the assegai can easily be wielded in one hand, so if you really want to learn CQB with an assegai, why not try making yourself a shield? The duo really does work well together: use a ~ 24" circle of MDF board or plywood, a big zinc 'gate handle' and an old belt or webbing strap: afix the strap in a V shape w/screws, leaving room for you to hold the shield up on your forearm without using the handle. Hang a machete or Gladius on your belt, and I'll bet your neighbors won't try to steal your women or your cattle. Of course...the local constabulary may not be impressed by history, so kinda keep it on the QT.

 

[bquinlan]

I agree that spears are most effective in combination with some kind of shield. The problem is that shields are even more awkward to carry around than short spears.

The best second choice is to carry a good blocking weapon for the weak hand to use while the strong hand wields the spear. I'm inclined to recommend a long-barrelled .357 Magnum revolver as the ideal blocking weapon for this purpose but any moderately long blade with some sort of blade guards will serve. I would probably go with a PR-24 baton or a traditional tonfa.

--Bob Q

 

[MelancholyMutt]

against a specific tactic...

Given the options of modern weapons, if one had to revert back to H2H, a Kukri, shovel, tomahawk or combat knife is the best.

The spear and shield tactic worked well in open land against similarly armed opponents or on open ground. However, when Caesar's legions encountered the Germanic barbarians in dense woods, they were attacked from behind... well, who knows who really won these things.

On one to one, one has to sidestep a spear, and close the distance between the spear head and bearer to negate the weapon's effectiveness.

 

[Clint Simpson]

Originally posted by texascarl
Note that the assegai can easily be wielded in one hand, so if you really want to learn CQB with an assegai, why not try making yourself a shield?

Or use a bowie! Cold Steel states that the spear head itself can be used for close combat; a po' mans bowie if you will. Check out CS's PROOF video. Take flimy cardboard targets that can't fight back and a spear head will tear them up ALL DAY Seriously, a CS catolog a year back had a story about two men who, using CS spears, defended their store in Africa from a group of robbers. The shop owners were wounded but lived. The same is not true for the robbers.

Here's a thought, buy an extra head, shave down the shaft butt a little, fit the second head on... A Darth Maul Assegai!