AmPotatoNoLie on April 18, 2026 9:10 am The one pictured is certainly exaggerated. Zhanmadao were probably just single-edged two handed swords.
Fake_Fur on April 18, 2026 9:12 am This pic got the meaning of 斩 (zhan) and 马 (ma) wrong. 斩 (zhan) = cutting & 马 (ma) = horse, not the vice versa.
Doktor_Jones86 on April 18, 2026 9:14 am Yeah, and you probably used that blade as a long pointy stick.
TheHistoryMaster2520 on April 18, 2026 9:34 am iirc the Aztec macahuitl was also useful in cutting off horse heads That being said, it’s much cheaper to use a spear than a large sword to counter cavalry
BaronGreywatch on April 18, 2026 10:23 am How on earth would you be able to get the space and leverage to swing that?!
ClavicusLittleGift4U on April 18, 2026 10:40 am Historical Zong Zhanmadaos were like [this](https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/af84e547-2fba-4a46-af06-dd73e29f1755/Screen%20Shot%202021-11-16%20at%208.31.26%20AM.png/:/rs=w:984,h:634). No “long and narrow blade” stuff because just try to cut deep a battle horse deltoid or supraspinatus muscle with it without breaking the blade. Even Japanese practical odachis had a broader reinforced blade base in order to absorb the cavalry shock without folding.
ProfessionalRandom21 on April 18, 2026 11:32 am Never get why big ass sword instead of spear or polearm like glaive
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Lol!!
The one pictured is certainly exaggerated. Zhanmadao were probably just single-edged two handed swords.
This pic got the meaning of 斩 (zhan) and 马 (ma) wrong. 斩 (zhan) = cutting & 马 (ma) = horse, not the vice versa.
Yeah, and you probably used that blade as a long pointy stick.
iirc the Aztec macahuitl was also useful in cutting off horse heads
That being said, it’s much cheaper to use a spear than a large sword to counter cavalry
How on earth would you be able to get the space and leverage to swing that?!
Historical Zong Zhanmadaos were like [this](https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/af84e547-2fba-4a46-af06-dd73e29f1755/Screen%20Shot%202021-11-16%20at%208.31.26%20AM.png/:/rs=w:984,h:634). No “long and narrow blade” stuff because just try to cut deep a battle horse deltoid or supraspinatus muscle with it without breaking the blade.
Even Japanese practical odachis had a broader reinforced blade base in order to absorb the cavalry shock without folding.
I mean….that’s also long, pointy, and on a stick
Never get why big ass sword instead of spear or polearm like glaive
Chinese Nodachi be like: