Quote Originally Posted by Banzai! View Post
What has always puzzled me is how to actually kill someone with a sarrisa pike? I can't see how you could deliver a thrust with any kind of force behind it. Can a pike even penetrate chainmail?

I always imagined the phalanx just using its depth to walk over an enemy formation, butt-spiking those unfortunates who have been pushed down. I think I know now why Polybius was so surprised after seeing the gladius in action - yes, real weapons do leave cuts.
Which seems odd, as Hellenic cavalry would have used the equally nasty kopis and falcata swords. Yes, you can kill someone with a sarissa, just as you can kill someone with a shorter spear. A sarissa is less wieldy, but don't underestimate what a trained man could do with them. IIRC foot mentioned that 17th century pikemen were trained to slash their opponent's throat at long-distance. That does not mean it was a common battlefield-tactic, but it could be done.