Halberd — pirates

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Two redcoated sergeants carrying halberds.

A halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use by the 16th century. The weapon consisted of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It could also have a hook or thorn on the backside of the blade for grappling mounted combatants and protecting allied soldiers. The halberd continued to see use well into the age of firearms, carried as a badge of rank and used to signal troops by military sergeants and Royal Marines in the 18th century.