Brandistock

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A brandistock (also called buttafuore) was a short type of pole weapon which was used by both infantry and civilians alike between the 16th and 19th centuries. Measuring some 5 feet long the brandistock construction was unique for polearms in that it had a retractable blade. The head consisted of either a single or a trio of long thin points which were kept in a hollow aperture inside the rest of the shaft. A sharp thrust of the weapon forward propelled the heads out, where they could be readily locked in place. This weapon is essentially a switchblade spear.