Byzantine Weapons and Warfare

[Urselius]

Urselius wrote:-

I can see no advantage in having a long blade on the end of a purely thrusting weapon.

....well, the Zulus would disagree with you !
...their success came from turning a javelin-like assegai with a small head into a thrusting/stabbing weapon with a huge blade almost as big as the shaft! hock: ........

The ixwa had a very short haft, the heavy wide blade wasn't on the end of a 12ft+ shaft. In effect it was a shortsword made by a people with no history of swordmaking. The head was large in order to make a large abdominal wound which would immediately incapacitate the opponent. The Zulu and their enemies were also effectively naked, their only protection was the bull-hide shield, which the ixwa was not expected to pierce in any case.

Using a large spear head on a long shaft for dealing with heavily armoured foes by thrusting isn't likely to be very profitable, in my opinion.