Bardiche

The bardiche, or berdiche (Russian бердыш berdysh, Polish berdysz) is an Eastern European pole weapon consisting of a long, cleaver-like blade mounted onto a wooden shaft. It is one of the signature weapons of the Russian guard unit known as the streltsy, and was used as a stand for long-barreled firearms such as the pishcal, in addition to its obvious use as a hand-to-hand weapon. Unusually, the shaft of the bardiche was one of the shortest of all polearms.

Unlike other pole axes, the bardiche does not feature any significant piercing surfaces (ie. a spear point or a back hook), due to its intention as a pure cutting or slashing weapon.

Appearances:
 * The bardiche is the mid-range weapon of Ivan the Terrible in the third season of Deadliest Warrior. Its raw, immense cutting power was unable to match up to the plate armor of Hernan Cortes, nor to the versatility of the halberd's multiple striking surfaces, which jives with its apparent intended use against opponents in mail or lamellar armor. It is nevertheless an apparent fan and cast favorite, appearing frequently in the background during live telecasts.