There are 5.395 staff weapons preserved in the Armoury: mainly halberds and pikes, fewer boar spears, couses, tardes, morning stars and glaives

For a long time, staff weapons were the chief weapons used by foot soldiers.
As their penetration force increased, guns gradually replaced staff weapons on the battlefield, yet staff weapons remained in use as symbolic items of prestige—as guard weapons, for example, which were richly decorated.

Many of the staff weapons stored in the armoury were mainly produced in the 16th and 17th century and originate from Upper Austrian Workshops which were mainly located around Steyr like the ones from Pankraz Taller or Peter Schreckseisen.