Lances were designed to shatter and be disposable?

Jousting lances are, but lances used in war are not.

They're not designed to shatter on impact, though. And actually, historically in the 14th-16th centuries, they weren't "one use". Late medieval war-lances weren't the fancy curved-guard things we see used in jousting, by and large, they were basically just long, relatively thick-hafted spears and often tapered a fair bit.

They were not "one-use" most cases - you might well lose one in a charge, in which case you change to whatever backup weapons you had, or ride off and get another lance, but you don't like aim to lose them.

And they were absolutely built sturdily enough to survive a charge.
That has always been my impression, as well. I recall reading somewhere about a tether being used in order to help retain the lance and the technique being to strike with it under charge, then turn the hand under and away after the hit in order to withdraw the lance in passing. The technique was later transferred to Cavalry Sabres, like the 1908 Pattern Sabre, which was more rapier than something like most of the curved 18th and 19th century sabres.
 

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