![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,091
|
![]()
Can someone put forth some average weights for the heads of traditional late medieval war hammers. Any real examples to post? Thanks.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 214
|
![]()
I don't own a warhammer but did have this until late last year ( darn economy ) http://www.merctailor.com/originals.php?original_pk=97 . We've forged up a few over the years just expirementing and weights came in around 1 pound to 1.25 pounds. The axe above weight in at a bit over three pounds.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,091
|
![]() Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
|
![]() Quote:
Gav$iconid=2 |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]()
There must be a wide choice of these things, with a wide range of weights.
According to my expert contact, infantry ones may weigh around 3 lbs and cavalry (long shaft) ones around 7 lbs, as would be the case of this unique Portuguese XV century Crow Beak. . |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
|
![]()
Hi David,
In Germany and Switzerland they were called Fuss-Streithammer (war hammer for foot soldiers). I attach two late 15th c. samples from the collections of the German Historic Museum Berlin (b/w) and another fine late 15th c. item retaining its warding off disc (Brechscheibe) - I could not find the correct English term. Anyone ready to add it? ![]() Unfortunately their weights are unrecorded. The hafts are either of oak or ash. Best, Michael |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,091
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
|
![]()
Hi 'Nando,
Do you happen to know (or are able to find out) the English term for that fencing off disc (Brechscheibe)? ![]() My favorite online dictionary dict proved to fail here. Best, Michl |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]()
Say Michl,
What makes you think i am a living weapons enciclopedia like Herr Trömner ? ![]() George Snook, in his little publication THE HALBERD, refers to these devices mounted in awlpikes (ahlspiesse) simply as circular hand guards. However John Waldman, in his work HAFTED WEAPONS IN MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE EUROPE, calls them roundel guards. Does this sound like what you had in mind? ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
|
![]()
Hi, Sir 'Nando,
![]() Living weapons encyclopedia - me??! ![]() ![]() Roundel guard just seems perfect to a bloody foreigner like me. ![]() I knew you were the greatest arms historian around anyway! ![]() Thanks a lot, and a very good night to a warm Portugal (and please cherish your charming cats!) from a darn cold and windy Bavaria (minus 8 degrees centigrade), Mich Last edited by Matchlock; 19th March 2011 at 10:17 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]()
Only two things, Michl:
1 - My 'three and half cats' send their greetings to you ![]() 2 - You should fix your thermometer; Abensberg is not so far from my hometown and we are presently with 12 centigrade ... plus ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
|
![]()
Just one thing, 'Nando:
If it's all that easy and near - please set off to come and see me and my collection, friend! Do your three and three quarter cats cats like driving? ![]() After all, Alexander, our St. Petersburg friend, was here in my collection in Septemper - and the two of us have been all that much nearer ever since ![]() ![]() As soon as you're here everything will be free:literally hundreds of liters of Bavarian dark beer, roast pork etc... ![]() ![]() ![]() P.S. I heavily kicked my lousy friend's ass once more to make him look for your fuse ... Good night, Michl Last edited by Matchlock; 20th March 2011 at 07:30 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]()
Thanks for the invitation, Michl
![]() Pity the whole family (wife and cats) don't like car riding ![]() But some day, who knows ... a low cost flight ![]() I appreciate you keeping the pressure on your friend with the fuse; i am dying for that. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
|
![]()
I know you're dying to finally get that fuse. I'll hang on kicking that guy's a.., I promise!
And: a low cost flight to Bavaria would be a nice idea - watch out for it! ![]() Best, m |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 | |
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 20
|
![]() Quote:
Your friend is confused with fantasy warhammers. The head of a medieval or Renaissance warhammer is well less than a couple of pounds. A ten pound head on a warhammer would be the same as a sledgehammer that you would buy at Home Depot. Great for driving stationary spikes, horrible for combat. Tell your friend that fyunctionality and physics are at play here. One can do deadly damage with more speed and accuracy with a standard carpenter's hammer against a moving oponent than they can trying to weild a ten lb sledge hammer. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]()
Hi Carl M
Have you already handled a war hammer ... short or/and long shafted? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 | |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,285
|
![]() Quote:
![]() A picture of 'Old Faithful' . ![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 | ||
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 20
|
![]() Quote:
As a collector, I have handled countless repros and numerous originals, both short and long hafted. Quote:
Haha! Definitely. Put a spike on the back and four raised points on the square head in the front and you will do even more! It is amazing how much force these can generate in the hands of someone who is used to swinging them. Add the fact that soldier carrying it has significant practice with it and you have a very dangerous individual. |
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,285
|
![]()
That hammer saved me from sliding off an unshingled frosty roof some 2 decades ago .
I turned it around and drove the claw through the half inch plywood to hang on . It saved me from many broken bones, or worse . Good old hammer ...... ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|