A very rare German Gothic War Hammer 'Dolchstreithammer'

Swordfish · 9th May 2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

it is good occasionally to disagree, but I think you ascribe too much real stuff to ceremonial dress parties and gifts. eg the fine chain mail shirt.
attached a number of examples with a small beak similar to the Higgins hammer.

There is no problem that you disagree, but none of my arguments has been disproved. I know the most examples from Armi Bianche Italiane, but the beak of these is not as short as it looks at first sight, because they are stouter in section and not very acutely pointed. The pole-axe( from Fernando) has surely a beak of more than 7 cm. The hammer with the etched haft has a beak of c.7 cm, the hammer with the dragon (#33-34 in Armi) c.6.5 cm and the hammer with the wooden haft (#266in Armi) c.7cm. These lengths are sufficient to penetrate armour and a skull, but not the 2 cm of the hammer in discussion.

By way of example: if you are attacked and you have a dagger in your left pocket with a blade of 8 cm, and a penknive in your right pocket. Which would you choose to defend you?

Attached are some photos of swords from Armi Bianche. All have long blades. Are these fighting- swords or splendor- swords?
The answer is simple. The same is the case with the hammer under discussion.

Best

cornelistromp · 9th May 2012, 08:17 PM

I only indicated that at least 2 cm is needed for a deadly hammer battle wound, I do not know how long the beak of the higginshammer is. but it seems to me more than 2cm.
it seems to me that the lucerne type of warhammers have much shorter beaks as the dagger hammers in the beginning of this thread. The higgins hammer is similar to the type of the lucerne hammer not to the dagger hammer.

The swords you have posted have sharp cutting edges and points and are therefore suitable to fight with, swords of the upper class.

if you could afford it why would you run with a coarse soldiers sword. Swords also gave status from the early middle ages onwards.

In italy nothing is changed, given the many ferrari's in the big cities. where you actually could drive much more comfortable in an air-conditioned Fiat500.

best,

Swordfish · 9th May 2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

I only indicated that at least 2 cm is needed for a deadly hammer battle wound, I do not know how long the beak of the higginshammer is. but it seems to me more than 2cm.

You are right, 2 cm is surely enough against an unarmoured warrior, but no knight or mercenary in the second half of the 15th century was at battle without a sallet or an iron-hat. The height of the Higgins hammer is known 16.5 cm. By the proportions on the photo it is easy to measure the length of the beak. It is not longer than c. 2.3 cm. In the same way I have measured the length of the Armi Bianche examples.

These swords may be suitable for fighting, but were neither intended nor used for such purposes.(one is a Pope's sword)

If you have two cars in you garage, a Ferrari and a Fiat, and you know that you will have a crash(= battle), which would you choose?

Best

cornelistromp · 10th May 2012, 08:12 AM

the sword had a much broader meaning than only: merely ceremonial or battlefield.
many weapons had both or more. (eg durendal) in their life.
On the precise purpose of the higgins hammer, intended primarily as a weapon or purely symbolic ceremonial, I do not think we can agree, so I'll leave it at that.
Here are a number pollek type of weapons. (bec de corbin / lucerne hammer)
including (I believe) a picture of the polearm Christies is mentioning.

best,
Jasper

10th May 2012, 08:12 AM	#4
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	the sword had a much broader meaning than only: merely ceremonial or battlefield. many weapons had both or more. (eg durendal) in their life. On the precise purpose of the higgins hammer, intended primarily as a weapon or purely symbolic ceremonial, I do not think we can agree, so I'll leave it at that. Here are a number pollek type of weapons. (bec de corbin / lucerne hammer) including (I believe) a picture of the polearm Christies is mentioning. best, Jasper Attached Images

9th May 2012, 08:17 PM	#2
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	I only indicated that at least 2 cm is needed for a deadly hammer battle wound, I do not know how long the beak of the higginshammer is. but it seems to me more than 2cm. it seems to me that the lucerne type of warhammers have much shorter beaks as the dagger hammers in the beginning of this thread. The higgins hammer is similar to the type of the lucerne hammer not to the dagger hammer. The swords you have posted have sharp cutting edges and points and are therefore suitable to fight with, swords of the upper class. if you could afford it why would you run with a coarse soldiers sword. Swords also gave status from the early middle ages onwards. In italy nothing is changed, given the many ferrari's in the big cities. where you actually could drive much more comfortable in an air-conditioned Fiat500. best, Last edited by cornelistromp; 9th May 2012 at 08:34 PM.