A FRENCH falx-like object?

Joe · 18th March 2007, 03:45 AM

Ariel, my first thought was also the Chouan halberd, but that's got the sharp edge on the wrong side, and was introduced some 500 years after the "Les Coutumes de Toulouse" was made.

But I took a look through my pic archives, and I found something similar. Certainly not from the 1200's, but sharing the same form, and showing obvious signs of being rehilted at one point or another.

Emanuel · 18th March 2007, 04:00 AM

It seems this is a "faux de guerre" a war-scythe, popular in France from the 13th -15th century. A footman's arm, it was essentially a conventional scythe converted into a weapon. The problem with this is that the illustrations show something much more "refined" - it doesn't look patched together. Furthermore, it is wielded by men wearing maille, indicating some degree of wealth.
I'm thinking it is just another unconventional medieval weapon that was never standardized in any way. The various choppers in the Maciejowski manuscript come to mind. It's just interesting to see these depicted.

Here's a pic of one I found:

Emanuel · 18th March 2007, 04:13 AM

On the subject of weird medieval weapons, have a look at these...Sort of recalls some klewangs in van Zonneveld...

18th March 2007, 03:45 AM	#1
Joe Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 48	Ariel, my first thought was also the Chouan halberd, but that's got the sharp edge on the wrong side, and was introduced some 500 years after the "Les Coutumes de Toulouse" was made. But I took a look through my pic archives, and I found something similar. Certainly not from the 1200's, but sharing the same form, and showing obvious signs of being rehilted at one point or another. Attached Images

18th March 2007, 04:00 AM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	It seems this is a "faux de guerre" a war-scythe, popular in France from the 13th -15th century. A footman's arm, it was essentially a conventional scythe converted into a weapon. The problem with this is that the illustrations show something much more "refined" - it doesn't look patched together. Furthermore, it is wielded by men wearing maille, indicating some degree of wealth. I'm thinking it is just another unconventional medieval weapon that was never standardized in any way. The various choppers in the Maciejowski manuscript come to mind. It's just interesting to see these depicted. Here's a pic of one I found: Attached Images Last edited by Manolo; 18th March 2007 at 04:10 AM.

18th March 2007, 04:13 AM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	On the subject of weird medieval weapons, have a look at these...Sort of recalls some klewangs in van Zonneveld... Attached Images