Poll axed

kronckew · 2nd September 2019, 07:47 PM

Just acquired it at auction, listed as an antique 'pike'. Looks like a late medieval style poll axe to me. 199Cm. Overall. More details on arrival. Doesn't appear to have any arc welded bits or modern screws. Strap rivets decorated. Seen modern copies much like it but the poll welds were obvious and joins were square with the pieces made from bar stock. Looks forged to me, but y'all are the experts. Comments appreciated.

fernando · 2nd September 2019, 09:59 PM

.

kronckew · 3rd September 2019, 09:26 AM

Why do they have a poll axe on the cover?

Wiki, Poll axe
==================
On quick glance, the pollaxe is often confused with the similar-looking halberd. However, the axe blade on a pollaxe seems to have been consistently smaller than that of a halberd. A smaller head concentrates the kinetic energy of the blow on a smaller area, enabling the impact to defeat armour, while broader halberd heads are better against opponents with less armour. Furthermore, many halberds had their heads forged as a single piece, while the pollaxe was typically modular in design.
==================

They're also a bit shorter I gather & used more like a quarterstaff. Unlike wiki I think they are properly poll axes rather than pole axes as the axe does frequently have a hammer 'poll' opposite the axe (& a halberd tends to have a hook there on a longer 'pole' - so a halberd is more pole-axey

). later halberds i notice tend to have longer spikes for thrusting, like a godentag, mine looks like it has a somewhat longer spike than the repros I've found so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lH6NT-f9LU

Matt does tend to rabbit on a bit, why use 10 words when 100 would do.

Another with verbal rabbiting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsckeyktMS0

I note his pollaxe head repro only has langets for 2 sides, mine is on 4.

fernando · 3rd September 2019, 12:11 PM

The intention was to show you how the shape of your piece looks so similar to the one in the book

.

kronckew · 3rd September 2019, 02:28 PM

I figured that's what you were referring to. The book title is I guess more to do with halberds, so it's why I added a Bit of explanation of the differences. It seemed appropriate pour encourager les autres.

fernando · 3rd September 2019, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

...The book title is I guess more to do with halberds ...

... "AND OTHER EUROPEAN POLE ARMS", it says. I gather that his use of he "HALBERD" term is due to the more popular way to address these things. Perhaps that Pollaxe was the most appealing picture he elected for the book cover.
Let us see what 'les autres' think about your piece, judging by the picture. Yet you will be a vital judge, when you have it in hands and candidly check on its authenticity.

Victrix · 3rd September 2019, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

Why do they have a poll axe on the cover?

Wiki, Poll axe
==================
On quick glance, the pollaxe is often confused with the similar-looking halberd. However, the axe blade on a pollaxe seems to have been consistently smaller than that of a halberd. A smaller head concentrates the kinetic energy of the blow on a smaller area, enabling the impact to defeat armour, while broader halberd heads are better against opponents with less armour. Furthermore, many halberds had their heads forged as a single piece, while the pollaxe was typically modular in design.
==================

They're also a bit shorter I gather & used more like a quarterstaff. Unlike wiki I think they are properly poll axes rather than pole axes as the axe does frequently have a hammer 'poll' opposite the axe (& a halberd tends to have a hook there on a longer 'pole' - so a halberd is more pole-axey

). later halberds i notice tend to have longer spikes for thrusting, like a godentag, mine looks like it has a somewhat longer spike than the repros I've found so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lH6NT-f9LU

Matt does tend to rabbit on a bit, why use 10 words when 100 would do.

Another with verbal rabbiting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsckeyktMS0

I note his pollaxe head repro only has langets for 2 sides, mine is on 4.

By hook or Snook. I think you have been poleaxed, Sir!

Just kidding. Couldn’t help wabbiting a bit...

Jim McDougall · 3rd September 2019, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victrix

By hook or Snook. I think you have been poleaxed, Sir!

Just kidding. Couldn’t help wabbiting a bit...

Victrix!!! LOL!! perfectly put

It is great to have a good chuckle here and there

2nd September 2019, 07:47 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	Poll axed Just acquired it at auction, listed as an antique 'pike'. Looks like a late medieval style poll axe to me. 199Cm. Overall. More details on arrival. Doesn't appear to have any arc welded bits or modern screws. Strap rivets decorated. Seen modern copies much like it but the poll welds were obvious and joins were square with the pieces made from bar stock. Looks forged to me, but y'all are the experts. Comments appreciated. Attached Images

2nd September 2019, 09:59 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	. Attached Images Last edited by fernando; 3rd September 2019 at 12:09 PM.

3rd September 2019, 09:26 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	Why do they have a poll axe on the cover? Wiki, Poll axe ================== On quick glance, the pollaxe is often confused with the similar-looking halberd. However, the axe blade on a pollaxe seems to have been consistently smaller than that of a halberd. A smaller head concentrates the kinetic energy of the blow on a smaller area, enabling the impact to defeat armour, while broader halberd heads are better against opponents with less armour. Furthermore, many halberds had their heads forged as a single piece, while the pollaxe was typically modular in design. ================== They're also a bit shorter I gather & used more like a quarterstaff. Unlike wiki I think they are properly poll axes rather than pole axes as the axe does frequently have a hammer 'poll' opposite the axe (& a halberd tends to have a hook there on a longer 'pole' - so a halberd is more pole-axey ). later halberds i notice tend to have longer spikes for thrusting, like a godentag, mine looks like it has a somewhat longer spike than the repros I've found so far. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lH6NT-f9LU Matt does tend to rabbit on a bit, why use 10 words when 100 would do. Another with verbal rabbiting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsckeyktMS0 I note his pollaxe head repro only has langets for 2 sides, mine is on 4. Last edited by kronckew; 3rd September 2019 at 09:44 AM.

3rd September 2019, 12:11 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The intention was to show you how the shape of your piece looks so similar to the one in the book .

3rd September 2019, 02:28 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	I figured that's what you were referring to. The book title is I guess more to do with halberds, so it's why I added a Bit of explanation of the differences. It seemed appropriate pour encourager les autres.