A very rare German Gothic War Hammer 'Dolchstreithammer'

[Swordfish]

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]

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