Caltrops - a Device Built After Nature

Matchlock · 10th July 2012, 06:02 PM

Gang Warily - a witty motto regarding caltrops!

Thanks for the brilliant contribution, Norman!

Best,
m

Andi · 15th November 2012, 08:55 PM

A drastic illustration of the tactical effect of caltrops is shown in an illustrated manuscript "Kriegstechnik" of the Zentralbibliothek Zürich Switzerland, inventory Ms. Rh. hist. 33b, dating to the 15th century on page 49r.

Page no. 115v illustrates their effect on horses.

The caltrops shown are a similar type achored in the ground with a wooden stick.

This caltrops are very effective as the soles of shoes worn by soldiers or warrios that time had only one single or sometimes a double layer of soft leather with a thickness of max. 3-4 mm in total. It must be very demoralizing when watching your comrades in front of you running through such a mined field - knowing that you also must pass it.

Andi · 16th November 2012, 02:54 PM

Another two illustrations of the use of caltrops.

The first one is from Conrad Kyesers Bellifortis from 1460 showing two differnet types - and - protective iron soles.

The second illustration is also a Conrad Kyesers Bellifortis issue from 1411 also showing two different types as well as the arrow types with their wooden base for mounting into the ground. You can imagine, when this devices are rigidly fixed to the ground it will take much longer and will hold the attacked person much longer back than the lose ones.
The red dressed guy obviously drives a heavy barrel over the devices in order to dismantle the caltrops.

N.B. On this image you can see that the men are only wearing tights - probably with a thin leather sole sewn on the sole under the feet.

fernando · 16th November 2012, 05:21 PM

Most interesting.

Andi · 5th October 2013, 11:25 PM

From today I can protect my little front garden

with my reconstructed caltrops.

But I wonder what this huge caltrops are for? They have an over all heigth of approx. 30-35 cm, dated to 16th century and they are on display at Nationalmuseet Copenhagen, Denmark. For human feet they are definitively too large and for horses they seem to me too fragile, probably their aim is to massively harm tumbled men or horses?

Matchlock · 6th October 2013, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andi

From today I can protect my little front garden

reconstructed caltrops.

But I wonder what this huge caltrops are for? They have an over all heigth of approx. 30-35 cm, dated to 16th century and they are on display at Nationalmuseet Copenhagen, Denmark. For human feet they are definitively too large and for horses they seem to me too fragile, probably their aim is to massively harm tumbled men or horses?

Maybe they are much older than we have assumed - Jurassic and meant to trouble Dinosaurs like T-Rex?

Seriously, I guess you are completely right and they were meant to harm heavy cold-blooded horses.

m

fernando · 6th October 2013, 01:35 PM

Or for people (soldiers) body to fall on them ?

15th November 2012, 08:55 PM	#2
Andi Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Halstenbek, Germany Posts: 203	A drastic illustration of the tactical effect of caltrops is shown in an illustrated manuscript "Kriegstechnik" of the Zentralbibliothek Zürich Switzerland, inventory Ms. Rh. hist. 33b, dating to the 15th century on page 49r. Page no. 115v illustrates their effect on horses. The caltrops shown are a similar type achored in the ground with a wooden stick. This caltrops are very effective as the soles of shoes worn by soldiers or warrios that time had only one single or sometimes a double layer of soft leather with a thickness of max. 3-4 mm in total. It must be very demoralizing when watching your comrades in front of you running through such a mined field - knowing that you also must pass it. Attached Images

16th November 2012, 02:54 PM	#3
Andi Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Halstenbek, Germany Posts: 203	Another two illustrations of the use of caltrops. The first one is from Conrad Kyesers Bellifortis from 1460 showing two differnet types - and - protective iron soles. The second illustration is also a Conrad Kyesers Bellifortis issue from 1411 also showing two different types as well as the arrow types with their wooden base for mounting into the ground. You can imagine, when this devices are rigidly fixed to the ground it will take much longer and will hold the attacked person much longer back than the lose ones. The red dressed guy obviously drives a heavy barrel over the devices in order to dismantle the caltrops. N.B. On this image you can see that the men are only wearing tights - probably with a thin leather sole sewn on the sole under the feet. Attached Images

5th October 2013, 11:25 PM	#5
Andi Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Halstenbek, Germany Posts: 203	From today I can protect my little front garden with my reconstructed caltrops. But I wonder what this huge caltrops are for? They have an over all heigth of approx. 30-35 cm, dated to 16th century and they are on display at Nationalmuseet Copenhagen, Denmark. For human feet they are definitively too large and for horses they seem to me too fragile, probably their aim is to massively harm tumbled men or horses? Attached Images Last edited by Andi; 6th October 2013 at 06:56 PM.

10th July 2012, 06:02 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Gang Warily - a witty motto regarding caltrops! Thanks for the brilliant contribution, Norman! Best, m

16th November 2012, 05:21 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Most interesting.

6th October 2013, 01:35 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Or for people (soldiers) body to fall on them ?