Caltrops - a Device Built After Nature

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 ?

Matchlock · 6th October 2013, 06:08 PM

... especially with their feet clad with thin leather only!

This of course was the main intention for throwing caltrops on a battle field, 'Nando. I, just as Andi, was only worrying about the unusual dimensions of the samples he posted.
Is it possible that yiou are trying to put us on the scrap heap with those, Andi? .

Best,
Michl

Marcus den toom · 13th March 2014, 03:53 PM

I boughed this nice example from an Uk auction.
Rather terrifying to imagine these things deployed in action.

Is there also a record of them beeing "dipped" in waste to ensure an infection after encountering such a device? Though seriously injured, you might escape to fight another day.

Marcus den toom · 25th March 2014, 04:59 PM

A better picture of my caltrop with very nice patina

VANDOO · 25th March 2014, 09:35 PM

NATURES CALTROPS, MINERAL, PLANT AND ANIMAL
#1 & #2. THORNS OF THE HONEY LOCUST I HAVE SEEN THEM UP TO 10 INCHES LONG AND THEY WORK WELL IN PIT TRAPS LARGE OR SMALL. ARROW POINTS, POISON DARTS AND FISH GIGS ARE EASILY MADE AS WELL.
#3. MUREX SHELL NOT TO BE STEPPED ON WHILE WADEING BAREFOOT
#4. SEA URCHIN, THIS KIND DOES HAVE POISON AND WILL BREAK OFF IN WOUNDS. I KNOW THEM TO BE VERY PAINFUL.
#5. QUARTZ CRYSTALS THESE AS WELL AS MANY OTHER FORMS WOULD BE PAINFUL TO WALK ON BAREFOOT.
#6. CACTUS

MANY PLANTS HAVE SPIKED OR BURRED SEED PODS TO HELP SPREAD THE SEEDS. THORNS ON THE PLANT ARE MOSTLY FOR PROTECTION. CACTUS SPINES ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

25th March 2014, 09:35 PM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	NATURES CALTROPS, MINERAL, PLANT AND ANIMAL #1 & #2. THORNS OF THE HONEY LOCUST I HAVE SEEN THEM UP TO 10 INCHES LONG AND THEY WORK WELL IN PIT TRAPS LARGE OR SMALL. ARROW POINTS, POISON DARTS AND FISH GIGS ARE EASILY MADE AS WELL. #3. MUREX SHELL NOT TO BE STEPPED ON WHILE WADEING BAREFOOT #4. SEA URCHIN, THIS KIND DOES HAVE POISON AND WILL BREAK OFF IN WOUNDS. I KNOW THEM TO BE VERY PAINFUL. #5. QUARTZ CRYSTALS THESE AS WELL AS MANY OTHER FORMS WOULD BE PAINFUL TO WALK ON BAREFOOT. #6. CACTUS MANY PLANTS HAVE SPIKED OR BURRED SEED PODS TO HELP SPREAD THE SEEDS. THORNS ON THE PLANT ARE MOSTLY FOR PROTECTION. CACTUS SPINES ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE. Attached Images

5th October 2013, 11:25 PM	#1
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.

6th October 2013, 01:35 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Or for people (soldiers) body to fall on them ?

6th October 2013, 06:08 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	... especially with their feet clad with thin leather only! This of course was the main intention for throwing caltrops on a battle field, 'Nando. I, just as Andi, was only worrying about the unusual dimensions of the samples he posted. Is it possible that yiou are trying to put us on the scrap heap with those, Andi? . Best, Michl

13th March 2014, 03:53 PM	#5
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 534	I boughed this nice example from an Uk auction. Rather terrifying to imagine these things deployed in action. Is there also a record of them beeing "dipped" in waste to ensure an infection after encountering such a device? Though seriously injured, you might escape to fight another day.

25th March 2014, 04:59 PM	#6
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 534	A better picture of my caltrop with very nice patina