rare medieval weapon against heavy Armour.

kronckew · 12th November 2009, 08:31 PM

thatching tools, particularly the eaves knives (no.5 below) - looks like a long single edged knife on a 3ft pole, look very weapon-like, as do hay knives.
drawing of thatchers tools:

more

hay knives also come in some rather odd shapes, used for cutting hay bales and trimming hay stacks to shape. (google on 'hay knife')

celtan · 13th November 2009, 07:57 PM

Is a viking helmet considered heavy armor?

Atlantia · 13th November 2009, 08:06 PM

Remember this one?
Reed/Hay knife

kronckew · 13th November 2009, 08:26 PM

celtan, no armour is heavy enough to protect you from an enraged spouse.

and atlantia, i did have that one in mind

along with the asparagus pilum.

we need to remember that weapons are also tools. and visa versa...and the lines can blur.

SE Asia especially, neat video on using a parang:
Harvesting Palm heart, sarawak.

cornelistromp · 31st March 2013, 09:49 AM

the tool of post nr 4 was also, probably, in exceptional cases, used on the battlefield.
I noticed this in images of Original manuscripts from the period 1425-1450 from German speaking countries.
it is partly used in a biblical story in the translation from the Latin book Speculum Humanae salvation.
hero epic story? lack of real swords in time of war?, very interesting.

fearn · 1st April 2013, 06:57 AM

The more I look at it, the more I think these are billhooks.

Here's the puzzle: most billhooks are single-handed tools (amply illustrated by http://billhooks.co.uk/). The weird thing is that most weaponized billhooks are presented as two-handed and long-handled, mostly based on a few late models in museums.

Kind of weird, no? I'd suggest that these mysterious weapons are weaponized one-hand bills, which are by far the most common type of bill. They've also been present in Europe since Pre-Roman times.

I'd also suggest checking out the diversity of shapes subsumed under the general term "billhook" (see http://billhooks.co.uk/photos-and-other-images/ and the pages following it). I think, if you prowl through, you'll find some familiar looking shapes.

My 0.0002 conjectural cents,

F

cornelistromp · 1st April 2013, 08:38 AM

thanks for your comment.

no, I do not think that they are bill hooks, these have a Curved cutting edge (a hook)
the images that I have placed all have a straight cutting edge.
a bill hook is also a lot smaller centimetres 20 to 25 (7.9 to 9.8 in) long.
this does not correspond to the illustrations in the manuscript

best,

fearn · 1st April 2013, 03:16 PM

Ah, you didn't check all the images, did you?

13th November 2009, 07:57 PM	#2
celtan Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PR, USA Posts: 679	Is a viking helmet considered heavy armor? Attached Images

13th November 2009, 08:26 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	celtan, no armour is heavy enough to protect you from an enraged spouse. and atlantia, i did have that one in mind along with the asparagus pilum. we need to remember that weapons are also tools. and visa versa...and the lines can blur. SE Asia especially, neat video on using a parang: Harvesting Palm heart, sarawak. Last edited by kronckew; 13th November 2009 at 08:41 PM.

31st March 2013, 09:49 AM	#5
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	the tool of post nr 4 was also, probably, in exceptional cases, used on the battlefield. I noticed this in images of Original manuscripts from the period 1425-1450 from German speaking countries. it is partly used in a biblical story in the translation from the Latin book Speculum Humanae salvation. hero epic story? lack of real swords in time of war?, very interesting. Attached Images Last edited by cornelistromp; 31st March 2013 at 10:01 AM.

1st April 2013, 08:38 AM	#7
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	thanks for your comment. no, I do not think that they are bill hooks, these have a Curved cutting edge (a hook) the images that I have placed all have a straight cutting edge. a bill hook is also a lot smaller centimetres 20 to 25 (7.9 to 9.8 in) long. this does not correspond to the illustrations in the manuscript best, Attached Images

12th November 2009, 08:31 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	thatching tools, particularly the eaves knives (no.5 below) - looks like a long single edged knife on a 3ft pole, look very weapon-like, as do hay knives. drawing of thatchers tools: more hay knives also come in some rather odd shapes, used for cutting hay bales and trimming hay stacks to shape. (google on 'hay knife')

13th November 2009, 08:06 PM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Remember this one? Reed/Hay knife

1st April 2013, 06:57 AM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	The more I look at it, the more I think these are billhooks. Here's the puzzle: most billhooks are single-handed tools (amply illustrated by http://billhooks.co.uk/). The weird thing is that most weaponized billhooks are presented as two-handed and long-handled, mostly based on a few late models in museums. Kind of weird, no? I'd suggest that these mysterious weapons are weaponized one-hand bills, which are by far the most common type of bill. They've also been present in Europe since Pre-Roman times. I'd also suggest checking out the diversity of shapes subsumed under the general term "billhook" (see http://billhooks.co.uk/photos-and-other-images/ and the pages following it). I think, if you prowl through, you'll find some familiar looking shapes. My 0.0002 conjectural cents, F

1st April 2013, 03:16 PM	#8
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Ah, you didn't check all the images, did you?