This seems like it should fit the bill - we're ordering two for the school, I'll let you know what they're like.

http://www.museumreplicas.com/museumreplicas/detail.aspx?ID=800

The Lutel one does look nice, and a good price point as well. I thought that A&A would probably be able to do a custom one if I asked, but right now I'm just looking around for future reference. I really like the pictures of the original ones that have been posted, so that piqued my interest. Thanks for your help :)

I recently read "The Last Duel" about the last judicial duel fought in France between La Carrouges and Le Gris, and there was specific mention of shortened war axes that the two used from horseback after the lances were broken.

Hugh, do you have any knowledge of this kind of use of basically a modified or shortened pollaxe that was used from horseback? From my study of the Italian sources it would seem that there was a great deal of variation in length of the weapon, as the Fiore Getty manuscript shows pretty short weapons, possibly not as tall as the man using it, however the Pisani-Dossi shows a much longer and beefier hafted weapon. Vadi's pollaxes are even bogger (as is his spear). This could be chalked up to variations in the art, variations in preference, or a progression to longer pollaxes as we head into the 15th century proper (as Fiore was really a product of the 14th century although his manuscripts were penned in the dawn of the 15th). It would be interesting to see if there was an evolution of the weapon, it's use and length of the haft.

lutel makes a nice bec. i have one.



Number in catalogue 17017
Name Two-Handed War Hammer
Description Central Europe - 15th centrury Head, spike, four striking flukes, with langets, made without wooden pole. Head length 23 cm, weight 1,2 kg.
[ Linked Image ]

Thanks everyone for their contributions.

What sparked this thread was that I was thinking about getting a Talhoffer type pole hammer made and was wondering if it was a realistic and effective weapon.

So as I understand the general points so far, the pole arm in Talhoffer should more accurately be referred to as a pole hammer rather than a poleaxe;

While there are no surviving examples of this particular head type there was a very wide variation in styles and that the heads depicted in Talhoffer would be consistent with the history and development of pole arms. Also, a head similar to the Talhoffer type would be an effective weapon and was not just artistic licence. My only concern is that the striking head seems a little long; is that just the representation rather than the actual dimensions of the weapon? I’m just wondering if the length of the head would make it liable to “roll” over on impact? Maybe I’m just not particularly experienced in pole arms. Would anyone hazard a guess as to the dimensions of the head?

The Lutel two handed war hammer (#17017) looks to be a lovely piece of work and I’m seriously wondering if I can afford it???

C

Uiuiuiui, so many information about the pollaxe.

I'm a little bit confused so it would be great if someone of you can help me to get a general idea, as there are some contrairy articles and statements in web.

1.) pollaxe, poleaxe is the right term in English and not polehammer, as pole"hammer" is a new modern word, correct ?

2.) In German we use the terms Mordaxt, Fußstreitaxt or Fußstreithammer. So is Fußstreit"hammer" incorrect, too ?
Fußstreithammer for pollaxe is used in the pollaxe feature article here, too (http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_spot_poleaxe.html)

3.) A pollaxe not always has an axe blade, correct ?

4.) Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poleaxe says that a pole axe is only similar but not a Bec de Corbin.
The spot light article here http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_spot_poleaxe.html says that a pollaxe is the same like a Bec de Corbin. So is the article in Wikipedia not correct ?

5.) There are various lengths, correct ?
For usage on horseback there are shortened pollaxes.
But where is a difference to a warhammer if the pollaxe is short ?
Like this: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streithammer

6. Some pollaxes are so similar to halberds like the example # (A928) here http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_spot_poleaxe.html from the Wallace Collection.
In what way are they different ? (please see my question #7, too)

7.) a halberd's head is always made from one piece and a pollaxe head is consisting of two pieces, correct ?

So many questions...

Best regards

Oliver

A928 looks exactly like a halberd to me.

Of course, how much difference is there between pollaxes and halberds?

I suggest reading this thread:

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=75840

Oliver,

I can only answer a few of them.

1). In English at least the term pollhammer I have never seen. Poleax poleaxe pollaxe pollaxe and a million other ones do come up though and some quite often. I agree with Hugh, I think it a modern or at least semi modern word.

2).I have only made a summary look into some german medieval accounts so I am not the one to help on this one.

3). a poleaxe does not need have an axe blade. If it lacks a axe blade it will have a spike or hammer usually.

4). I think a bec de corbin is a pole axe but not all poleaxes are bec de corbins. I think the name denotes the specific crows 'bec'.

5). Are pole axes used on horseback? I am not familar with this happening. I think if you are in the saddle you'd have a mace, warhammer or the like not a pole axe. The pole axe comes into being as foot combat picks up alot among knights and their class.

6). I have some trouble with some halbard/poleaxe comparisons. I think generally The halbard always has a cutting head on it though.

7). Not always. Many poleaxes I have looked at have been made of multiple parts. Usually langets and a head etc. Some halbards are also made of multiple segments though and some poleaxes are one pieced.

RPM

Great, thank you very much for your swift and helpful responses !!!

I think I could get now a general idea about the poleaxe :) :) :)

Best

Oliver

Hugh, I will look through my copy of The Last Duel tonight, I seem to specifically recall that mention of the shortened axes for horseback but of course it could be my memory playing tricks on me. Even if I can locate a mention, it might just be the author's misunderstanding of something. I agree with you that the author's understanding of arms, armor, and combat during the 14th century was shallow at best, I also found myself raising an eyebrow or two at some of the statements about the actual duel (like the "heavy" armor, the visor lock, etc...). I did find the book highly dramatic and entertaining, as well as fair-minded and pragmatic about the events and legal case surrounding the duel.