Hello.

A few months ago, while reading about medieval weaponry, i manated to found something quite peculiar, which i never saw elsewhere apar from this document there (in french) : https://journals.openedition.org/crm/2511

It seems to be some kind strange, single-edged weapon, referred here as "épieux", that is said to have been very popular. Later, the author says it was also referred to as a "fauchard", which is quite strange since this one seems to have large knife-blade and a short handle, as seen above in the document, while it looks very similar to the "Maciejowski Glaive"

I would like to know if any of the users here knew something about this strange weapon, as i cannot find any informations about it other than the document above and that would really help me.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help

---

 Attachment: 296.3 KB

(remains of the said weapon's blade)

Judging by size, shape, and what looks like a socket (?), this seems more like a candidate for those Maciejowski "sp eat ar" glaives.

---

 Attachment: 153.39 KB

It seems a bit small, since the weird blades were as long as 2.5 feet

They seem to resemble what is described (and pictured) in Waldman's Hafted Weapons of Medieval and Renaissance Europe as vogues and couteau de breche (Chapter Sixteen). Most are single edge, or primarily single edge with a false edge, and hafted with a socket. There is a little variation, but most are just very long knife-like implements. The examples in the book have sockets primarily in-line with the back of the blade, although two examples have central sockets, and are also the only two examples shown that have a back-spike/hook. What you've posted seems to fall into the same category as these weapons. What is odd is that the common names for these weapons derive from French, like yours, but the intro doesn't give either term for this type of weapon. Fauchards have their own chapter and tend to be much more complex and ornate.

I'd be cautious of the dating to the First Crusade. Both seem to be river finds from the captions, so they have no archaeological or provenance tie to the period. The Couteau de Breche and fauchard were long lived forms, as late as the 16th century.

It seems the top one has a flat tang instead of a socket...

It reminds me the Early Germanic Single-Edged Sword or Warknife (approx 350 BC - 200 AD) although there are also clear differences (blade shape, tang shape, decorations).