MRL has its old glaive head on clearance for $50 so I jumped in. I know...I'm so weak. 16th c. arms are hard to come by, though, and this one seems like a bargain. (I'll try to find a photo).

I know this weapon was issued to guards during the period of my greatest interest (1550-1560), and often was elaborately etched. Examples of those late, fancy glaives/couteaus de breche are fairly easy to find. My question is this: Were these still used in combat in the last half of the 16th century? If so, can you direct me to unadorned fighting examples? Any evidence that the fine, etched specimens were expected to actually serve as weapons? Finally, I'm interested in etching mine, and would appreciate any DIY advice you might offer.

Thanks!

No, that's a different piece that's also been on closeout recently. Definitely 15th c.--good Froissart stuff!

Their glaive is almost identical to the specimen shown below, but with a round socket. Both weapons have langets, but they're hard to see in this image. The MRL glaive's cutting edge is 18" and the piece is 38" OA, including the two langets.

I got this from MRL. It's in the plain-paper insert in catalog #83 (the cover with the MRL staff sitting around a table for a Christmas feast). Item #600068, if I'm remembering correctly.

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Aaaah, the paper catalogues!!!!

They have been very inconsistent with sending me those. You'd thing they will update their website with stuff like this.
I have been looking for the 15th c. one for a very long time but it seem discontinued.

Interestingly, I have seen references to 13th-14th century glaives (Osprey English medieval knight 1200-1300) which reportedly looked similar to the 16th c. one you posted above. However I have never seen direct period depiction of these nor a surviving example from the 13-14th c.

Alexi

Maybe I shouldn't tell you this, but....The piece you're looking for was in an MRL closeout catalog awhile back and very inexpensive (head only). I'll see if I can find that for you.

As for the glaive, MRL dates theirs to 14th/15th c. I wouldn't be surprised if the basic form survived a few centuries. It lasted well into the 17th c. Dating probably depends on decoration of the blade (or not), socket shape, length and shape of the shaft and whether or not the langets are inset (late=yes, early=no). MRL mentions that they've left this piece undecorated in order to make it appropriate for a wider historical range. Seems reasonable.

Good news, Alexi! I couldn't find that old discount catalog. It seems to me that stuff tends to move from the discount catalog into the clearance section of the main catalog, though, so you may not be off the hook yet.

My glaive arrived last night.
First impressions:

It is not quite as pictured (see the insert in the latest MRL catalog). The catalog shows a more elaborately shaped socket, but mine is plain. The langets are simply welded to the outside of the socket, which is OK for an early-style mounting, but unworkable for a later mounting (with the langets inset into the haft). Easily remedied. I'll saw off the langets and inset them. That means I'll need to file smooth, drill and rivet the socket, too, which is easily done.

I love the blade! Great shape, well-finished, nice distal taper, good edge. Well-worth $50, especially if you want something closer to 15th c. or ca. 1500.