Just wondering if anyone knows of any existing examples of the weapon that the knight in the brown is wielding? I would love to see a surviving example. I think that would be a fun recreation project. That looks like quite a monster if the proportions are accurate. If anyone has seen one of these, some basic dimensions and impressions would be appreciated!

Thanks,

-Aaron

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I want one!

Me and a friend disscused them the other day and wondered if they could be a decendant of the falx of the Dacians!?!

I am not aware of any surviving examples. However MRL at one time made a replica and perhaps still do? I believe Del Tin also used to make an example I believe but I can't seem to find it on the site anymore?

I think the best description I've ever heard of that weapon is as a "short handled glaive." It works as well as anything I suppose. :)

Thanks Russ. I just checked out the MRL version. Doesn't look quite like i'd interperet it, but if there are no surviving examples I suppose I can't really say it's not correct? To me, that looks like a fuller running the length of the blade? It also appears that the blade is quite thick. Judging by the swords behind it, i'd say 2.5" or more at its widest. I might just have to make my own and see what I end up with.

-Aaron

My friend has the MRL version of this weapon. It's called the Warbrand and is 48'' overall, with a 34'' blade that is 11/4'' wide and weighs 3lbs. 4 oz.
It's a tough weapon that my friend has actually used to split logs, although I don't reccomend this. It's center of balance is right where the blade meets the grip, which doesn't give it much weight behind the blow, but since the grip is so long you can get substantial leverage to strike with. The tang is as wide and thick throughout the grip as it is where it enters it. The slabs of wood that are used as a grip seem to be held on with brass rivets. The blade itself has a very thickly re-enforced spine, which keeps it from being very noodley. Its an interesting weapon, but the lack of blade weight and crossguard would make it difficult to use.

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one of my close friends recently put one of these together for reenacting use, I will see if I can get a photo of it to put up for you, as well as some measurements of course. he based it off of the proportions shown in the mac. bible and it is a real beast, and very very heavy.

There was a thread on this a while back:
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=927

Thanks Elling.

That helps provide a few answers. It still looks to me like the "fauchard" in the picture weilded by the brown knight is slightly different than any of the others pictured. Most of the others look as though they could have been a polearm that was broken off and used more for close combat. I say this because a few of them pictured appear to have a circular or oval cross sectioned handle that appears to fit inside the blade, like you would haft a polearm. The one that the brown knight uses appears made to be used that way. It looks more like it has a tang that runs through a handle that is supported with some simple furniture. If I were to try a recreation, I would definately model it closely to this one as opposed to the others pictured. Just my personal preference.

Thanks again,
-Aaron

the Fauchard is only pictured once, as far as I remember.

Personally, I see it as a oversized glaive, with a really short shaft, used in much the same way as the type XIIa or XIII cavalry swords; a long weapon for making powerfull swings or stabbing infantry...

Something I've never noticed about the Brown Knight is that the there is a single hand sword on his left hip. So were the glaives of this type used only from horseback?

glorified butter knife

I find the weapon interesting. I've been talking for a number of years of seeing about getting one made for myself. It may be dressed up a bit more but would still follow the form of this one. Just need the money. Maybe a kidney isn't such a hard thing to part with?... lol