Just got my A & A Iberian mace ( Among other things. :D ) and here are my impressions of it. ( Not an official review as I STILL haven't bought a digital camera. The pics on the A & A site will have to do for now, and they are very close to the one I have in hand anyway. http://www.arms-n-armor.com/pole147.html )

A few statistics:

Length 25"
Length of head alone: 5"
Diameter of head at the top: 1 1/2"
Width spike to spike / maximum width: 2 1/2"
Diameter of aft just below head: 1 1/8"
Thickness wall of mace head at the top: 1/4"
Thickness wall of mace head at bottom: 1/8" approximation as I' m measuring the thickness visible at the half where it goes into the head. If the afts is reduced in diameter under the head the wall might be thicker.

The pyramidal spikes are substantial but obtuse enough that they wouldn't get stuck in a target the way long and sharp spike might trapping the weapon. being 4 spikes on 4 sides it is possible to hit with the spikes or with the flats in between the spikes: This might have some different effect on the target but nothing that I think would make a great difference.
Maybe " ouch " versus " OUCH "

The P.O.B. is just at the bottom of the head or 5" from the top.
Weight: About 3 pounds measured with a scale, my weight holding the mace minus my weight not holding the mace.
( Maybe Craig can give us the number. )

Now I think a lot of people look at this one and then look at the sexy spiked mace or flanged mace and give it a pass, but it's very very nice in hand: One scary chunk of steel but not as ponderous as one would think i.e. " all maces are slow ".

This mace can easily be held at the end and controlled and I don't find recovery that slow. If one move the hand up to mid shaft control becomes easy and I don't find it difficult to shift the hand position from bottom to top without having to use my other hand to reposition.

Although there is no top spike a series of quick of thrust would be lightning quick as back and forth recovery is a lot easier that stopping a swing and recovering for another swing.

Although short a two handed grip near the end could also be useful, and used as a very short staff some blocks should also be possible.

Maybe the idea that a mace would only be used in simplistic up and down smashes is wrong and the extreme P.O.B. of a mace like weapon can be used to advantage or adapted to when more recovery speed is needed for a defensive move.

Oh, and spending a large part of the day playing with it is making my wrist stronger and for some reason the handling my Tritonia and it's point of balance seems easier and the sword a lot lighter. :p

Also, if my house ever catches fire I'm sure I could smash out a window with this mace and given enough time go through the wall instead.

So it's like eating peanuts: When you start you can't stop until the bag is empty and with the Iberian mace when you pick it up you can't put it down. :cool:

Jean,
Thanks for posting this. That particular piece has always intrigued me. I may get one yet. :)

Congrats Jean! I really like this particular A&A mace. Thanks for sharing your impressions in the (non-official) review.
For me, this mace appears subdued but authoritative. A nice combination! I won't be able to let this piece pass me by.

A HUGE Congratulations to you Jean :!: I cannot tell you how many times I have almost bought an Arms & Armor Iberian Mace! :lol: I went through the same thing with they're Warhammer until last summer at the Faire, when I finally extracted my head from somewhere and had an inspirational :idea: and bought one! After having bought it, and came back to the booth an hour or so later and learned that some guy that had been looking at it earlier came back to buy it ten minutes after I bought it and it was the only one in stock at the time! :lol: Guess what? I LOVE that Warhammer :!:
So now you got me :idea: Jean :!: I have played around with the Iberian Mace many a time, so I know first hand the magnitude of the WHALLOP that mace can impact on something! It's virtually indestructible and like you said, no sharp edges to worry about either!

Well Jean, I am personally Extremely HAPPY for "You"! Because I know this was a loaded parcel you received and you have been waiting a good piece of time most patiently for this package :!: Spiritually, I am sharing your joy, yes sir this is a real boost for me Jean :), our collections are so precious to ALL of US :!: It's really great to have this fantastic website specially designed for us collectors, so we can all come together from all over the planet and share each others happiness and joy :!:

Perhaps for some or most of us, those around us just don't understand what it is that we get out of this, but "WE" know!
And that is part of what makes myArmoury so great, for "me" myArmoury is a very "Spiritual" place, I am absolutely serious :!: Because of this website, I get to share my still very new great joy and happiness with a whole lot of really great people! And I get to hear about their joy and happiness, and right now this is a BIG DAY for Jean :!: And that makes it a Big Day for Me!

CONGRATULATIONS Jean :) :!:

Sharing Your Joy!

Bob

Hi Jean, I have not fallen asleep with a weapon in my hand yet, but I do walk around the house with them all the time!
Just like a kid with a toy too I guess!

I agree Jean! Why grow up?

I will be 50 in the summer, which is why the Edward III Sword and the Ultra Custom Plaque Belt from Russ Ellis :!:

My dad and his brother (11 years older than my dad), they grew up, became ultra serious men, both were stressed out all the time. My uncle was dead at 59. My dad was dead at 63.

I choose to be a kid!

You go ahead and collect all the weapons or (toys) that you want Jean! Stay young and stay happy and healthy!

Life is too imporant to not be a kid! Kids are always learning! I choose to learn! I choose to stay happy and healthy as can be with the arthritis, well I am a lot better now, my mother moved in with us and bought us a $4,300.00 massage chair!
Panasonic Ultra Pro Elite from www.brookstone.com

Let's stay being Kids Jean :lol:

Bob

I have had one of these maces in my collection for nearly four years now. It remains my favorite single-handed impact weapon. It must have been especially easy to fabricate these items, compared to other European maces. Both handy and durable. Two or three wallops from one would have done in all but the most durable opponent. And it would drive a tent peg as well.

Thanks for the umm not-review Jean. :) I've picked up a pile of A&A impact weapons lately both current catalogue and not and have been very pleased with all of them. I don't have this one though... which gives me one more thing to look forward too! Thanks!

Jean,

Thanks for the feedback on this item. It's one I've always meant to add to my arsenal. You make me want to hurry up and do just that.

Hello everyone,
I have one of these and also like it quite a bit. I had a leather grip added to mine for a reasonable fee and I would reccommend others do the same, as well as a loop at the bottom. I let mine rust a bit then polished the rust off to give the metal a more pleasing and subdued sheen to my eye as when new the head is a bit shiny. I also sanded off the stain and applied several coats of linseed oil. This is purely personal preference though.
Jeremy

I've always though of one of these, but never quite sure if it would be for the collection, the bedroom, or the car.

One of the many pieces out there that interest me. And the Iberian Mace is really inexpensive. hmmm.

Jeremy V. Krause wrote:

... I had a leather grip added to mine for a reasonable fee and I would reccommend others do the same, as well as a loop at the bottom. ....

The leather additions sound like a really good idea.

Craig will probably announce it but the Iberian mace is the February Highlight Item at $99 :cool: It's one of the pieces I have to pick up and smile at least once a day. ;) :lol:

A steal as far as I'm concerned. :D

I have one last sword on order, almost finished now, the "Black Prince" with a custom ultra fierce tip and I am feeling rather "compelled" to have an Iberian Mace put in the box with the sword!
This polearm has a real nice feel to it, I've sure played around with it enough times. Might as well buy one at this price.

Bob