[Reinier van Noort]

Hi, I have a few simple questions that I hope some of the people here can answer for me.

They are about early halberd blades (13th/14th century). These blades are rather simple affairs, and I have found some pictures of what they look like from the side, but what I would like to know is how thick are they and what kind of profile do they have (wedge, flat &c). I am thinking of perhaps making myself one, and would like to know if cutting one from plate (and then making it look more interesting) will do, or if I should forge it.

Cheers

R

[Merv Cannon]

Hi Reinier ........... I make such things myself, and, like so many medieval items, there is not any one set rule in regard to thicknesses and profiles, etc. Harnesses of Armour were sometimes strictly regulated but things like polearms would have varied, not only over time, but according to what the local practise was. Having said that, there was obvious guidelines according to the use of the weapon. If you were to examine such weapons, you would find that some were on the weighty side and many were suprisingly light.
Many of our fight-club members have handeled these items, indeed even curated them for the museum as well as owning many original items themselves. We mostly make our reproductions from 3 or 4 mm steel and grind them to a wedge profile. Most people then weld the blade to a pre-shaped section of steel pipe of the same steel type as the blade and then do a lot of grinding and finishing before a final polish.

Cheers

[Reinier van Noort]

Hi Merv, thanks for the quick reply.

I myself was thinking of heating the finished product in a furnace to get a rough, forgeblackened look. Also, I thought it might be easier to attach the blade with two strips that are one part with the blade and that wrap around the shaft.

One more question, do you grind the blades over the entire width? Or just part of it? Or is this a personal choice thing again?

Cheers

R

[Russ Ellis]