[Wesley Nilsen]

I can't remember ever hearing of hand-gisarmes in any place other than Howard Pyle's book Men of Iron. It's described as a weapon with sword-like blade one palm wide, eight palms long, and riveted to a shaft of wood three feet long. I've searched the Internet and found no pictures or even just a random mention of the weapon. What is it??

[Michael R. Mann]

Search for the term "Guisarme". http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guisarme
1 palm means 3 cm or 9,6 cm: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alte_Ma%C3%9Fe_u...erlande%29

Rem.: 1 inch means 2,54 cm.

[Scott Hanson]

Probably something similar to the weapons depicted in the thread "Medieval Falx?".

[Ron Reimer]

If the description was earlier I'd say try looking at a Dacian falx.But in the middle ages you could be looking at a fauchard or similar type of weapon.There are large chopping weapons of this type in the 'Mac" bible and in other illuminations from the middle ages, inc. Matthew Paris's(?) Goliath.
Ron

[Michael R. Mann]

In this case also the search for "Glaive" could be usefull, although this term is not direct mentioned.

[Lafayette C Curtis]

Couldn't it simply be a fictional weapon?