[Brian Robson]

This:

http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images...etail4.gif



What would you call it? An early Falchion?

(I'm asking because I bought a reproduction for re-enactment use and calling it a 'chopper' just doesn't seem right)

[Timo Nieminen]

These are usually called a "Maciejowski Falchion" or "Maciejowski chopper". AFAIK, the Maciejowski Bible is the only source, with no physical examples.

"Mac falchion" is a good short working name.

[Cornelis Tromp]

the only one close enough, I know off ,is this one , it has been auctioned by Czerny's

best,

[Bartek Strojek]

[Brad F.]

I can't help but wonder if that's some sort of agriculture tool-something like a billhook, or an early machete.

[Doug Lester]

I remember a picture of a statue of a knight carrying something like that. I don't know when the statue was made or if it was meant to be representative of a contemporary knight or an interpretation of a knight from an earlier time. However, artists usually didn't make things up totally of whole cloth.

[Mart Shearer]

Nicolle lists an unknown weapon of this time being listed as a fausart or fauchard. There are other manuscript examples, and the cusping is not unusual on 13th century table knives.

[Dan Howard]

Looks agricultural to me. For example, suger cane cutters use the same blade.

[Josh Wilson]

Museum Replicas had a Maciejoskie line several years back. They made one of these and one of the big butter knife looking swords, and a couple of other weapons from the Bible. I don't know if anyone would have any of them in stock anywhere or not, if you were interested in owning one like it...

[Tjarand Matre]

Del Tin has made a few of these. Kult of Athena used to sell them at least.

[Matt Corbin]

KoA has a few of the Del Tin versions in stock.



http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DT5134



http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DT5133

[Brian Robson]

I bought it from this guy:

http://www.berbekuczviktor.hu/angol/angol.html (under Gothic Swords --- Series) - seems I can't provide a direct link.

I'm not sure about them being agricultural as I noticed a 'feature' which seems to be too co-incidental not to have been designed.. When messing around with it and bearing in mind the discussions here on hammer vs handshake grip, it seems that using a handshake grip on the handle where the curve starts lets you angle the weapon downwards slightly from the angle of your arm (when doing a downward strike). As well as being handy to 'angle' around a shield, it had the effect of making the weapon contact it's target right on the point protruding from the blade-side. It was also ankled perfectly so that the point struck the target with all of the weight from the large mass of steel behind it going directly through that point.

[Jack Savante]

I've read of weapons of this ilk translated into English as "Cleaver" and the name has always resonated with me as appropriate.

[Jack Savante]

Also I've always thought this weapon was an interesting halfway point between the Maciejowski Cleavers and cruciform hilted falchions, sort of a missing link. Maybe their origin was agricultural but with modification their use in warfare became apparent?

[Randall Moffett]

Dan,

Even if it started in agriculture many of these items became full fledged weapons of war, flails, bills, axes, etc. I think the ones that have the many extra cutting facets and spikes are far to elaborate for agricultural work.

Timo,

It is not the only one by a long shot, these show up all over Europe.

Here is one from Finland in 1380.
top left and top right.

RPM