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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 1:28 am    Post subject: "Fantasy" Weapons from the Middle Ages         Reply with quote

We've all seen fantasy versions of medieval swords and other weapons from video games, role playing games, movies, and the like. But what about weapons from the Middle Ages, whether antique weapons or illustrated in manuscripts, that are fantastic looking? In some cases, fantasy medieval weapons appear to be equally unusual and strange as modern fantasy creations.

This thread is a chance to showcase some of these more unusual medieval creations. I want to emphasize again- the purpose of this thread is not to display modern fantasy weapons or illustrations, but rather "fantasy"-type weapons that were either created in the Middle Ages, or envisioned during the Middle Ages.

We'll start with a 1433-1434 Lives of St Edmund and Fremund, which has some truly unusual looking weapons. Have a look at the swords shown, and also the apparent size of some of the halberd blades:

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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 1:32 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

A second image from the Lives of St Edmund and Fremund, this time depicting a massive glaive, and an unusual falchion:



Source: http://manuscriptminiatures.com/5436/17907/


Last edited by Craig Peters on Tue 03 Jun, 2014 1:39 am; edited 1 time in total
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 1:38 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

One more. Notice the back spikes on this glaive-type weapon:



Source: http://manuscriptminiatures.com/5436/17913/
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Marik C.S.




Location: Germany
Joined: 16 Feb 2010

Posts: 163

PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 2:34 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Those backspikes you pointed out look like what an artist would draw onto that glaive if he never saw the weapon but had it described in quite a lot of detail.


Would the famous Maciejowski-chopper fit the bill for this one?

Europe - Where the History comes from. - Eddie Izzard
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 3:33 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sure, I think it's sufficiently unusual to make the list. Same with things like Leonardo da Vinci's polearm studies, or some of the exotic dueling weapons found in Talhoffer or other fencing manuals.
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 5:42 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Here's Leo's polearm sketches:



Source: http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/58/6d/...0cdf04.jpg
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 5:46 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

And some of Talhoffer's dueling swords, from his 1459 fechtbuch:



Source: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/TheyCal...Manual.jpg
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Mart Shearer




Location: Jackson, MS, USA
Joined: 18 Aug 2012

Posts: 1,302

PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 7:34 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Cotton MS Faustina B. VI, fo. 1v. The Desert of Religion, 2nd quarter 15th. century, northern England


ferrum ferro acuitur et homo exacuit faciem amici sui
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Mart Shearer




Location: Jackson, MS, USA
Joined: 18 Aug 2012

Posts: 1,302

PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 11:58 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

http://manuscriptminiatures.com/3939/10795/


http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4641/12673/

ferrum ferro acuitur et homo exacuit faciem amici sui
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Timo Nieminen




Location: Brisbane, Australia
Joined: 08 May 2009
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PostPosted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 4:00 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The Seven-Branched Sword.


 Attachment: 37.95 KB
7branched2.jpg
Edited from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chiljido.jpg

"In addition to being efficient, all pole arms were quite nice to look at." - Cherney Berg, A hideous history of weapons, Collier 1963.
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 12:08 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

NYPL MA 104 Bible History, from 1445. Have a look at the third polearm from the left.



Source: http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4741/13599/
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 12:11 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

David versus Goliath in the same manuscript.



Source: http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4741/13617/
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 12:18 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

From the Navarre Picture Bible, 1197. One can almost imagine this as a holy weapon in some sort of video game.



Source: http://manuscriptminiatures.com/3924/10768/
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 2:41 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Fiore's Sword/Spear, from the Pisani-Dossi Ms.



Source: http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Page:Pisani-Dossi_MS_17b.jpg
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 2:50 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

A very strange messer from Talhoffer's 1459 manuscript.



Source: http://www.thehaca.com/pdf/Fight-Earnestly.pdf, p. 61.
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 3:01 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Poleaxes, again from Talhoffer 1459:



Source: http://www.thehaca.com/pdf/Fight-Earnestly.pdf, p. 290
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 3:10 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

From Coutumes de Tolouse, 1300-1325. I'm not sure if this is a weapon, or a farming implement, but I've included it just the same.



Source: http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4362/9945/
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Tim M.





Joined: 21 Jan 2007

Posts: 48

PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 7:22 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If you are referring to the item being held by the middle individual, I think that is just a bill hook. Considering the length of the shaft, I would almost dare to say it is closer to the farming/woodcutting version as opposed to the military one due to most military bill hooks having long shafts to use as pole arms to my knowledge...
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Raman A




Location: United States
Joined: 25 Aug 2011

Posts: 148

PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 7:28 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Craig Peters wrote:
Fiore's Sword/Spear, from the Pisani-Dossi Ms.



Source: http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Page:Pisani-Dossi_MS_17b.jpg


Isn't that just a boar sword?



I thought that was a Maximilian era contrivance though, so it's interesting to see one that early in a non-hunting context. Also, here's my contribution



BNF Latin 9661 Art Militaire
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Raman A




Location: United States
Joined: 25 Aug 2011

Posts: 148

PostPosted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 7:52 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Craig Peters wrote:
From the Navarre Picture Bible, 1197. One can almost imagine this as a holy weapon in some sort of video game.


Source: http://manuscriptminiatures.com/3924/10768/




Orléans BM A5826 Hours use of Rennes 1440-1450, France



Bodley Auct. D. inf. 2. 11 Book of Hours, Use of Sarum 1440-1450, France



It looks like some sort of Papal ferula turned into a spear. A fitting weapon for an angel, I suppose. I keep seeing this motif, does anyone know the story?
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