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Craig Peters
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 Posted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 1:28 am Post subject: "Fantasy" Weapons from the Middle Ages |
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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
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| Posted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 1:32 am Post subject: |
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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
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Marik C.S.
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| Posted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 2:34 am Post subject: |
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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
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| Posted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 3:33 am Post subject: |
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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
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Craig Peters
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Mart Shearer
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| Posted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 7:34 am Post subject: |
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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
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Timo Nieminen
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| Posted: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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The Seven-Branched Sword.
 Attachment: 37.95 KB
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
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Craig Peters
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Craig Peters
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Craig Peters
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Craig Peters
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Craig Peters
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Craig Peters
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| Posted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 3:10 am Post subject: |
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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.
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| Posted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 7:22 am Post subject: |
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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
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| Posted: Wed 04 Jun, 2014 7:28 am Post subject: |
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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
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This is a 
