Early Pollaxes? -- myArmoury.com

Michael S. Rivet · Posted: Sun 24 Apr, 2011 8:16 am Post subject: Early Pollaxes?

I've seen a couple of references in print that indicate pollaxes existed from the 14th century, but I've never seen a picture of an example. Anyone know of any?

Bartek Strojek · Posted: Sun 24 Apr, 2011 8:48 am Post subject:

From the relatively early 1300's, we get to see axes with spike on the other side of ax blade - in fact there's quite a lot of them in Maciejowski - as well as axes with spike on the top of the haft.

Quite possible that they were slowly turning into more "versatile" forms.

http://www.thearma.org/arttalk/mid1300s.JPG

http://www.thearma.org/arttalk/SiegeFrench14th_copy.JPG

Unfortunately there's no closer dating in the second link, but judging on the helmets etc, it's rather late 14th.

I will later try to find some more examples.

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

See here for some info:

Pole weapons of the 14th century
Staff weapons of the XIII and XIV century

These cover morethan just poleaxes, but are a start.