Page 77 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

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▲ GLAIVE The glaive had a blade that INF
Date c.1250–1500 resembled a modern kitchen ANTR
knife, with a sharp point at the
Origin Scotland
end, as well as a wider, curved
Weight 6lb (2.7kg) cutting edge.
Length (Head) 31in (79cm)
Sharp hook

▲ LOCHABER AX A variant of the halberd, the
Date 1400 Lochaber ax had a sharp hook Y ARMOR AND WEAPONS
on the back that could be used
Origin Scotland in close combat or to pull cavalry
Weight 5lb (2.3kg) off their horses. Long scythelike blade
3
Length (Head) 17 ⁄4in
(45cm)
Straight quillon

Tapering double-edged blade
Long grip ▲ TWO-HANDED SWORD Too heavy to use in open combat,
Date c.1500 two-handed swords were generally
reserved for single combat or to
Origin Germany
defend town walls. They had grips
Weight 6lb (2.7kg) that were long in proportion to the
1
Length 4 ⁄2ft (1.35m) blade, and sharply tapering points. Long wooden shaft was
gripped in both hands

▲ PIKE Evolving from a long infantryman’s spear,
Spearhead
Date c.1500 the pike kept getting longer until the 15th
century, when the Swiss began using them
Origin Germany
in formations. As with the hoplite phalanxes
Weight (Head) 2oz (57g) of Ancient Greece (see pp.24–25), these
Long curved blade
1
Length 13–16 ⁄2ft (4–5m) units were almost impenetrable to cavalry.
Small spike
Lower part of blade
attaches to shaft

▲ BARDICHE The bardiche was popular in Scandinavia,
Date c.1580 Eastern Europe, and Russia. It had a long
narrow blade with no lugs or hooks (unlike
Origin Russia
halberds). The lower end of the axehead
1
Weight 5 ⁄2lb (2.5kg) was attached to the wooden shaft.
1
Length (Head) 30 ⁄4in (77cm)
Langet steel strip to protect
shaft from other edged weapons
Rondel to protect hands
Long thin spike

Hammer head