War Hammer War Hammer was one of the weapons popularized during the middle ages of the last century. It was most often used for close combat. The longer ones to fight riders and the smaller ones when in close proximity and on horses.The appearance that the war hammer was made of looked like an ice ax.A war hammer is comprised of an handle that measures anywhere between 2 and 5 feet as well as heads comprised of solid metals, like iron, steel or bronze.Certain war hammers featured spikes which could be employed to aid in piercing.War Hammers were a knight’s nightmare due to the flat sides’ edge-filed edges could leave dangerous scratches in armor, while the spiked part could penetrate the armor.
The History of the War Hammer
It is thought that war hammers first appeared within Europe in it was introduced to the Middle East as a reaction to the technology of plate armor.Blades were known to bounce off the surface-hardened steel of iron armors during the medieval battlegrounds of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, however they were ideally suited to pierce the armor.A war hammer was able to deliver the maximum force at the target without the danger of losing its impact on the contour of the head.This can cause concussions through the toughest helmets.Metal-ball and faceted-head maces developed in the 14th century and have massive iron-flanged heads as well as projecting lugs with pointed tips to deliver brutal blows.Some war hammers had an angled spike on the opposite part of the skull which allowed them to be more versatile weaponry since they could be employed against different parts of the body, where the armor was more brittle.
Different types of war Hammers
Maul
A hammer that has a long handle and an extremely heavy head that is similar in appearance and purpose to a modern sledgehammer.Most commonly used in the late 14th century.In the Battle of Agincourt, English longbowmen are recorded as having used lead mauls.Mauls were also used as a weapon of Tudor archers in 1562.
Lucerne Hammer
A variation made by the Swiss hammerhead, it was divided into a three- or four-pronged design and positioned on an eight-foot shaft. It was fitted with an extended pick and a more spikes on upper part side of the head.This created smaller points of contact with the ability to bite harder.
Bec de Corbin or “Crow’s Beak”
The beak was larger and longer (better made to tear at armor) The spike was smaller.The hammer was blunt in its face.It’s also referred to for its Bec de Faucon (Halcon’s Beak) or the horseman’s pick.
Using War Hammers.
The spike on a war hammer can be employed to aid in the purpose of grabbing the armor of the target and reins or shield, or moved towards the direction of the strike to penetrate even armor that is heavy.If you are facing mounted enemies they could also be directed towards the legs of the horse, toppling the enemy’s armored opponent to the ground so that it is more likely to be attacked.The part of the war hammer generally the first to hit and stun the enemy, and then when they had fallen to the ground, it was reversed to pierce a hole in the helmet, delivering the coup of grace.A strong strike with a warhammer hit it with force of a few hundred kilograms/mm2.It is the same perforating force that a rifle can deliver.
