FireStryker Living History Forum : Fighting with mass weapons

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Topic: Fighting with mass weapons

Bill Duncan
Member
Member # 448

posted 11-15-2005 09:18 AM

I have posted this at sfi as well so if it sounds familiar it is.

would like to put together a text on mace, hammer, and axe fighting. The work that I have done using some of the single-handed sword techniques from Tahoffer and Fiore as well as just some of the top of my head since I am working by my self with a pell I don’t get a lot of feedback on what I have been doing whether it is right or wrong.
One thing I have been thinking is the fact that if weapons have a piercing back spike a longer bladed weapon such as a rondel dagger or some kind of long thin bladed dagger must have been used on armored opponents. Now before yall flame me the time period I have been looking in to has been the 15th century and unlike the century that followed from what I have seen the back spikes were not that long, if someone has info to the contrary please let me know. And since armor and arming coats would be a bit hard to get through with just a small back spike the longer blade would be needed.
One thing I have thought was that since there would be no edge damage done to the shaft what some of us call hard blocking would do fine and may help damage or destroy an opponent sword.
One problem I have come up with is the fact that most mass weapons are heavy and hard to stop and would on a miss strike leave you open to a counter strike what I have come up with is bringing it back around for a similar strike that either may hit or at least block and incoming counter strike.
A lot of this is subjective and may not lead anywhere but it has been fun to work on.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Another question I have is were to find a correct axe for this time period? Lutel makes a few are their any others? I have mainly MRL stuff because quite simply the price and it is close. Thanks for the help.
Dunc

Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Peter Lyon
Member
Member # 232

posted 12-16-2005 02:25 PM

Are you familiar with Le Jeu de La Hache? It is an anymous 15th century text on the techniques of pollaxe combat, particularly for tournaments. It may be available online somewhere and is well worth looking at. Sydney Anglo published a very good translation with pictures in a history journal some years ago, which would be the best source if you can get your hands on it.

Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

dochtorgajo
New Member
Member # 1098

posted 07-07-2006 06:07 PM

Im very interested in poleaxe and warhammer fighting techniques. Maybe even the ones for mace and war axe though wasnt able to find any manuals.

Could I ask for any or if its good to simply try develop your skills by yourself according to your own feeling saying if its good or not?

Registered: Jun 2006 | IP: Logged

hendrik de coster
Member
Member # 11050

posted 05-18-2009 10:51 AM

i recently started to learn about the pollaxe techniques form la jeu de la hache and i think it's fine to learn on your own, although having a sparring partner might be a must (for this i have my little brother

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Registered: Feb 2009 | IP: Logged

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