Warhammers and Maces

[SFC JeffJ]

I was wondering if anyone could point me towards recourses about fighting with warhammers and maces. I'll be getting my warhammer today and should be receiving my mace in the next couple of weeks. I have lots of stuff already about western sword work, but am having trouble finding anything on these weapons.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Whitebelt]

I'm not an expert in this field so I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but here goes.

These being western weapons(and very blunt ones at that), I don't think there are many/any styles oriented around these weapons. I think the wester approach to battle with warhammers and maces was along the lines of: "I'm going into battle, but i dont have a sword...I know! I'll grab the bashyest thing i can lift and hit someone with it! Its bound to work!"

 

[Blindside]

I'm not an expert in this field so I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but here goes.

These being western weapons(and very blunt ones at that), I don't think there are many/any styles oriented around these weapons. I think the wester approach to battle with warhammers and maces was along the lines of: "I'm going into battle, but i dont have a sword...I know! I'll grab the bashyest thing i can lift and hit someone with it! Its bound to work!"

Not a flame, but the warhammer was a bit more complicated than that.

Jeff, Hans Talhoffer's 1467 manual was translated and published several years ago, the translation and editing was by Mark Rector. The warhammer section actually is more about the two-handed version probably better described as a poleaxe. Good stuff.

I am not as familiar with the Flos Duelletorum document by Liberi, but from the pictures it has a section on the warhammer/poleaxe such as:
http://www.thehaca.com/pdf/Dl27.jpg
http://www.thehaca.com/pdf/Dl26.jpg

I'm sure the complete edition has more and it may be available online somewhere.

Lamont

 

[Jonathan Randall]

Not a flame, but the warhammer was a bit more complicated than that.

Jeff, Hans Talhoffer's 1467 manual was translated and published several years ago, the translation and editing was by Mark Rector. The warhammer section actually is more about the two-handed version probably better described as a poleaxe. Good stuff.

I am not as familiar with the Flos Duelletorum document by Liberi, but from the pictures it has a section on the warhammer/poleaxe such as:
http://www.thehaca.com/pdf/Dl27.jpg
http://www.thehaca.com/pdf/Dl26.jpg

I'm sure the complete edition has more and it may be available online somewhere.

Lamont

So true - it was, IIRC, an actual military weapon. Thanks for the links.

 

[SFC JeffJ]

Thanks, good stuff. Not exactly what I was looking for, but good stuff nonetheless.

Jeff

 

[Blindside]

If you do find something, could you post it? I've had a one-handed warhammer sitting in my collection for years, mostly I just apply Kali applications to it, but I'd like something a bit more historical if it exists.

Lamont

 

[SFC JeffJ]

Will do. It seems everyone wants the sexy sword stuff though.

Jeff

 

[Jonathan Randall]

If you do find something, could you post it? I've had a one-handed warhammer sitting in my collection for years, mostly I just apply Kali applications to it, but I'd like something a bit more historical if it exists.

Lamont

The very fact that they were called "warhammers" suggests an evolved technique to their use. Perhaps, as some suggested here, much of the historical information has been lost because it's not as popular as the sword?

 

[Blotan Hunka]

http://www.alleria.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=41031

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_hammer

http://www.coldsteel.com/warhammer.html

 

[SFC JeffJ]

http://www.alleria.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=41031

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_hammer

http://www.coldsteel.com/warhammer.html

Not exactly what I'm looking for, but damn good stuff.

BTW, it's the cold steel warhammer that I have.

Jeff