HOME | DD

0laffson β€” Weird Historical (More or Less) Chopping Weapons

#bible #cleaver #falchion #history #medieval #middleages #miniature #morgan #painting #reference #renaissance #sword #text #tool #traditional #watercolor #weapon #weapons #conceptart #historical #tutorial #weapondesign
Published: 2019-07-22 20:21:40 +0000 UTC; Views: 10014; Favourites: 321; Downloads: 50
Redirect to original
Description Part 2 here.


As the title says, these are all weapons and tools seen on historical artwork. I have to admit I'm extremely fascinated by unusual types of historical weapons, and medieval European "chopper" swords or cleavers are extremely underrated, with the exception of falchions. Most of these weapons were probably used by peasant militias, farmers and "lowly" infantrymen, and as such they were never preserved nor received any attention.
However, artwork from the time period still depicts many of these weapons and tools, so in some cases we can at least have an idea of how they looked even with scarce (or non-existent) historical finds. This is meant to be a "mini-catalogue" of some interesting weapons I saw on historical paintings or miniatures, and if any of you wants to use them as references for your art or settings you are more than welcome to.

The first part is about the famous and mysterious "falchions" seen in the Morgan's Bible (13th century). There are no historical finds of such weapons, but they appear several times and in several shapes in the miniatures.
Some people speculate these were made up by the artist, but I find that unlikely, and after finding other weird weapons in contemporary and older artwork I'm pretty sure it existed (even though it maybe looked different).

The second part deals with weapons seen in paintings and miniatures representing Saint Peter Martyr. He was supposedly killed with a cleaver or an axe, and as such he's always represented with one of such weapons stuck in his head as part of his iconography.
As you can imagine, such paintings are a true gold mine to find example of these "lowly" weapons and tools, especially if they were made during the Rensaissance and thus showed a high level of detail and accuracy.
The first two weapons on the top were poorly drawn in two 13th century miniatures and as such their accuracy is debatable, but all the others were painted in highly detailed artwork, and as such are most likely very accurate.Β  Some of these weapons were as big as a large knife, while others were pretty much oversized cleavers at least as long as an arming sword.

Anyways, hope you find this interesting! Β  Maybe I'll make a "part 2" concerning historical finds and other peasant weapons of later periods.
Related content
Comments: 97

Mikro-Mike [2019-07-23 01:50:08 +0000 UTC]

Question!
Do you know why they have the holes on the back of weapons, and swords like this?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 2

0laffson In reply to Mikro-Mike [2019-07-28 23:39:08 +0000 UTC]

Probably as the commenter below said. Either for balancing the weapon or just for decoration.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

TheAussieBlue In reply to Mikro-Mike [2019-07-23 18:18:04 +0000 UTC]

Such holes are either decoration, or an attempt to lower the weight of the blade.


Sometimes both.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Mikro-Mike In reply to TheAussieBlue [2019-07-26 18:40:18 +0000 UTC]

Ok, that's actually really cool, and interesting! Thanks!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

zankostu [2019-07-23 01:42:12 +0000 UTC]

heh had to click on this, but ya the actual name of this weapon seems obscure, though I wouldn't cal it a falchion, fakchion just seems like a different region to me... but ya I have one and had to get it when i saw it randomly at this store that gets random stuff sometimes. probally need to take a more recent better picture sometime.Β  i can get some pictures if you want for this topic ^^Β 

but ya the topic came up when I brought it to an SCA event.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to zankostu [2019-07-28 23:37:24 +0000 UTC]

That looks like an interesting replica!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Uranus15 In reply to ??? [2019-07-23 00:10:05 +0000 UTC]

Falchions did well as weapons, despite their looks. They were good at not just as chopping, but breaking bone and that too, it paired really well with a shield.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to Uranus15 [2019-07-28 23:35:01 +0000 UTC]

They sure did! I'm not sure about breaking bones, though. Most falchions were extremely light and nimble weapons, not heavy choppers. Their main purpose was most likely to slice through gambesons.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Uranus15 In reply to 0laffson [2019-07-29 10:17:31 +0000 UTC]

aw yis. Maces can work just as well too.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Shabazik [2019-07-22 22:27:23 +0000 UTC]

CHop Chop!

Awesome work!

Love these weird and less weird Falchions!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to Shabazik [2019-07-28 23:34:06 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Β  Same!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

onemanarmy300 In reply to ??? [2019-07-22 22:14:16 +0000 UTC]

Wow, a lot of these look like machetes...

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to onemanarmy300 [2019-07-28 23:33:44 +0000 UTC]

Yep, pretty much! Many tools had a similar purpose, and they were sometimes used on the battlefield.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 2

onemanarmy300 In reply to 0laffson [2019-08-01 20:56:30 +0000 UTC]

Actually, does any sort of fire bomb exist in this world?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

onemanarmy300 In reply to 0laffson [2019-07-29 00:59:33 +0000 UTC]

And the machete has a reputation for being a choice weapon in uprisings (foreshadowing in Sirath’s case perhaps, don’t you think?). Molotov cocktails have also been known as popular weapons for uprisings; have you ever heard of Greek Fire by any chance?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Bentdm In reply to ??? [2019-07-22 22:04:12 +0000 UTC]

These are all fantastically drawn, and they all look absolutely brutalΒ 

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to Bentdm [2019-07-28 23:33:21 +0000 UTC]

Thank you a bunch! And they sure do!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Fuego-fantasmal In reply to ??? [2019-07-22 21:36:28 +0000 UTC]

Looks great.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to Fuego-fantasmal [2019-07-28 20:26:50 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Fuego-fantasmal In reply to 0laffson [2019-07-29 00:47:28 +0000 UTC]

You are welcome.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Delta52775 In reply to ??? [2019-07-22 21:35:47 +0000 UTC]

Great job on this!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to Delta52775 [2019-07-28 20:26:41 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

LizardWithHat In reply to ??? [2019-07-22 20:55:43 +0000 UTC]

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 2

0laffson In reply to LizardWithHat [2019-07-28 20:17:26 +0000 UTC]

Those are very common in "lowly" peasant weapons ^^ I think they were used to hand the blade from a nail / belt.

5 people mentioned that already out of the Blue! Is that because of that Shadiversity video? XD

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

LizardWithHat In reply to 0laffson [2019-07-28 20:27:29 +0000 UTC]

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

0laffson In reply to LizardWithHat [2019-07-28 20:16:24 +0000 UTC]

Those are very common in "lowly" peasant weapons ^^ I think they were used to hand the blade from a nail / belt.

5 people mentioned that already out of the Blue! Is that because of that Shadiversity video? XD

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Cambion-Hunter [2019-07-22 20:52:19 +0000 UTC]

Quite a varied collection here.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to Cambion-Hunter [2019-07-28 20:14:54 +0000 UTC]

Indeed!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

thatguybrody In reply to ??? [2019-07-22 20:49:13 +0000 UTC]

most having no point were called "executioners swords" as it had more mass behind it for a clean chop off. these though might not be an executioner sword as some look to bee too light or too short.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to thatguybrody [2019-07-28 20:14:27 +0000 UTC]

These are pretty different from executioner swords. Those were two handed, while these are one handed and were actively used in battle.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

thatguybrody In reply to 0laffson [2019-07-28 21:17:45 +0000 UTC]

ah. that is a good point.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

DanoGambler [2019-07-22 20:39:30 +0000 UTC]

DUDE, I LOVE THIS! I have thought of making a similar study myself! One thing I have found though after studying the actual findings of actual falchions were how damn light they were. By the shape, one would think they were heavy choppers, but most of the regular falchions found were light and nimble slashing weapons, probably made to cut through layered cloth and gambesons. The width were there to make the blade more rigid and therefor a more effective cutter.Β 
That said, I can't really say if its the same for the blades from the Morgan's Bible and other paintings.. the reconstructions I've seen on the fares and in the reenactment fighting are quite stout, but often rather cheap as well.. Properly made swords are often lighter than the every day swords we run in to.
May I ask if you've ever held a sword made by Albion or maybe some of our worlds mastersmiths? It's truly a thing of wonder... I thought I knew how swords were supposed to feel until I held one of them.. Same when I got to meet Peter Lyon and feel Aragorn's ranger sword and sting.... even though they are fantasy pieces, that guy knows his stuff...Β 
A bit of topic maybe, but it makes me wonder how these pieces of weaponry would feel when properly made...Β 

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to DanoGambler [2019-07-28 19:55:51 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much mate! This one has been on my mind for ages, I should do more studies like these!

Falchions were indeed light and nimble weapons, even though that sounds counterintuitive at first. And no, sadly I have never handled a "real" sword, I really wish I could one day.
The quality of these weapons was probably worse than most fancy falchions, they really look like they were made by a local blacksmith rather than an expert craftsman, but at the same time the replicas I saw of those cleavers look extremely cumbersome. I think the closest thing to such weapons we can find in museums today is the Beidana, an Italian "chopping" sword that is tragically underrated and almost unknown. I plan on making the "part 2" about different Beidane shapes and other tool-weapons found here in Italy.

By the way, have you ever thought about making some weapon of this kind in your forge? If I'm not mistaken you've made some pretty huge seax(es?) in the past.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

DanoGambler In reply to 0laffson [2019-08-17 14:27:55 +0000 UTC]

I absolutely have had a mind on forging bigger things! The trick is to properly heat treat such long objects. First you need to heat up the entire thing without warping it... then you need a proper troth to quench it it... THEN I don't even wanna get started on how to give the entire thing a nice and even temper x'D
The long seaxes has been challenging enough^^".. But I'm working on it!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to DanoGambler [2019-08-19 19:19:22 +0000 UTC]

Haha yeah, I can imagine how that would be a challenge! To tell the truth, I'm extremely fascinated by weaponsmithing, and I often watch on youtube videos of people making knives, swords and whatever else. Β  best of luck with your crafts man!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

DanoGambler In reply to 0laffson [2019-08-20 22:58:55 +0000 UTC]

If you ever steer your travels to Sweden, know that you have a place to crash and a smithy to tinker around in if you'd want! ^^

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

HunterBeingHunted [2019-07-22 20:39:22 +0000 UTC]

fave: the bottom brown handle one! ...as I told you! Β 

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to HunterBeingHunted [2019-07-28 19:44:30 +0000 UTC]

Good choice! And thanks!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

BillyDBunny In reply to ??? [2019-07-22 20:36:26 +0000 UTC]

Remember the Orc's swords in Lord of the Rings?Β  They were chopping weapons, the sort of thing one would issue to untrained troops.Β  Combining them with a point like a gladius is a whole new ballgame, formation wise.Β  In modern terms this is what sub-machine guns are, easy to use, cheap and effective, IF- you can get close enough.Β  The lack of a point is specifically designed to keep one's soldiers from even trying finesse, and of course these could be turned out by any local smithy quickly.Β  The very bottom knife picture reminds me of a hunting trousseau, there would be two other knives in the sheath for skinning and fine work.

A person such as yourself certainly knows about them, the Tafurs were fiends in battle and armed with anything they could find.Β  Kitchen knives and cleavers seem to have been popular.Β  If one is going to Heaven by dying for the Lord there is no end of trouble to be caused.Β  We have seen recently just how much of a problem a martyr mentality can be.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to BillyDBunny [2019-07-28 19:44:22 +0000 UTC]

I mean, some chopping weapons were pretty damn fancy and definitely needed technique and finesse, like many falchions. They were light and nimble weapons after all. These ones, on the other hand... probably a bit less so.

I heard about the Tafurs, even though I admit I don't know much about them. I just read something here and there about them, and they indeed sounded quite scary. And they ate people, according to some accounts.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

BillyDBunny In reply to 0laffson [2019-07-28 20:32:00 +0000 UTC]

It is argued that they even existed.Β  I think that there is a basis for the story, what with all the commoners taking the cross and the impoverished religious fanatics that such a war would have produced, not to mention eye witness testimony.Β  The ultimate, to me, chopping weapon are those German beheading swords, one function only.Β  68.media.tumblr.com/dd97a8cc43… I imagine other countries had them but I have only seen German examples.Β 

A lot of times these knights seem to have prevailed by sheer hard fighting, technique be damned.Β  The equivalent of counting coup was fighting one's way through the enemy line and then back out.Β  (Tom Custer did this once).Β  Then there is the Combat of the Thirty, noble but extremely pointless.Β  The survivors were feted and pointed out for the rest of their lives.

I very much admire and enjoy your work.Β  If I am chatty at times it is because arms and armor are a thing with me.Β  I trained for long distance fire fights with weapons that would sweep away any edge of steel dependent army, as long as they don't break your lines.Β  The name Isandlwana comes to mind.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

JerrinPhox [2019-07-22 20:34:13 +0000 UTC]

Interesting, have you try the public library for books on medieval weapons and such?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to JerrinPhox [2019-07-28 19:38:47 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! The local library leaves much to be desired, I have more luck on the internet.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

JerrinPhox In reply to 0laffson [2019-07-28 20:54:25 +0000 UTC]

I'm not surprise. Many place have little money for public library.


Maybe a book store have it? Its sad that you have to turn to the internet to find info that you kinda should have at the public library.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Hellsingrus [2019-07-22 20:24:23 +0000 UTC]

Great! I love your attention to weapons and it is cool that you are interested in medieval history. I know 19-20 centuries hitory much better than these times

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

0laffson In reply to Hellsingrus [2019-07-28 19:34:04 +0000 UTC]

Thanks mate! And yes, I'm extremely interested in ancient history and medieval weaponry. I don't know much yet, but I love the subject and try to read as much as I can about it.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0