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WABUKAN Arsenal · Impact weapons · Europe

War hammer

A hammer for foot soldiers and riders, with a blunt face for heavy impact and often a back spike; it spread as plate armour became too strong for swords.

War hammer
War hammer WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

war hammer, warhammer; martel-de-fer; bec de corbin (variant); maul

Origin and history

The war hammer is a very old weapon. Full war hammers emerged in the mid-14th century as a direct answer to plate armour, against which swords and axes glanced off; the hammer did damage through impact without needing to pierce. In the 15th and 16th centuries it became an elaborately decorated weapon. Its long form, the size of a halberd, was a polearm for infantry, while short versions the size of a mace were used mainly by riders.

Martial arts that use it

HEMA

Construction

A handle and a head. The handle ranges from about 1.5 to 1.8 m on the long forms to 60 to 90 cm on the short ones. The head has a blunt striking face and, on later hammers, a spike on the other side.

Basic techniques

Training

Impact weapons are learned with grips, stances and basic strikes on a bag or pad, then blocks and paired drills at slow speed. Wooden or padded versions are used for partner work; heavy or metal pieces only for solo forms.

Safety

Wear a helmet and padded gloves for any contact drill, use padded or light wooden versions with a partner and check the weapon for cracks, loose studs or sharp edges before every session.

Legality (general information)

Sticks, staffs and other impact or flexible weapons are ordinary objects in some countries and restricted weapons in others (several European countries, for example, regulate nunchaku, batons or weighted chains). Carrying one in public without a good reason can be an offence even where owning it is legal. Transport it in a bag and use it in the training hall. This is general information, not legal advice: check local law.

Did you know?

In 1382 rebellious Parisians seized 3,000 mauls (maillets) from the city armoury and were nicknamed the Maillotins.

More weapons

Mace Morning star Cestus Kanabō Gada Tekkō

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — War hammer