Swiss spiked wooden mace , morgenstern , how old ???

M ELEY · 29th April 2024, 05:57 AM

I've always been drawn to these classic pieces, but confess I know very little. It seems I remember reading that just like the kreigsickel (spelling?), they were very possibly field tools that were refashioned into weapons by the peasantry during rebellions and such. I've also always loved the name 'holy water sprinkler'!! Yeah, I think I'd pass on being blessed by one of these!

Victrix · 29th April 2024, 09:34 AM

Guten Morgen! I finally made it here to Graz, Austria where I’m visiting the Landeszeughaus. The morning stars were peasant arms. They were unskilled in war, unarmed and expendable. Hence they were issued cheap and unsophisticated weapons which could be easily massproduced. Some of these peasant arms are stored in the Styrian armoury with other arms and armour of the 16-18C.

francantolin · 30th April 2024, 12:58 PM

Hello,
Thank you M. Eley and Victrix for your comment,
these wooden models were peasant weapons as already said, often created with agricultural tools.
of an era where the peasants' testimony which was not trained to use more complex weapons did not have the money to buy them and often havent't the right to have them at home. They have developpeded these weapons, formidable and effective in defending themselves from attackers because they were often left to their own devices. like the Chinese peasants or Japanese on the island of Okinawa who, prohibited from having bladed weapons, learned to use sickles and other agricultural tools, Subsequently becoming weapons commonly used in martial arts

M ELEY · 1st May 2024, 06:26 AM

Exactly. I was thinking along those lines as well when it came to so-called 'peasant' weapons made from farm implements. I remember reading that the bian or jin was such an item used for lifting hay bails, but excellent as a cudgel/deflecting weapon. I love your morning star and would love to have one of these. Now if I can only rationalize what they have to do with pirates/maritime use?

Akanthus · 1st May 2024, 01:33 PM

Here some examples taken from " Europäische Hieb und Stichwaffen " from Müller Kölling Platow.All very simple and easy to produce but certainly very effective.

francantolin · 1st May 2024, 05:42 PM

Thank's a lot M. Eley and Akanthus for your messages and informations !
I will try to get the book , it seems well made and interesting ( + 300 pages ) I saw they are available on EBay,
I'll try to find one not with a faire price 😅🙂

On what I saw on the pictures and descrpition,
I thinkn I can say mine is 17th-18th century.
?...

29th April 2024, 09:34 AM	#2
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 763	Guten Morgen! I finally made it here to Graz, Austria where I’m visiting the Landeszeughaus. The morning stars were peasant arms. They were unskilled in war, unarmed and expendable. Hence they were issued cheap and unsophisticated weapons which could be easily massproduced. Some of these peasant arms are stored in the Styrian armoury with other arms and armour of the 16-18C. Attached Images Last edited by fernando; 29th April 2024 at 11:30 AM. Reason: Picture upright.

1st May 2024, 06:26 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,206	Exactly. I was thinking along those lines as well when it came to so-called 'peasant' weapons made from farm implements. I remember reading that the bian or jin was such an item used for lifting hay bails, but excellent as a cudgel/deflecting weapon. I love your morning star and would love to have one of these. Now if I can only rationalize what they have to do with pirates/maritime use? Last edited by M ELEY; 1st May 2024 at 07:37 AM.

1st May 2024, 01:33 PM	#5
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 86	Here some examples taken from " Europäische Hieb und Stichwaffen " from Müller Kölling Platow.All very simple and easy to produce but certainly very effective. Attached Images

29th April 2024, 05:57 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,206	I've always been drawn to these classic pieces, but confess I know very little. It seems I remember reading that just like the kreigsickel (spelling?), they were very possibly field tools that were refashioned into weapons by the peasantry during rebellions and such. I've also always loved the name 'holy water sprinkler'!! Yeah, I think I'd pass on being blessed by one of these!

30th April 2024, 12:58 PM	#3
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 924	Hello, Thank you M. Eley and Victrix for your comment, these wooden models were peasant weapons as already said, often created with agricultural tools. of an era where the peasants' testimony which was not trained to use more complex weapons did not have the money to buy them and often havent't the right to have them at home. They have developpeded these weapons, formidable and effective in defending themselves from attackers because they were often left to their own devices. like the Chinese peasants or Japanese on the island of Okinawa who, prohibited from having bladed weapons, learned to use sickles and other agricultural tools, Subsequently becoming weapons commonly used in martial arts

1st May 2024, 05:42 PM	#6
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 924	Thank's a lot M. Eley and Akanthus for your messages and informations ! I will try to get the book , it seems well made and interesting ( + 300 pages ) I saw they are available on EBay, I'll try to find one not with a faire price 😅🙂 On what I saw on the pictures and descrpition, I thinkn I can say mine is 17th-18th century. ?...