War hammer, horseman's pick, semi-sharp

Product description

This type of war hammer is also called a cavalry hammer because it was highly effective against armored cavalry. War hammers like this emerged in the second half of the 15th century and were mainly used in Italy, France, and Germany. The weapon featured a hammerhead with a long point, similar to a miner’s pick, capable of piercing armor where a sword would fail. Variants such as the Polish nadziak and the English cavalry hammer were popular with mounted troops, including during the Hundred Years’ War.

Its advantages were its power and armor-piercing capability; its drawbacks were the weight, unwieldiness, and the risk of the point getting stuck. Nevertheless, a single strike could breach a helmet or breastplate and incapacitate an opponent. In the 16th century, cavalry hammers also became status symbols, often decorated with patterns or monograms. With the advent of firearms, their practical use declined. In Hungary, they remained in use for a short time, but by the 17th century they were completely replaced by the bayonet.

The back of the hammer tapers into a point (a “beak”), which could be used for thrusting and striking. The war hammer measures 67 cm in length and 18 cm in width, weighing approximately 700 grams.