16th century war hammer, maul

Product description

A maul is a type of war hammer with a heavy head. This example has a spike-like point, though broader than that of a horseman's hammer — another type of war hammer. From the late 14th century onward, infantry mainly wielded the weapon. During the Paris uprising of 1382, rebels seized 3,000 mauls from the city's armory. They became known as the Maillotins. Later that same year, the chronicler Froissart mentioned mauls in the Battle of Roosebeke, proving it was not just a weapon of the common people.

Archers put the maul to notable use in the 15th and 16th centuries. At the Battle of Agincourt, English longbowmen reportedly used lead mauls — first as tools to drive stakes into the ground, then as improvised weapons. Other contemporary sources confirm their use. In England, Tudor archers carried such weapons until around 1562.

From the 15th century onward, cavalry increasingly adopted shorter war hammers. At first, nobles looked down on the weapon for its origins among common soldiers, but they came around to it for its practicality. Cavalry commanders sometimes carried war hammers as both weapons and symbols of rank — known as Rottmeister hammers or Packmaster hammers. In Landsknecht armies and across parts of Central Europe, hammers became status symbols for the lower nobility — nearly on par with the sword. Some sources say a nobleman would never leave home without his sword and war hammer, which could double as a walking stick.

Hand-forged from steel, this hammer features a twisted shaft. Dark brown leather wraps the grip, and the hammerhead is double-riveted for extra durability. It measures 45 cm long and 15 cm wide, and weighs about 1 kg.