Hafted Weapons in Medieval and Renaissance Europe: The Evolution of European Staff Weapons between 1200 and 1650 (History of Warfare 31) (History of Warfare)

The development treated in this volume of a variety of staff weapons in the Medieval and Renaissance periods in Europe is of importance, as the repeated success of their use caused substantive political changes. Their typology, use, and smithing techniques as well as correlations with contemporary artistic renditions, are discussed in great detail. Surviving specimens from museums and collections throughout the Western Hemisphere are used. Conservation issues are also dealt with. The book is heavily illustrated with black and white, color photographs and drawings and has a foreword by Walther Karcheski, Chief Curator of Arms and Armor of the Frazier Antique Arms Museum. It is intended as a reference for historical scholars, artists, museum curators, private collectors and the art market, and is a timely clarification of the nature of these arms. List of Illustrations 7 Foreword by Walter J. Karcheski, Jr. 23 Acknowledgements 25 Introduction 27 Chapter One. General Background and Forerunners 49 Iron 52 Chapter Two. Halberds 59 Portage of Arms by the Untitled Swiss 62 Possible Early Halberd Forms 63 Chapter Three. Extant Examples of Halberds 75 Halberds Elsewhere in Europe 105 "Oriental" Influences 120 Chapter Four. Different Styles in Simultaneous Use 123 Chapter Five. Fastenings, Poles, and Finishing Procedures 129 Chapter Six. The Use of Halberds 141 Chapter Seven. Halberds: Details of Rapid Identification 147 Thirteenth Century 147 Fourteenth Century 147 Fifteenth Century 147 Sixteenth Century 147 Seventeenth Century 148 Chapter Eight. Glaives 149 Chapter Nine. Bills 157 Chapter Ten. Partizans 167 Chapter Eleven. The Morgenstern Group 179 Chapter Twelve. Ahlspiesse 193 Chapter Thirteen. Axes and Axe Derivatives 197 Chapter Fourteen. The Guisarme and the Bardiche 207 Chapter Fifteen. The Brandistocco, Corseke, and Related Weapons 219 Chapter Sixteen. Vouge and Couteau de Brèche 225 Chapter Seventeen. The Military Scythe 233 Chapter Eighteen. The Jedburgh Staff and Lochaber Axe 237 Chapter Nineteen. The Doloir 241 Chapter Twenty. Conservation and Restoration of Polearms 245 Chapter Twenty-One. The Marketplace 251 Postscript 253 List of Marks 255 Bibliography 257 Index 261 Annotation "The development treated in this volume of a variety of staff weapons in the Medieval and Renaissance periods in Europe is of importance, as the repeated success of their use caused substantive political changes. Their typology, use, and smithing techniques as well as correlations with contemporary artistic renditions, are discussed in great detail. Surviving specimens from museums and collections throughout the Western Hemisphere are used. Conservation issues are also dealt with. The book is heavily illustrated with black and white, color photographs and drawings." "It is intended as a reference for historical scholars, artists, museum curators, private collectors and the art market, and is a timely clarification of the nature of these arms."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved This archival source document of the Middle Ages and Renaissance describes the development, manufacture and use of European staff weapons and provides new information using existing objects and archival material. Their effect on the modern map of Europe is discussed.