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Part 2 here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/32503554/
As the title says, these are all weapons and tools seen on historical artwork. I have to admit I'm extremely fascinated by unusual types of historical weapons, and medieval European "chopper" swords or cleavers are extremely underrated, with the exception of falchions. Most of these weapons were probably used by peasant militias, farmers and "lowly" infantrymen, and as such they were never preserved nor received any attention.
However, artwork from the time period still depicts many of these weapons and tools, so in some cases we can at least have an idea of how they looked even with scarce (or non-existent) historical finds. This is meant to be a "mini-catalogue" of some interesting weapons I saw on historical paintings or miniatures, and if any of you wants to use them as references for your art or settings you are more than welcome to.
The first part is about the famous and mysterious "falchions" seen in the Morgan's Bible (13th century). There are no historical finds of such weapons, but they appear several times and in several shapes in the miniatures.
Some people speculate these were made up by the artist, but I find that unlikely, and after finding other weird weapons in contemporary and older artwork I'm pretty sure it existed (even though it maybe looked different).
The second part deals with weapons seen in paintings and miniatures representing Saint Peter Martyr. He was supposedly killed with a cleaver or an axe, and as such he's always represented with one of such weapons stuck in his head as part of his iconography.
As you can imagine, such paintings are a true gold mine to find example of these "lowly" weapons and tools, especially if they were made during the Rensaissance and thus showed a high level of detail and accuracy.
The first two weapons on the top were poorly drawn in two 13th century miniatures and as such their accuracy is debatable, but all the others were painted in highly detailed artwork, and as such are most likely very accurate. Some of these weapons were as big as a large knife, while others were pretty much oversized cleavers at least as long as an arming sword.
Anyways, hope you find this interesting! :D Maybe I'll make a "part 2" concerning historical finds and other peasant weapons of later periods.
As the title says, these are all weapons and tools seen on historical artwork. I have to admit I'm extremely fascinated by unusual types of historical weapons, and medieval European "chopper" swords or cleavers are extremely underrated, with the exception of falchions. Most of these weapons were probably used by peasant militias, farmers and "lowly" infantrymen, and as such they were never preserved nor received any attention.
However, artwork from the time period still depicts many of these weapons and tools, so in some cases we can at least have an idea of how they looked even with scarce (or non-existent) historical finds. This is meant to be a "mini-catalogue" of some interesting weapons I saw on historical paintings or miniatures, and if any of you wants to use them as references for your art or settings you are more than welcome to.
The first part is about the famous and mysterious "falchions" seen in the Morgan's Bible (13th century). There are no historical finds of such weapons, but they appear several times and in several shapes in the miniatures.
Some people speculate these were made up by the artist, but I find that unlikely, and after finding other weird weapons in contemporary and older artwork I'm pretty sure it existed (even though it maybe looked different).
The second part deals with weapons seen in paintings and miniatures representing Saint Peter Martyr. He was supposedly killed with a cleaver or an axe, and as such he's always represented with one of such weapons stuck in his head as part of his iconography.
As you can imagine, such paintings are a true gold mine to find example of these "lowly" weapons and tools, especially if they were made during the Rensaissance and thus showed a high level of detail and accuracy.
The first two weapons on the top were poorly drawn in two 13th century miniatures and as such their accuracy is debatable, but all the others were painted in highly detailed artwork, and as such are most likely very accurate. Some of these weapons were as big as a large knife, while others were pretty much oversized cleavers at least as long as an arming sword.
Anyways, hope you find this interesting! :D Maybe I'll make a "part 2" concerning historical finds and other peasant weapons of later periods.
Category Artwork (Traditional) / Tutorials
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1115 x 1500px
File Size 1.68 MB
Listed in Folders
Ugly, but no doubt effective! :) ... I mean the blades themselves of course, and not your drawings of them! :D
I'm borderline weaboo (weabo? Something like that) as I love the Katana and think it is an incredibly elegant weapon. I also like the short Tanto style blades when it comes to knives/daggers... But I'm not obsessed with Japanese culture in general (ancient OR modern), hence -borderline- ;)
I'm borderline weaboo (weabo? Something like that) as I love the Katana and think it is an incredibly elegant weapon. I also like the short Tanto style blades when it comes to knives/daggers... But I'm not obsessed with Japanese culture in general (ancient OR modern), hence -borderline- ;)
What I wonder about your chopper version, why does the handguard come from below? That would only protect against strikes against the hand from a not too likely angle, anything sliding down the blade would get caught by the fingers of the wielder and then in the "hand guard". Or is it just for ease of construction, drawing out the tang to form it? Or just as a big hook with some degree of protection?
They might have also been used like a strange pommel to keep the hand from slipping off, but again, why this blade catcher form without protection from a blade sliding down?
They might have also been used like a strange pommel to keep the hand from slipping off, but again, why this blade catcher form without protection from a blade sliding down?
A full hand protection like a rapier wasn't invented untill around the late 1500 proper.
The reason for the defense on the bottom was due to the way these weapons worked, they aren't stabbing, but cleaving weapons. As such swinging from above to below, or below to above.
Either way the hand is slightly exposed and such a handle, hows crude it is, could block the incoming attack like a sword itself would. Pummeling did work, if you could beforehand stagger your opponent. … Needless to say, that swords in this time constantly altered, as armor did also.
The reason for the defense on the bottom was due to the way these weapons worked, they aren't stabbing, but cleaving weapons. As such swinging from above to below, or below to above.
Either way the hand is slightly exposed and such a handle, hows crude it is, could block the incoming attack like a sword itself would. Pummeling did work, if you could beforehand stagger your opponent. … Needless to say, that swords in this time constantly altered, as armor did also.
It's just a repurposed cleaver. This design is stil in use in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, I think - including the scalloped cut-outs near the tip. The extended tang is not primarily meant to be a guard, but a way to stop the hand from sliding off the grip, and a way to hook the cleaver into a belt/wall mount for transport and storage.
It does remind me of how in traditional Chinese weaponry, there is a distinction between "stabbing" swords (jian) and "slashing" swords/knives (dao). The lineage is fascinating as well: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3f/4.....2c113705b7.jpg
I always figured that with no mass production or standardization until relatively late, everyone just developed weapons through diffusion, adapted local conditions and trial and error.
I always figured that with no mass production or standardization until relatively late, everyone just developed weapons through diffusion, adapted local conditions and trial and error.
Ugh, peasants.
But in all seriousness, as I understand it there were certain tropes if you would in medieval art about how they depicted fantasy scenes. For instance Europeans never really used scale mail during that time, but it shows up semi frequently in art depicting biblical scenes. It lets people know that they are looking at something that happened a long time ago in a land far away. This might be why these fantastical swords show up in different art sources.
Of course I also know that Maciejowski Bible is generally considered to be a good source.
But in all seriousness, as I understand it there were certain tropes if you would in medieval art about how they depicted fantasy scenes. For instance Europeans never really used scale mail during that time, but it shows up semi frequently in art depicting biblical scenes. It lets people know that they are looking at something that happened a long time ago in a land far away. This might be why these fantastical swords show up in different art sources.
Of course I also know that Maciejowski Bible is generally considered to be a good source.
Great work and I have a link to a modern one I mentioned in a comment a few months ago. https://www.woodmanspal.com/?gclid=.....BoCEbgQAvD_BwE Hope you don't mind.
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