Bardiche anyone?

Steven Gdula – Thanks, Bro! But this doesn’t make up for the time you used my Asian coin collection to buy gum balls and rubber spiders!

Mongo – Thanks!

DoomedPaladin – The halberd is now on the list. It’s actually not a weapon I’m that familiar with, so I’m looking forward to doing some research.

As for the trident, it’s unusual to find references to it outside of gladiatorial combat, and the ones used for fishing are much smaller – usually not much more than a three pronged gig and not even made of metal in most cases. Tridents are used in traditional Chinese martial arts, especially Hung Gar Kung Fu. They are called Tiger Forks and Ox Head Forks. Do a quick search on those terms and see what you find. I believe that there is some archaeological evidence for Roman tridents with curved prongs and barbs. The problem with a curve is that it hampers efficient penetration, and a barb could cause the weapon to get stuck – very exciting in the arena, not so good on the battlefield.

Email me at todd(at)toddblades(dot)com with specifics on the fantasy racial weapons and I’ll try to find historical analogs. I think you may be surprised at how many are based on historical weapons.

As for the pictured axe, it has some extreme design elements never found in historical pieces. The beard is much longer and the body of the axe much thinner than would have been found in the real world. However, axe blades usually do curve out, and beards do curve down and in. I have seen some Chinese moon axes with edges that curve in, but I doubt their effectiveness and strength, especially against armor.

Wavy blades are a type of recurve, and recurves cut very effectively – they also look cool. They are a bear to forge and worse to grind an edge on and sharpen.

The worst armor to get something stuck in is almost certainly plate. Most swords can’t penetrate plate so it’s not an issue. Some polearms can penetrate, and the shape of the blade or prong determinse how easily it comes out. Warhammers are ideal against armor and do damage without penetrating unless they have a spike, in which case it has a steep taper so it’s easier to get out (no barb for sure). Axes are also good on armor, and some had blades shaped to avoid being stuck – either very long cutting edges or edge to body transition with shallow angles so the corner doesn’t get stuck.

Neuroglyph – Cool, SCA and RPG mix well as far as I’m concerned. Might as well throw in some LARP! We’re all geeks!

Also, as a personal interest, the Trident. Was it only used for fishing and gladitorial combat? I’ve tried to buy a trident before, but could only ever find blocky, stubby pronged ones. Are the ones seen in pictures with long, curved, and sometimes barbed outside prongs purely fantasy?

How about a piece on the viability of some of the fantasy racial weapons from the games we create for? Orc double ax, gnomish hook hammer, dwarven greatax, elven thinblade?

The axe pictured above has it’s edge curve outward. Is it a specific style to have the blade angle sharply down and in? Do wavy blades do more damage? Depending on armor, once the weapon (any) goes in, how difficult is it to get it out?

Thanks for sharing your techniques and great explanations of process and product. I’m looking forward to your next installment.