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Article #60: A look at some Unique and Unusual Medieval Weapons

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The Middle Ages was a time of much ingenuity of the art of combat and the
conflict and warfare. During this time dynamics of the battlefield. The caltrop
many unusual weapons were created to was a fabrication of metal that had four
solve battlefield problems. Many of these points much like a child's Jack. The
weapons are familiar to us such as the unique thing about the caltrop was that
sword, axe, or lance. But there were many if you threw it on the ground, because of
lesser known and unusual weapons that the four pointed structure, it would
were created during this time in history. always fall with one point standing
Not all weapons were created specifically straight up and this was a serious danger
for battle or for hand to hand combat and deterrent to cavalry or even foot
against an armored foe and a good example soldiers.
of this was the Man Catcher. This unusual Some of the most unique and unusual
weapon was a long pole arm with a designs in weapons were in the realm of
semi-circular pronged shape catch at the the dagger and many different daggers
end. There was a spring-loaded trap on it came out of the Middle Ages including the
and it was used to reach up, capture, and Rondel which was a long conical shaped
pull down someone mounted on a horse. The dagger. It was specifically a piercing
primary use of this weapon was to capture weapon and it's conical shape made it
enemy royalty for later ransom. look much like a long and slender ice
The Sword breaker was another unique cream cone. The Poniard was another
weapon developed and used during the unusual dagger because it had either a
Middle Ages. This was a long and very square or triangular shape. This shape
sturdy dagger that had slots on one side was effective for piercing armor.
much like the teeth of a comb. This was a The Middle Ages saw a tremendous
standard off hand weapon that was used to development in many types of weapons.
capture an opponent's sword blade. Once Some of these weapons are still in use
the blade was caught a quick twist of the today but some of the more unique ones,
sword breaker would snap the opponent's because of their very specific
sword blade. applications, are no longer seen. Yet
Not all weapons were hand-held and the they remain as a testament to the nature
caltrop is a good example of the of the medieval battlefield.






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