The Blunt Rack
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:37 pm
This is a thread made for all types of blunt weapons used in medieval times, including asian ones. If someone else wants to make a list of swords or others I would be really happy to see that.
A thread created for my immortal love for whacking-weapons of all sorts and colors.
BALL AND CHAIN:
(people seem to got serious problems with this one, thats why its first)
Ball & Chain:
A ball and chain is a general term for a weapon that is a ball attached to a chain, often used when there is no other term of it or its simply a non-spiked ball, but can be used for all other types of this weapon, its a general term. Of course, Ball & Chain is also something prisoners (my mom) on their legs in ages past
(Suspected to be a modern term- thanks TTK)
Flail:
A flail is a B&C weapon with either a metal bar (flanged, studded, simple or other) or a numbers of spiked balls. There are of course variations on the length of chain, number of chains, and long and short hafted ones (Thanks Damien!). "Flail" can also be used as a general term for B&C weapons, apparently.
Morningstar:
A single spiked ball on a B&C. Can also be a spiked ball-mace, or even a flanged mace.
Nunchaku: (Japanese) Originally a farmer's tool, nunchaku are derived from simple devices used to flail grains. Its not reall a B&C, since its two handles put together by a short chain, often associated with ninjas.
Kusari Fundo:(Japanese?) A chain with weights in both ends. Not a B&C either (thinking of renaming the cathegory to "blunt chains". Thanks Maedhros)
Mankiri-Gusari:(Japanese) The weights on the end of this light, flexible chain make it an ideal weapon for catch swords or tangling other armed opponents. This can be said to be a flail with an extra long chain, like a whip.
CLUBS & MACES:
Club: A club is simply a general term from everything from a cudgel to a baseballbat.
Chichi:(Chinese) A very small mace with a cylinder-formed edge.
Cudgel: The cudgel is a wooden club, sometimes bound with metal, wire or or spiked through with nails. Cudgel can also be used as a common term for wooden clubs.
Baculus: While also a word used for a bone found in some male animals, the baculus (baculum means staff in latin) is a huge wooden club, with knotted head and very simple, it was a cheap weapon for many armies and was used into the late reinassance. Can be either one handed or two handed.
Mace: I think most people are familiar with this one, the mace is weapon with usually a wooden handle, and a metal (the earliest ones had stone, though), sometimes flanged, sometimes spiked and sometimes neither. Two handed versions exist, just like all B&C weapons.
Plancon a Picot: This one is real hard to find reference to, but appears to be a rounded metal ferule on a a shaft (about 5 feet total) with a thrusting spike on the end. Whether it is one handed or two I can't say since it looks too unwieldly for one hand, but is depicted with troops carrying a shield. (TTK)
Tetsubo: (Japanese) The Tetsubo is a long wooden rod, wielded with two hands, the upper half of which is covered with studded iron strips. Priests and wanderers often use it, since it can also serve as a walking stick.
Shillelagh: Irish walking stick (effectively similiar to a Victorian gentleman's cane, though the Shillelagh was more like 4-5 feet). Used for thwacking riff-raff and aggresive dogs more than a weapon of war. Generically a club or cudgel. (Add by TTK)
Dual Mace Staff: Completely fantasy, fun though.
STICKS AND STAVES:
Quarterstaff: Combat oriented staff. Each side of the staff can be sometimes reinforced with metal or other materials to make it more effective. Many variations exist based in length and edges, Im not an expert on quarterstaffs (somebody please fill me in). Where a common weapon in asia but used in europe too.
Hanbo: (Japanese) This is a short staff, usually around three feet in length.
(I noticed Maedhros adding this just when I wrote it down )
Tambo: (Japanese) A two foot stick - often used in pairs. Maybe JP can elaborate on the Phillipines version of these (Erksima - something like that). (TTK)
Bo staff: six foot staff. (TTK)
Jo Staff: four foot staff. (TTK)
Shillelagh: See clubs.
Tetsubo: See clubs.
Cane: A short staff used by old people or wanderers.
Wand: A short often wooden stick. Often associated with wizards & other spellcasters.
Rod: Not a fishing rod! A short, often metal wand. Sometimes associated with wizards or other spellcasters of darker nature.
Poking stick: A stick, primarily used to poke people in the eye, or on sleeping/dead people.
HAMMERS:
Sledgehammer: A metal or at some occasions stone edge on a long wooden shaft. A tool.
Maul: Basically, a wooden sledge hammer, usually employed by English longbowmen to drive in protective stakes, but often drafted into duty as a downed-knight whacker (and effective in that role). (TTK)
Warhammer: One end had a hammer-like head, and the other side of the head was a spike of varying lengths. Again, one and two handed versions existed (as they did for most of the weapons mentioned here). A Bec de Corbin is considered a form of warhammer. (TTK)
Mallet: A wooden hammer, sometimes called a club. Not really a weapon.
OTHER/MISC WEAPONS:
Yawara: A short stick designed to stick out from the wielders hand an inch or two on both ends. It's primary advantage was concealablity and increased stricking power over a bare fist. Usually shaped for better grip. (TTK)
Tonfa: Basically a short heavy stick with a perpendicular hand hold (modern police batons are based on this). (TTK)
Whip: A whip is a weapon not used to actually kill an enemy (but you can kill with repeated blows due to fatigue and bleeding). The whip is mostly used by animal handlers and in some societies to drive slaves, and in fantasy (I dont know of any real-life occurance) to drive armies of brutish savages.
Sap: Modern version is a Black Jack. Basically a short sack full of heavy weights. Dunno how far back this extends, though (similiarly, I'm not bothering with a billy club). (TTK)
War Gauntlets: Massive metal gauntlets used for punching. The historical background is vague.
Brass Knuckles: A weapon attached to the fist to increase the damage caused by a punch. Possibly not medieval or earlier
Caestus: Basically boxing gloves, but often with bands of metal across the knuckles. It's a Roman origination, could have been used under the middleages. (Recluce)
Thanks to Damien, Maedhros, Recluce and TTK.
"(TTK)" means that it is directly taken from Two-tonic's quote.
Notice also that some of the weapons Ive added here under other's credits I was aware of, just didnt care about addding my own description.
If you got more examples or you see something wrong please PM me!
Credits will be given for sources
Comments are welcome!
A thread created for my immortal love for whacking-weapons of all sorts and colors.
BALL AND CHAIN:
(people seem to got serious problems with this one, thats why its first)
Ball & Chain:
A ball and chain is a general term for a weapon that is a ball attached to a chain, often used when there is no other term of it or its simply a non-spiked ball, but can be used for all other types of this weapon, its a general term. Of course, Ball & Chain is also something prisoners (my mom) on their legs in ages past
(Suspected to be a modern term- thanks TTK)
Flail:
A flail is a B&C weapon with either a metal bar (flanged, studded, simple or other) or a numbers of spiked balls. There are of course variations on the length of chain, number of chains, and long and short hafted ones (Thanks Damien!). "Flail" can also be used as a general term for B&C weapons, apparently.
Morningstar:
A single spiked ball on a B&C. Can also be a spiked ball-mace, or even a flanged mace.
Nunchaku: (Japanese) Originally a farmer's tool, nunchaku are derived from simple devices used to flail grains. Its not reall a B&C, since its two handles put together by a short chain, often associated with ninjas.
Kusari Fundo:(Japanese?) A chain with weights in both ends. Not a B&C either (thinking of renaming the cathegory to "blunt chains". Thanks Maedhros)
Mankiri-Gusari:(Japanese) The weights on the end of this light, flexible chain make it an ideal weapon for catch swords or tangling other armed opponents. This can be said to be a flail with an extra long chain, like a whip.
CLUBS & MACES:
Club: A club is simply a general term from everything from a cudgel to a baseballbat.
Chichi:(Chinese) A very small mace with a cylinder-formed edge.
Cudgel: The cudgel is a wooden club, sometimes bound with metal, wire or or spiked through with nails. Cudgel can also be used as a common term for wooden clubs.
Baculus: While also a word used for a bone found in some male animals, the baculus (baculum means staff in latin) is a huge wooden club, with knotted head and very simple, it was a cheap weapon for many armies and was used into the late reinassance. Can be either one handed or two handed.
Mace: I think most people are familiar with this one, the mace is weapon with usually a wooden handle, and a metal (the earliest ones had stone, though), sometimes flanged, sometimes spiked and sometimes neither. Two handed versions exist, just like all B&C weapons.
Plancon a Picot: This one is real hard to find reference to, but appears to be a rounded metal ferule on a a shaft (about 5 feet total) with a thrusting spike on the end. Whether it is one handed or two I can't say since it looks too unwieldly for one hand, but is depicted with troops carrying a shield. (TTK)
Tetsubo: (Japanese) The Tetsubo is a long wooden rod, wielded with two hands, the upper half of which is covered with studded iron strips. Priests and wanderers often use it, since it can also serve as a walking stick.
Shillelagh: Irish walking stick (effectively similiar to a Victorian gentleman's cane, though the Shillelagh was more like 4-5 feet). Used for thwacking riff-raff and aggresive dogs more than a weapon of war. Generically a club or cudgel. (Add by TTK)
Dual Mace Staff: Completely fantasy, fun though.
STICKS AND STAVES:
Quarterstaff: Combat oriented staff. Each side of the staff can be sometimes reinforced with metal or other materials to make it more effective. Many variations exist based in length and edges, Im not an expert on quarterstaffs (somebody please fill me in). Where a common weapon in asia but used in europe too.
Hanbo: (Japanese) This is a short staff, usually around three feet in length.
(I noticed Maedhros adding this just when I wrote it down )
Tambo: (Japanese) A two foot stick - often used in pairs. Maybe JP can elaborate on the Phillipines version of these (Erksima - something like that). (TTK)
Bo staff: six foot staff. (TTK)
Jo Staff: four foot staff. (TTK)
Shillelagh: See clubs.
Tetsubo: See clubs.
Cane: A short staff used by old people or wanderers.
Wand: A short often wooden stick. Often associated with wizards & other spellcasters.
Rod: Not a fishing rod! A short, often metal wand. Sometimes associated with wizards or other spellcasters of darker nature.
Poking stick: A stick, primarily used to poke people in the eye, or on sleeping/dead people.
HAMMERS:
Sledgehammer: A metal or at some occasions stone edge on a long wooden shaft. A tool.
Maul: Basically, a wooden sledge hammer, usually employed by English longbowmen to drive in protective stakes, but often drafted into duty as a downed-knight whacker (and effective in that role). (TTK)
Warhammer: One end had a hammer-like head, and the other side of the head was a spike of varying lengths. Again, one and two handed versions existed (as they did for most of the weapons mentioned here). A Bec de Corbin is considered a form of warhammer. (TTK)
Mallet: A wooden hammer, sometimes called a club. Not really a weapon.
OTHER/MISC WEAPONS:
Yawara: A short stick designed to stick out from the wielders hand an inch or two on both ends. It's primary advantage was concealablity and increased stricking power over a bare fist. Usually shaped for better grip. (TTK)
Tonfa: Basically a short heavy stick with a perpendicular hand hold (modern police batons are based on this). (TTK)
Whip: A whip is a weapon not used to actually kill an enemy (but you can kill with repeated blows due to fatigue and bleeding). The whip is mostly used by animal handlers and in some societies to drive slaves, and in fantasy (I dont know of any real-life occurance) to drive armies of brutish savages.
Sap: Modern version is a Black Jack. Basically a short sack full of heavy weights. Dunno how far back this extends, though (similiarly, I'm not bothering with a billy club). (TTK)
War Gauntlets: Massive metal gauntlets used for punching. The historical background is vague.
Brass Knuckles: A weapon attached to the fist to increase the damage caused by a punch. Possibly not medieval or earlier
Caestus: Basically boxing gloves, but often with bands of metal across the knuckles. It's a Roman origination, could have been used under the middleages. (Recluce)
Thanks to Damien, Maedhros, Recluce and TTK.
"(TTK)" means that it is directly taken from Two-tonic's quote.
Notice also that some of the weapons Ive added here under other's credits I was aware of, just didnt care about addding my own description.
If you got more examples or you see something wrong please PM me!
Credits will be given for sources
Comments are welcome!