The horseman's pick is a weapon of Middle Eastern origin used by cavalry during the Middle Ages in Europe and the Middle East. It is a type of war hammer that has a very long spike on the reverse of the hammer head. Usually, this spike is slightly curved downwards, much like a miner's pickaxe. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with war hammer. A metal-made horseman's pick called "nadziak" was one of the main weapons of the famous Polish Winged Hussars. A weapon of late make, the horseman's pick was developed by the English and used by billmen. It was used with great success during the Hundred Years' War. A use of the horseman's pick was to tear men from their mounts.
The horseman's pick was often used as a means to penetrate thick plate armour or mail which the standard sword could not. However, a number of drawbacks limited the weapon's effectiveness. Its relative heaviness made it unwieldy and, thus, easily avoided. The injury caused by the weapon was also small and rarely immediately fatal. Additionally, if swung too hard, the weapon often became embedded in the victim or their armour, making retrieval difficult.[1][2]
YouTube Encyclopedic
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The Pros & Cons of Bludgeons (Maces, Hammers, Sticks, Etc)
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Gallery
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A Polish hussar with a nadziak (17th century) -
Ottoman horseman’s pick (18th century, collection of the National Museum in Kraków
See also
References
- ^ "Polish warhammers and picks". PolishArms.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "Polish Renaissance warfare - Warhammers and picks". Jasinski.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
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This page was last edited on 30 April 2024, at 04:55