POLEHAMMER (AZZA · BEC DE CORBIN · LUCERNE HAMMER)

The polehammer is a pole weapon that spread in Europe at the turn of the late Middle Ages and was generally used by infantry soldiers.

It was particularly used in combat against opponents in plate armor, as it was specially designed with offensive tools capable of piercing or at least damaging metal plates, or wedging into the spaces between them.

There are different versions of this weapon, but generally it is between 150 and 180 cm long, roughly the height of the person wielding it, with a wooden handle reinforced with metal near the ends or along the entire shaft. It has a pointed tip to be used like an infantry spear and a sort of war hammer for powerful attacks or for compressing and breaking the opponent’s armor.

In front of this, a slightly curved spike (as in the Italian “Azza”, the French “Bec de corbin” or the Swiss “Lucerne hammer”) could be placed, or a curved and wide-bladed axe (as in the English poleaxe). In both cases, this accessory was used to break through armor or hook the opponents to unbalance them and make them fall.

Why a Polehammer? 

After 7 months of work (with a wedding and a honeymoon in Japan in between) on NicoPrintedAntiques' amazing project, aimed at creating full 16th-century armor, it was essential to pair that project with a worthy weapon.

Sir Radzig Kobyla's sword from Kingdom Come Deliverance by 3Demon and its scabbard by Si1verEag1e are a great option, but they are still projects for just a side sword, a personal defense weapon that knights carried because it was allowed to bring it inside city walls, unlike war weapons which were forbidden and had to stay outside.

I needed a war weapon, a weapon that would allow me to fight on equal terms with other knights in full plate armor, especially since I’m temporarily without a horse and therefore I’m a sort of “infantry knight”. That’s why a Polehammer.

I searched online in almost all the 3D repositories, but I couldn't find any Polehammer suitable to be 3D printed in real size. There was only one option left: to design it myself.

My 3D design skills aren't on the same level as NicoPrintedAntiques, 3Demon or Si1verEag1e, but after 7 months of work where my Prusa Core One + turned into a Renaissance forge, I felt ready to give it a shot.

This is the result of my efforts. I hope you like it.

SAFETY NOTICE 
Decorative historical prop replica designed for display, cosplay and historical reenactment contexts. This is a non-functional replica: it is not intended for combat use, sparring, historical fencing, HEMA practice, or any activity involving impact or weapon handling against another person.

This project is intended to be printed with PETG and Woodfill plastics, sanded, painted, assembled with superglue and metal components for added strenght and aesthetic purposes. STLs and already prepared gcodes for Prusament PETG and Prusament Woodfill on a Prusa Core One + are available. A comprehensive pdf guide with list of materials, printing tips, step-by-step assembly and post-production techniques is also provided.