Rare 16th Century War Hammer

War hammers, are rare on the market, and their price is always relatively high. This one can be dated from the end of the 16th century. These weapons, often unknown to the general public, were widely used in combat, in the Poland-Hungary zone, and also in the rest of the Germanic sphere of influence. During a melee between two cavalry corps, they proved to be much more practical than swords, allowing a very rapid recovery of the blow when the enemy had been missed by a first movement. Our example is probably of Germanic origin.
Head of the hammer: it has on one side an inverted cone and flat head, which is the hammer itself, very effective on the smooth parts of the armor, and on the other the strong point, of diamond-shaped section, called "bec de corbin" which could be used to slide into the joints of the armor. The head is topped with a small button on which the end of the steel stock is riveted.
Hammer handle: After a short square section on which the suspension hook is fixed, it has a baluster shape, then takes on a cylindro-conical section, and tapers from the handle to the head of the hammer. It has a decorative bulge in the middle which can possibly serve as a support for a two-handed grip.
Grip: It is cylindro-conical, and tapers from the base towards the top. It is covered with the original leather, which is very rare. At each end of this handle we find the braided crown ferrules called "Turk's heads" which are original. A circular iron guard protects the hand. The hilt ends on the opposite side with a sort of hemispherical cap topped with a flattened button on which the central part of the steel handle is riveted.
Suspension hook: it is fixed on the square part of the hammer handle, by 2 rivets.

This beautiful historical object evokes the cavalry assaults of the 16th century, when two groups of horsemen were mixed together and in the general disorder, swords were difficult to handle.
Shipping costs France = free, Western Europe = €30,
Ref EX-2314