War Hammer , Late 16th Century

War hammers are rare on the market, and their prices are always relatively high. This one can be dated to the late 16th century or the first half of the 17th century
These weapons, often little known to the general public, were widely used in combat in the Poland-Hungary region, as well as throughout the rest of the Germanic sphere of influence. During a melee between two cavalry units, they proved much more practical than swords, allowing for a very rapid follow-up strike when the enemy had been missed by an initial blow.
Our specimen, made entirely of steel except for the part covering the handle—which is made of twisted copper binding—is likely of Germanic origin, although a Northern Italian origin is also possible.
Hammer head: on one side, it features a flat surface—the hammer proper—which is very effective against round or flat armor surfaces, and on the other side a point, known as a “corbin’s beak,” or "crow's beak"  which was used to slip into the joints of the armor. The handle is riveted to the top of the hammer head.
Hammer shaft: It begins near the head by a twisted section, followed by a short baluster, and another twisted section, which takes the form of a short baluster just before the grip.
Grip : It is covered with twisted copper wire binding. On the last centimeter of the handle, this copper binding is replaced by twisted iron binding , which is probably an old repair.
Shipping Cost: France = €20, Western Europe = €30,
Ref A2Y-2650