Hurlbats: Late Medieval Throwing Axes | Francisca Axe, Viking Axe, and More!

[@LynneFairchild]

Which do you prefer to throw: an throwing cross or a throwing axe?

[@RunningOnAutopilot]

8:10 Not only that shallow vibes stuff Also it sticking at any rotation is a good tool to see and learn rotation

[@LynneFairchild]

Yes, I agree that it's a good tool to see and learn rotation.

[@Khrene]

So Im researching hurlbats for a historically inspired fantasy setting. This was almost everything I could ask for! The biggest question I had was seeing some hurlbats looking like the Eastern European ones with the wooden handle. Seeing the more bearded axe-like profile and not knowing the wooden handle was tanged like a knife, I was confused as what exactly a hurlbat was.

[@LynneFairchild]

I'm happy that this was helpful!

[@walterelsey8221]

Very interesting, thank you for posting

[@LynneFairchild]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@PaoloSV]

Very informative video, thank you.

[@LynneFairchild]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@WithinandThroughout]

Dude yes, solid video.

[@LynneFairchild]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wingardwearables]

Very informative! What would be the latest documented use of the axe-style hurlbat in combat or as an issued or depicted weapon? And you mentioned the iron cross seems to have replaced it-what is the lasted use of that? I doubt there’s any evidence for this but am curious if there could be any relation between hurlbats and tomahawks. I research, design, and develop tomahawks and found historic accounts that indicate tomahawks were widely adopted by mid 1600’s and were expertly thrown by some tribes definitely by 1670’s-possibly earlier. There are some tomahawks in collections that were entirely forged from wrought iron, that bear very close resemblance to hurlbats. I suspect hurlbats stopped being used a century or more before tomahawks developed in the North America-so these all metal spike tomahawks were probably just a natural design evolution to maximize the effectiveness and durability of a thrown tomahawk. Best regards

[@LynneFairchild]

Frankly, we don't know. There are examples from the 17th century. My husband has found a couple of examples of double-bladed hurlbats with 2 axe faces that came up at auction. They were sold in the Americas. He thinks their last recorded owner was from the Caribbean. The auction had listed them as authentic, but he can't verify their providence. So, he may have found a missing link between hurlbats and the tomahawks you've studied.

[@wingardwearables]

@@LynneFairchild Thank you!

[@LynneFairchild]

You're welcome!

[@angelocarantino4803]

You have to remember thought it was developed independently as we have evidence of stone versions much earlier. I agree tho, maybe these axes showed them the next evolution 0w0

[@LynneFairchild]

👍

[@SorryBones]

Wow, hurlbats got a shoutout in a game called “Darkest Dungeon 2” as a character skill and I was fascinated by the name. I gotta wonder though, why “bat”? Seems awfully sharp to me.

[@LynneFairchild]

That's neat that it's a character skill in a game. As for how it got its name, it was also known as a "wurfbeil". So, my guess is hurlbat was the Anglicized version of the original German name.

[@SorryBones]

@@LynneFairchild That kind of thing happens all the time, so makes sense to me. I really like your other videos, too. Thanks!

[@LynneFairchild]

😀 Thank you.

[@josephdedrick9337]

Do you have links to where you got most/all of your throwing weapons? especially the hurlbats/throwing crosses.

[@LynneFairchild]

My husband is a blacksmith. He made almost all of the throwing weapons himself demonstrated in the video. He suggested to check out Cold Steel (at 8:50 in the video) at www.coldsteel.com/templar-thrower/ Hope this helps!

[@raphlvlogs271]

how would you use a Hurlbat as a close melee weapon?

[@LynneFairchild]

Just like any other axe.

[@mellowbobbin8684]

Any information on the original German hurlbat? As a German myself, I was intrigued but could not find anything.

[@LynneFairchild]

One example is in the Military Museum in Prague. Two other examples are in the National Museum in Prague. Two were referenced in Régi Magyar Fegyverek (Old Hungarian Weapons) by Dr. János Kalmár. Photocopies of this book are the source of many online images of hurlbats.

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

Is there any evidence for infantry use of these? There's one 16th-century account of Swiss pikers throwing everything they could during an advance, including bottles. I've heard claims that sometimes Swiss pikers were issued rocks for throwing. It seems like hurlbats or throwing crosses would be more effective than rocks or bottles, so I wonder if it was done.

[@LynneFairchild]

I have no evidence of Swiss hurlbat use, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't done. Hurlbats are a phenomena of German-speaking cultures. So, it would make sense if the Swiss adopted them, but I haven't found any images of artifacts or artistic depictions.

[@MaddsUkjentAZ]

☕👍✨

[@LynneFairchild]

😀

[@blakeadamson9489]

Dude let me buy some throwing crosses off you😂

[@LynneFairchild]

My apologies. I don't think he has any throwing crosses for sale.

[@betteramwthanbmw]

A truly friendly weapon to love your enemies and brothers according to the example of Christ, as taught in Christian brotherhoods around the world ...

[@LynneFairchild]

@@betteramwthanbmw It's an interesting weapon.