War hammer vs plate armor

Today we take a close look at our war hammer, and try it out against a piece of hardened plate armor. This piece is a replica of a hammer in the Wallace Collection and is intended for use in armored combat. Here's a previous blog post with a bunch of information about the piece with pics of the original and representations in period art: www.arms-n-arm...
Here is a link to the product: www.arms-n-arm...
As always, our swords are entirely made by us at our shop in Minneapolis, MN out of 6150 carbon steel, hardened and tempered to 50-52 Rockwell. Our swords and other weapons are made to look, feel, and function just like the historical originals on which they are based.

[@jasonfredensborg7646]

I want to see Craig vs. Nathan in full armor with warhammers. First to tap out buys lunch for the shop.

[@armsarmorinc.4153]

I'm not sure Craig still fits in his Armor :-) Ahhhhhhh burn!

[@Specter_1125]

If you’ve ever seen dequitem, they have gone at it with proper weight war hammers and maces.

[@sinisterswordsman25]

@@armsarmorinc.4153 Bawhahaha squire fetch the breastplate stretcher!

[@robertl6196]

That's a beautiful piece of work.

[@armsarmorinc.4153]

Thank you!

[@richstone2627]

That's a good looking weapon. I always jokingly called those can openers.

[@hellomate639]

I wonder if the side spikes were for those moments in battle where it's like the only angle you're going to be able to effectively swing at in the chaos or in a moment. Maybe they made it a bit like a mace, where the spike digs into the armor deforming it plastically, preventing it from bouncing back so much so that more of the energy is transferred, like a morning star. So, it's like it's this extra function - not strictly necessary, but situationally helpful?

[@armsarmorinc.4153]

I think you're right, plus they look cool, which medieval folks were definitely into.

[@bencoomer2000]

I wouldn't be surprised if it's in part that in full harness, seeing what is perfectly forward can be hard. So even if you swung in haste and used the side by accident, it's still something.

[@hellomate639]

@@bencoomer2000 I guess it kind of turns it into a mace in a way. Like it has an ideal alignment and direction, but any alignment will do with those spikes! Heh.

[@QueenLiliTheRed]

I never realized how devastating the war hammer is, a scary looking medeival weapon

[@MinSredMash]

Devastating how, exactly? The video shows fairly trivial damage to the armor, and nothing that would seriously injure anyone.

[@Specter_1125]

The KZbin channel dequitem has done boughts with full weight war hammers and maces, and his conclusion is more or less that it hurts, but isnt that likely to severely injure you. (I should emphasize that’s this is on foot. From horse back, a hammer traveling at 15-30 miles per hour with 1500 lbs of man, horse, and armor behind it is a different story).

[@armsarmorinc.4153]

Totally

[@Eulemunin]

Yay

[@rickcrabtree7360]

Fun!

[@gorbalsboy]

Hi nathan enjoyed the vid ,can I ask ?was their any attempt to improve a helms ability to withstand blows from such blunt impact weapons (I'm thinking how the romans improved their helmets due to the falx)all the best from sunny Troon ❤

[@armsarmorinc.4153]

Hey! For sure. There were all kinds of innovations, like wearing a great helm over a bascinet, but they also had drawbacks. A constant balancing act between protection and maneuverability. Safe but blind vs vulnerable but aware.

[@QazwerDave]

What complimentary equipment was the most typically used with a single handed warhammer? Did full plate armored fighter, even so, use shields with them? Two weapons? Two hands even on a short hammer ?

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

Short warhammers mainly saw use on horseback in period. I believe there are a few illustrations of using them on foot with a shield, but doesn't appear to have been common. Pietro Monte did recommend having a slightly longer warhammer (close to 3ft) & wielding it in both hands from the saddle.

[@nevisysbryd7450]

@@b.h.abbott-motley2427 Same thing with one-handed flails and maces, afaik. Predominantly cavalry weapons.

[@letmeeatcake7836]

Killing a fellow knight has almost no advantages, selling a fellow knight enhances your wealth and reputation.

[@gorbalsboy]

Plus you gain a sex toy❤

[@armsarmorinc.4153]

Plus, then you get to party with them and become chivalric bros while their family saves up enough cash for the ransom

[@stevenclifton624]

Do many hammers in art or extant have rondells or a knob or anything as a hand stop. I've seen some examples, but they seem the exception, not the rule, and that seems weird to me

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

Pietro Monte recommended having a disc to protect the hand.

[@armsarmorinc.4153]

There are indeed some, more common on two handed hammers