The Pros & Cons of Bludgeons (Maces, Hammers, Sticks, Etc)

I've compared axes and blunt historical weapons to swords before, but this is a more in-depth discussion of various types of bludgeon, and my updated opinion on a few aspects. It covers the broad category but includes references to specific examples as well, like flanged or spiked maces, indigenous club designs (Polynesian, Native American, African, etc), hammers, some types of polearm, and so forth.

It should be obvious from the way I talk about these things, but here is a disclaimer just in case: This and similar content is meant for entertainment and educational purpose only. I strongly advocate safe, responsible behavior around weapons of any kind.

Tod's reproductions of early medieval maces:

*** Sources ***

Interesting indigenous clubs

Decorated mace made for Henry II of France

Copper mace head from Peru

Stick fighting by Bong Abenir

Historical manuscripts on armed martial arts

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*** Music ***

Intro song:
"Illuminate" by Vindsvept

Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records

#mace #warhammer #historicalweapons

[TheFizio]

Pros of bludgeons: bonk

Cons of bludgeons: the Pros make them irrelevant

[essenkillerthezombiektz]

Big con: very hard to spar with as trainers are still dangerous

[SickOne]

This episode is about sticks, heavy sticks and reinforced sticks. You have my attention.

[torporvasflam]

Concerning hand shock, one method to reduce (not eliminate) the vibrations is to allow your wrist and grip to slacken upon impact, then taking back control during the tools rebound. Whip the weight forward then snatch it back after impact. The worst pain comes from trying to control the force during impact. This is a necessary technique learned by people in trades that swing repetitively all day.

[johannesbuchholz]

Blunts, especially maces, are my favorite type of RPG weapons. I just think they look really badass.

[colonelkenpachi]

Finally a response to shad and his big stick energy.

[chadreilly]

If all you have is a hammer, every person looks like a nail.

[JohnDoe-nqdu]

I've been trying to decide whether to go to the Bard's College, or join the Thieves' Guild. I'm weighing the prose and the cons.

[mateuszwesoowski]

In Poland although you were born with the saber the actual weapon for doing someone dirty on the daily was called a nadziak. It was cross between a horsemen's pick and a walking stick.
It was so efficient when it comes to lethality that it was actually banned outside of war time. Back when saber duels were considered an entertaining pass time.

The extra leverage from the walking stick length, combined with a long spike (doubling as a handle in its walking stick configuration) meant that a single connecting blow often ended both the quarrel and the recipient in one strike.
In sabre duels you got some slashes, maybe lost some fingers or an ear. A swing with the nadziak was usually deadly unless it hit the extremities. The swinging motion meant that if you hit the soft belly you ripped the insides to shreds. A hit to the rib cage punctured lungs because of the length of the back spike. And the skull was either punctured or fractured or both.

While it was less good for defense or parrying, there wasn't much need for that after you landed the first blow. It's a scary weapon. Similar to your warhammer, only a longer haft, no top and side spikes, and the back spike is a lot longer leaving room to grip it as a handle or al least half handle in the walking stick configuration.

These alongside with koncerz (a type of estoc) were the preferred anti armor options used by the hussars on military campaigns.

[peterscott]

Definitely the first choice for the Zombie Apocalypse. Low maintenance, durable, unlikely to get stuck in Zombie, and breaks bones to disable or end them.

[wisard]

Maces are underrated to be blunt, but axes have the edge.

[tordlindgren]

Skall.. when you said 'nerds sitting on a couch eating Doritos' I was actually in the middle of the process on opening a bag of chips while sitting on the couch. how did you know?

[fallenbirch]

Lord: you peasant, you’re going to war with me
Peasant: uhhhh I can’t afford a weapon
Lord: *glances at branch* NONSENSE

[j.vinton]

That OG Warhammer is beautiful. Not obnoxiously big, and not small either. Great craftsmanship on it as well. I’d love to learn how to use that.

[ryanadams]

When I found the dwarven hammer in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt I fell in love and basically didn’t use anything else the rest of the game. I love them in most games just due to the sheer force they produce at the point of impact. Who cares if they eat a third of your stamina with every swing. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[groundbreaker]

I always found blunt weapons like maces and hammers to be more fascinating than swords. While not as graceful or elegant, they always struck me as being far more versatile, and even terrifying to a degree.

[LeDomge]

"I bought a warhammer"
"Oh, how much did cost?"
"40K"

[johndododoe]

Relatively soft metal like lead or gold. Imagine trying to assassinate a king and getting your head smashed in by his symbolic sceptre.

[nobodyofimprotance]

I was wondering if longer maces were a thing (I'm a writer, and they're in my book). Then you immediately showed one. Thanks.

[philip]

I always loved the hammer fight between Willem Dafoe and Michael Pare at the end of Streets of Fire—particularly the way they use the heads of the hammer to defend from each other’s blows or to pull their opponent off balance.