BEIDANA unusual weapon Piedmont regions Italy

[Jim McDougall]

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=bill+spike

In random searching online, came across this most unusual weapon form, which seems to have been brought up several times with suggestions of implements of farm use etc. Some of these align with bill hooks and chopper like fascine knives.

In further searches these are related to dusagge and medieval falchions , but these seem to have most unusual features which seem more decorative than pragmatically useful, such as squiggle like appendage at point.

It seems these are termed BEIDANA by form classification, and historically derive from the Waldensian people of the Piedmont in N. Italy. These seem like a machete type weapon but the extraneous features are perplexing. One characteristic feature seems to be the appendage at the pommel, grip which appears to be a sort of belt hook or attaching feature.

It is suggested that the association with the Piedmont as far as these particular forms comes from around late 17th-18th c. but the Waldensians as a proto-Protestant group from the Catholic Church begins in late 12th c.in France. The variations of the weapon form goes back as far as 8-9th century with Lombardian cleavers.

Most unusual edged weapon form which seems little known generally, so wanted to look into it further.

The curious turnback on one seems almost fanciful, and the heart and clover shaped blade piercings intriguing. While these of course are likely derived from agricultural implements much as bill hooks etc. they were of course employed as weapons as required much as in the case of the ranks of many medieval armies. The separation between tool and weapon is seldom well defined with most edged weapons.