A Unique South German Late 15th Century Foot Soldier's Axe

Matchlock · 14th March 2012, 05:36 PM

Oh yeah, these may be found sometimes.

Original 500-year-old foot combat axes are immeasurably rare. Actually the only I have ever seen in a museum that were preserved in good condition and retaining their original hafts dared from the mid to the late 16th century and used to be on display in the Old Town Armory in the Stadtmuseum Munich (which has been closed down to the public for some 15 years, photos of 1987 attached).

I attach photos and line drawings of them. The ones on the images on the bottom are the latest, dating from the end of the 16th c. - and some close-ups of a parcel-gilt and finely preserved specimen of ca. mid-16th c. date retaining its original red-stained haft; deeply struck maker's marks: a crescent and a pellet (Bavarian private collection - not mine).

Best,
Michael

14th March 2012, 05:36 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Oh yeah, these may be found sometimes. Original 500-year-old foot combat axes are immeasurably rare. Actually the only I have ever seen in a museum that were preserved in good condition and retaining their original hafts dared from the mid to the late 16th century and used to be on display in the Old Town Armory in the Stadtmuseum Munich (which has been closed down to the public for some 15 years, photos of 1987 attached). I attach photos and line drawings of them. The ones on the images on the bottom are the latest, dating from the end of the 16th c. - and some close-ups of a parcel-gilt and finely preserved specimen of ca. mid-16th c. date retaining its original red-stained haft; deeply struck maker's marks: a crescent and a pellet (Bavarian private collection - not mine). Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 14th March 2012 at 08:10 PM.