Horseman's 16th century Battle Axe

Jim McDougall · 5th December 2012, 08:49 PM

Outstanding Gene, sure looks like this one!

Just found something in "Arms and Armour of the English Civil Wars" David Blackmore, Royal Armouries (p.9).
The author describes the English light cavalry known as harqubusiers as armed with '..a poll axe in his hand" (as cited from John Vernon, "The Young Horseman" London 1644; and of the Royalist cavalry, from the Earl of Clarendon ("History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England", 1888), the horsemen having a 'poleaxe'.
Here I think terminology and etymology have created interesting perceptions, as these are typically foot troops weapons used to breach armor with polearms (about 8 ft or longer). The term 'poll' apparantly was used rather redundantly to describe an axe, but technically while the term means 'head' (cf. axe head) it actually refers to the back or 'butt' of the axe head.
These poleaxes also most often had not only an axe blade and spiked 'poll' but a fluke or spike atop the head. This seems to closely approximate the illustration shown of the axe held by the figure in the original post, and likely a cut down poleaxe, not halberd as I suggested earlier (these had larger heads).

5th December 2012, 08:49 PM	#12
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Outstanding Gene, sure looks like this one! Just found something in "Arms and Armour of the English Civil Wars" David Blackmore, Royal Armouries (p.9). The author describes the English light cavalry known as harqubusiers as armed with '..a poll axe in his hand" (as cited from John Vernon, "The Young Horseman" London 1644; and of the Royalist cavalry, from the Earl of Clarendon ("History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England", 1888), the horsemen having a 'poleaxe'. Here I think terminology and etymology have created interesting perceptions, as these are typically foot troops weapons used to breach armor with polearms (about 8 ft or longer). The term 'poll' apparantly was used rather redundantly to describe an axe, but technically while the term means 'head' (cf. axe head) it actually refers to the back or 'butt' of the axe head. These poleaxes also most often had not only an axe blade and spiked 'poll' but a fluke or spike atop the head. This seems to closely approximate the illustration shown of the axe held by the figure in the original post, and likely a cut down poleaxe, not halberd as I suggested earlier (these had larger heads). Attached Images