Tods Gothic mace - hitting armour | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

This analysis examines a late 15th century flanged Gothic mace, discussing its construction, purpose, and effectiveness in combat.

Key Insights

• 💝 Late 15th century flanged Gothic maces were relatively lightweight and designed for quick and easy maneuverability.
• 🤕 The construction of these maces involved brazing the flanged head onto the shaft using copper, allowing for potential hardening and tempering.
• 💆 These maces were not meant for armor penetration but as force concentrators, utilizing the mass of the object to cause damage.
• 🎯 The effectiveness of maces in combat relied on concentrating the force on specific areas of the target, such as joints or vulnerable spots on armor.
• 💯 The later version of maces featured hollow shafts filled with a wooden core to maintain strength and integrity without excessive weight.
• 🎨 Historic mace designs incorporated attention to detail and considerations for material usage to ensure accuracy and functionality.
• 🇲🇰 While the specific mace analyzed in this content was made from steel, original medieval maces could be crafted from iron or bronze.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How was the late 15th century mace constructed?

The mace had a solid steel shaft and a flanged head that was brazed onto a hexagonal collar. The flanges were then slipped into the collar and topped with a cap.

Q: How were the flanges attached to the mace?

The flanges were brazed into position with copper, which allowed the mace head to be hardened by heating and tempering it after brazing. Some pieces were tack welded before brazing.

Q: Were these maces effective against armor?

These maces were not designed for armor penetration. They concentrated the force of the blow, making them effective against items like mail, which could not resist the weight of the blow.

Q: How did the mace perform against a 15th-century breastplate?

The mace left a big dent in a variable thickness breastplate made of mild steel. While it did not penetrate the armor, it demonstrated that concentrated force in the right areas could cause significant damage.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The late 15th century flanged Gothic mace is a relatively lightweight weapon, weighing about 860 grams, or under two pounds.

• The mace's handle is made of solid steel, with a flanged head that is attached through brazing and potentially screwing.

• These maces were not designed for armor penetration but rather as force concentrators, concentrating the energy of the blow to cause maximum damage.