Renaissance Weaponry

Part 3

Many weapons were commonly used during the Renaissance Period. Quite a few of the Medieval weapons were still in use during this era. Among the Medieval weaponry still in service during the Renaissance were the Halberd, the Mace, the Partisan, and the Guisarme.

Undoubtedly one of the most ancient weapons, the Guisarme first emerged during the Bronze Age, and continued in use until the 17^th century. Some historians believe that this weapon was first developed by peasants, who combined hand tools with long poles by affixing a pruning hook onto a spear shaft. The Guisarme ended in a very sharp point, with a hook about halfway down the blade itself, which was also honed to razor sharpness. During the 16^th and 17^th centuries, the blade of the Guisarme was frequently elaborately decorated and embellished. The Guisarme was used in England during the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

The Halberd was developed by the Swiss, and was probably one of the most popular of all Renaissance weapons. The weapon basically consists of an axe blade that is balanced by a pick, with the head of the shaft elongated into a spike shape. The Halberd was, for all intents and purposes, a weapon for the infantry foot soldier, and its use was discontinued when the pike came into popularity.

The Partisan was first brought to England during the middle of the 14th Century. It was much used on the Continent from the 15th to the 17th centuries, particularly in France. The Partisan is a long double edged blade, quite wide at the base, with projections of various forms such as hooked, crescent, and pointed. The Partisan is invariably symmetrical, with each side balanced in form and design. The Ranseur and the Spetum are both modifications of the Partisan.

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