Unique Military Weapons

[GloucesterChief]

To bring this thread back to unique weapons I bring you the Francisca axe also known as the Frankish throwing axe. It is also how the Franks got their name.



Throwing axes are quite uncommon in large scale military use for several reasons. You can't throw them very far, you can't carry very many, and they don't really pierce armor or shields well. Usually a javelin or dart is a much better weapon for nominally melee infantry to carry.

The francisca has one property that makes it worthwhile despite all the drawbacks. It bounces, a lot and off of almost anything: the ground, shields, and people included. It also bounces quite high and since it is heavy it probably won't kill but it can injure.

Having a band of fighters all throw francisca's into the enemy formation would cause complete chaos as the axes bounce around and allow the fighters close in and to take on a broken enemy formation instead of a solid one.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by GloucesterChief

To bring this thread back to unique weapons I bring you the Francisca axe also known as the Frankish throwing axe. It is also how the Franks got their name.



Throwing axes are quite uncommon in large scale military use for several reasons. You can't throw them very far, you can't carry very many, and they don't really pierce armor or shields well. Usually a javelin or dart is a much better weapon for nominally melee infantry to carry.

The francisca has one property that makes it worthwhile despite all the drawbacks. It bounces, a lot and off of almost anything: the ground, shields, and people included. It also bounces quite high and since it is heavy it probably won't kill but it can injure.

Having a band of fighters all throw francisca's into the enemy formation would cause complete chaos as the axes bounce around and allow the fighters close in and to take on a broken enemy formation instead of a solid one.

Thanks for bringing the thread back to its roots, high tech weapons arent always the most beautiful... that ax looks very light, balanced, and easy to control

But clangs off things too easy because its on the light side

Watching "Forged in Fire" at the moment, so this is a perfect post

But the francisca/tomahawk isnt quite as outdated as some might think, they seem to still come in very handy on the modern battlefield

http://www.wearethemighty.com/uncate...ck-knives-mcut

[GloucesterChief]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Thanks for bringing the thread back to its roots, high tech weapons arent always the most beautiful... that ax looks very light, balanced, and easy to control

But clangs off things too easy because its on the light side

Watching "Forged in Fire" at the moment, so this is a perfect post

But the francisca/tomahawk isnt quite as outdated as some might think, they seem to still come in very handy on the modern battlefield

http://www.wearethemighty.com/uncate...ck-knives-mcut

It is supposed to clang off things and most battle axes where small and light anyway. It isn't a killing weapon when thrown, it is a weapon to disrupt the enemy ranks before your guys charge in. Its functional duty is the same as Roman Pilum just better in wooded areas where you expect to be closer to the enemy before engagement.

Tomahawks aren't made to bounce, francisca's are as that is their function in battle, remember that they were thrown in a volley.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by GloucesterChief

It is supposed to clang off things and most battle axes where small and light anyway. It isn't a killing weapon when thrown, it is a weapon to disrupt the enemy ranks before your guys charge in. Its functional duty is the same as Roman Pilum just better in wooded areas where you expect to be closer to the enemy before engagement.

Tomahawks aren't made to bounce, francisca's are as that is their function in battle, remember that they were thrown in a volley.

Ah, so I kinda misread its use... its an occasionally deadly distraction to be thrown before you close in, got it

And the fact it tends to bounce off helps it to be picked back up and thrown by the man behind you?

[GloucesterChief]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Ah, so I kinda misread its use... its an occasionally deadly distraction to be thrown before you close in, got it

And the fact it tends to bounce off helps it to be picked back up and thrown by the man behind you?

The fact that it bounces makes sure it hits the back ranks if it hits a shield or person. If it falls short it can bounce into the front line.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by GloucesterChief

The fact that it bounces makes sure it hits the back ranks if it hits a shield or person. If it falls short it can bounce into the front line.

It really is a beautiful, streamlined creation