Weapons of the Landsknecht


Weapons

Swords

Katzbälgers

Three Styles of KatzbälgerThe word "Katzbälger" translates literally to "cat-gutter." This was a secondary weapon, intended for use after your primary weapon was broken, or when the fighting got too close for a longer weapon. Primarily designed for hacking and bashing, this was a brutal but effective weapon. It was patterned after the Roman gladius. Some distinctive features of the Katz' were the figure eight guard and the fishtailed hilt cap.

A period drawing of a Katzbälger
A period drawing of a Katzbälger
A Katzbälger A Katzbälger A pair of Katzbälgers

Sweihanders

Two handed sword designed to break the heads off of pikes. This sword is from 4.5' to 6' long. Again distinctive to this sword is the figure eight hilt guard.

Polearms

Pike

Pike head
Click image for larger version
(87 KB)
12' - 18' pole, often made of ash, with a leaf-shaped point added on. Fringes were often added to keep rain from sliding down the pole and making it slippery. Long metal bars bracketed the pole to keep the head from being cut off in battle.

<-- To the left, a photograph of one of our reproduction pike heads.

Below, a drawing of a pike.

Pike

Halberd

Basically an axe on a stick, the back spike was often used to pull a knight off a horse.

Halberd

Bill Hook

Glave

Boar Spear

Guns

Arquebus

Wheellock Pistol

Cannon

Others

Rondelle

Triangular bladed knife, named for the round pieces that cap the hilt. Used as an armor-piercer, being thrust into a chink in the armor.

Rondelle

Axe

Mace

Spiked head set onto a wooden pole. Popular misconception notwithstanding, not a spiked ball on a chain attached to a stick.