Morning Star

[InkEd]

Where can I find a Morning Star that isn't made just for decoration?

 

[Sam1911]

http://www.cultofathena.com/maces.asp

There's one or two listed here that are users rather than wall-hangers. No experience with them, but the prices seem realistic.

If you kill yourself with it, don't come posting here asking us to tell you we told you so!

 

[InkEd]

Which models would those be?

 

[Markus]

The ones that say battle ready.

 

[Sam1911]

The ones that say battle ready.

Yes. And, generally, the ones with price tags in excess of $100, though not always.

 

[hso]

Museum Replicas

 

[InkEd]

Thanks for the link. Since they all said "Battle Ready" on that page, I wasn't sure what they meant by it. I promise if I get one (but I probably won't) to post pics when I accidently knock a hole the wall or get it stuck in the ground.

I have always just found the brutality of them and maces to me interesting for some reason. Thankfully, I can only imagine the horror and gore of a medieval battlefield.

 

[RX-178]

On that page I'm going to specifically recommend the Arms & Armor offerings.

They have an unbelievably good reputation among collectors, reenactors, western martial artists and even history buffs in general.

 

[CWL]

I'd recommend a mace or war hammer over any morningstar. Problem with something that has many spikes is that it would get stuck in things like armor and skulls. This is why morningstars were never as popular as a mace.

 

[M-Cameron]

I'd recommend a mace or war hammer over any morningstar. Problem with something that has many spikes is that it would get stuck in things like armor and skulls. This is why morningstars were never as popular as a mace.

you are of course assuming they are actually going to be engaging in life or death combat.

 

[CWL]

Should I assume a friendly round of combat?

 

[M-Cameron]

Should I assume a friendly round of combat?

well if hes a historical reenactor....ide hope so.


and if not, chances are good its going to see NO combat use.

 

[Remo223]

http://www.cultofathena.com/maces.asp

There's one or two listed here that are users rather than wall-hangers. No experience with them, but the prices seem realistic.

If you kill yourself with it, don't come posting here asking us to tell you we told you so!

I'm not an experienced flail fabricator, but it seems to me there is a serious flaw with some of those flails. Shouldn't the handle be longer than the ball and chain? otherwise the spiked ball is going to collide with your knuckles.

 

[Remo223]

I'd recommend a mace or war hammer over any morningstar. Problem with something that has many spikes is that it would get stuck in things like armor and skulls. This is why morningstars were never as popular as a mace.

Depends on how long the spikes are. A ball with really short fat spikes...basically pointy knobs, would be just fine.

 

[CWL]

well if hes a historical reenactor....ide hope so.


and if not, chances are good its going to see NO combat use.

If the OP is an re-enactor, I would think he already has sources. Besides, the SCA-types don't use real weapons.

Whether or not he will ever need it for SD or "combat", I think practicality should be part of an answer to his question. If you go hitting things with a spiked ball, it will tend to stick.

 

[Sam Cade]

Shouldn't the handle be longer than the ball and chain? otherwise the spiked ball is going to collide with your knuckles.

I see your point.
Hmmmm....
Maybe if it wrapped around the shaft of spear.

 

[Sam1911]

Shouldn't the handle be longer than the ball and chain?

I'd think the other way 'round would work better. The chain longer than the handle so the ball doesn't hit the handle OR your knuckles.

Having said that, someone who actually knew how to wield one correctly would probably not consider that a concern. (Just a guess, though.)

 

[glistam]

I was confused by what "Morning Star" meant because I hear people use this term differently. My understanding is it is a rigid spiked mace, whereas the thing with a spiked ball on a chain is a "flail."

In fact, Remo223's remark about hitting yourself in the knuckles reminds me of something I heard. I was told by a history buff friend that the iconic flail weapons (1-2 foot stick with chain and spiked ball on the end) are actually fictional. Little to no evidence exists they were used in medieval Europe. They did had long staff-like ones with cylindrical heads that were apparently modified agricultural tools, but not the spike-ball things. To make matters worse, in the 19th century there was this "fad" about medieval stuff (weapons, castles, torture implements) and a great many business-minded folk simply made things up or mutated existing items and published them in books or even made full size reproductions, labeling them as "historically accurate" when many of these items never existed. Some of the more functional "reproductions" actually sit to this day in our museums being passed off as real artifacts.