12th Century Six-Flanged Medieval Mace

Battle-Ready 12th Century Six-Flanged Blackened Medieval Mace

The Destruction of Plate Armour and Historical Context

In the 12th century, with the gradual improvement of chainmail and early plate armour, classic bladed weapons began to lose their absolute dominance. The answer to this innovation in warrior protection was a blunt force weapon, such as this flanged mace. Its primary purpose was not necessarily to pierce the armour, but to transfer massive kinetic energy right through it. A blow with the flange of the mace could deform the metal and cause devastating internal injuries or fractures without compromising the outer steel layer of the armour. For this reason, maces became immensely popular not only among medieval heavy cavalry. Later, due to their terrifying effectiveness and relatively cheap production, they were also widely used by the Hussites in the defence of their wagon forts against heavily armoured crusaders.

Construction and Shaft Variants for Combat

This replica is carefully crafted according to surviving originals. The metal head of the mace is blackened, which not only gives it an ominous historical look but also partially protects the mild steel surface against atmospheric moisture. Historical originals usually had a wooden shaft, which naturally forms the weakest link of the weapon and can break during full deployment in combat.

Because we understand the demands of modern Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) and buhurt, this mace is offered in three durability variants:

• Classic wooden shaft: Ideal for re-enactment, technique practice, and light contact fencing.
• Reinforced wooden shaft: A compromise between historical accuracy and increased durability, reinforced with metal strips.
• All-metal shaft: An extremely durable variant for the toughest clashes, where you don't have to worry about the weapon flying apart in your hands after the first blow.

Technical Parameters of the Mace

Safety and Practical Use Today

Although the weapon has no sharp blades, it is a fully functional and extremely dangerous weapon. The kinetic energy of a blow with a blunt object weighing almost 1.5 kg (3.2 lbs) is massive. Exercise utmost caution during practical martial arts training. Only use the weapon in a controlled environment against opponents in adequate plate armour designed for full contact (e.g., HMB/buhurt standards), or when practising on a pell (a wooden post for striking practice). Strictly avoid strikes to unprotected body parts and joints; there is a risk of fatal injury even through modern protective gear.

Care and Maintenance

To ensure your mace serves you as long as possible in perfect condition, it requires regular maintenance. Although the blackened steel surface is more resistant, it is still subject to rust. After every training session, wipe the weapon with a dry cloth and preserve the steel parts with a thin layer of gun oil (e.g., Ballistol). If you choose the variant with a wooden shaft, we recommend treating the wood occasionally with linseed oil to prevent it from drying out and cracking. Never store the weapon in a damp environment or sealed in a leather case for an extended period without prior treatment.

Recommended Accessories

For safe and comfortable handling of this weapon, we strongly advise you to acquire robust leather gloves or proper steel gauntlets, which will protect your fingers in close-quarters clashes. For transport to tournaments, a sturdy canvas weapon bag is ideal to prevent the flanges of the mace from damaging your other equipment.