The CLEVER MACE design that should have been more POPULAR! 

Extensive hand protection were unusual on European maces due to its users usually wearing quite extensive hand protection and the mace often being a secondary weapon. If the wearer has armored mittens an extensive handguard can get in the way of gripping the weapon, and a simple circular guard will protect the gap at the top of the hand quite well. Also. I'd propose that the shape of the macehead is probably due to Ottoman influences, where the "sliced mace" version of the bozdogan became very popular after their conflicts with Hungary and Poland. The Indian mace very much shares the same macehead design as the ottman mace, while spanish and portuguese flanged maces tend to feature armorpiercing spikes, with reinforced cross-shaped tips similar to the tip of the 15th century anti-armor spear.

Indian weapons are always the most interesting to me. Some very nifty and clever things among them.

A stunning weapon in more ways than one.

It's interesting. That hilt style is meant to enforce a cutting action with a sword so they gave it a bit of curvature where it joins the shaft so that if you use that cutting action, the mace will hit a bit earlier for a more direct impact angle. Compensating for the habit of using a sword with that same hilt.

'Everybody should have one.' 😊

A knuckle bow is just the most ridiculously obvious thing to put on a mace, I'm surprised it's not more ubiquitous.

I've always been a big fan of the diverse range of Indian flanged maces.

"Everyone should have one". Great for unruly HOA meetings !

That seems very long compared to most of the medieval European maces I've seen.

The profile of crowns lends itself to maces beautifully.

Armour was worn in Europe as well in the 19th century; Cuirassiers. Napoleon's come to mind.

The slight kant forward is awesome. Great design.

The ironic thing for me is that I wasn't expecting it to be a handguard... because I'm so used to the Indians putting handguards on everything that I just considered it a basic assumption. It is one of those "obvious when you think about it" things, but I expect it came about due to the Indians still using maces as real battlefield weapons for longer rather than relegating them to ceremonial use, so when more complex guards appeared for swords they started putting them on maces and other weapons too.

That's actually fascinating. I had no idea of this weapon. It's why I love your channel.

Turkish Ghulams (elite slave soldiers serving various Muslim potentates as armored horse archers) in Persia and nearby lands made considerable use of maces from the 9th century or so. I’ve always assumed that European maces may well have evolved from these. Since the Ghulams evolved into the Mamelukes of the Delhi Sultanate and later Indian states, I’d assume Indian maces would be related to these. Apparently Ghulams saw maces as an ideal weapon to use versus fleeing enemies and they preferred them to swords in this role.

'Gada' are the ancient indian maces like the one Hanuman carries. This one is normally called 'gurj'/'gurz'. The farsi name hints at a persian/mughal influence

the pommel and swordguard probably bec indian curved blade in very close circular body defense from the opponent, the pommel swordguard can entrap the circular indian sword very very close. maybe. excellent idea and keeps sword from dropping unarmed

In a crime novel from the 20th century, a criminal used an improvised club - a store weight with a wooden handle - and called it "the key to Heaven" XD

I wonder if the hook was used to carry it on a saddle ring or belt, since the hand guard would prevent it from being worn like a European mace

Hi Matt, just wanted to say I am really enjoying this series with Olympia!

Ottoman “Şeşper” (scheschper) is similar. Şeşper means sixletters;)

So I own one of these and a replica for playing with (carefully). I think one of the more interesting to consider is the overall length and what restrictions or styles are implied by the hilts.

Just to clarify, gadas being flanged is only worth it if the opponent is wearing full plate, which, in the humid South or scorching West, was not conventionally done.

The only disadvantage I see - you can’t wear it under you belt, like a usual mace.

No maces in India before the 16th century? Or no flanged maces? In Hinduism, Bhima and Duryodhana had a mace fight. I'm farlirly certain that story predates the 16th century by a lot.

could the complex guard interfere with drawing the mace? i usually see maces carried upright, hanging from their heads (either tucked in a belt, or hung from a loop on a saddle). this means to draw the mace, the handle has to slide past the belt/loop. any large discs/protrusions near the handle can snag on the belt as you draw. it would be interesting to figure out how best to carry this mace on horseback.

Reference the hook on the pommel and at the base of the knuckle bow would those have been sturdy enough to stop a blade? They seem like they might be there to stop a cut aimed at the hand from skimming off and striking the wrist or arm.

Personally,i like the simplicity of a straight shaft. The knuckle bow guard/handle reminds me of a similar weapon i saw in list of Indo Persian Maces, with an identical handle,but the head being a long curved knife.

Great vid Matt 👍

Hi Matt! wondering how the swords parcel force and Royal Mail ban will affect customs with swords. I am trying to purchase a long sword from Washington DC to Oxfordshire and was hoping that using UPS will work.

Interesting thx

Cool!.....I will adapt all my maces (macii?) accordingly.

We had maces before this as well but not a single handed one

...but the basket hilt makes the mace uni directional in use. More difficult to carry, slower to draw and puts all the wear on the same flanges every time..... Interesting 👍👍👍

Awesome video man. You should react to a video called" the best swordfight mark of zorro" it has great choreography puts most choreography today to shame itd be cool to get your take on it.

I was about to ask why the pin on the pommel is bent, but you beat me to it. :-)

That’s cool. And beautiful.

The entire knuckle bow an the hilt is the image of a Cobra rising up and flaring the throat area as they do to make themselves more threatening and dangerous looking. The Cobra is sacred in India and in some towns is the "patron saint" where they have temples and worship and feed the Cobra as a demi-God. The Cobra throat and head on the bow would be sacred images to inspire them to strike fast as lightening with the Cobra spirit within them. This is far more than just a weapon of war; this is a sacred amulet intended to almost literally transform the wielder into a deadly Cobra and deliver the lightening fast lethality of the wielders Cobra totem. Thanks Matt. Every time you present something from South Asia, I have a longing to return one more time and while there see what arms and armour goodies I could find for myself. That is not likely to happen ... but I sure like your presentations of South Asian materiel. Cheers!

could you do a piece on the streitkolben?, German war mace. Excellent content as always Matt, please continue to be Matt Easton

I appreciate the video thanks

Very cool!

"combined plate-mail if you want to call it that" - nervous AD&D player who doesn't want to start something in the comments...

Very interesting!

Thanks. I was wondering how would this be worn,if at all?

What is the purpose of the "turn-outs" on the mace flanges?

What makes you wonder a little bit is the disc shaped pommel on this type of weapon. So, maybe its just a style without practical purpose?

Dang it. I read the title as “Cleaver Mace” and was disappointed at my error. I was still able to appreciate the cleverness of the Indian mace however.

You did not say if it was effective or not. How does it feel in the hand?

We've come a long way from the femur.

Hey bro, could you react video of seki sensei using halberd?

This has been beating you since before Mace

BONK

I thought more of Eastern European maces. Looking at the design. BTW: isn't the cramped hilt risky for your wrist? Especially with that much mass on the far end!

Are the flanges thinner and more "blady" or "edgy" than european one's? Probably a stupid assumption, but maybe they would be able to cut INTO mail or mild steal Plate?

Being as the Portuguese were in India in 1498 it is much more likely that they were inspired by Europeans than coincidentally developed.

🗿👍

Curious, just from your experience using the warr hammer longsword, how likely is it from the handle to bend? What is the steel exactly? Cus the nature of the handle means you can't just flip around and smack it straight. TBH, if it is only found in one region of the world, probably not as good as it looks. Just probably just a love for extensive complex hilts from being a HEMA duelist that Matt doesn't when it is better for a weapon not to have it.

If you put that on a mace/warhammer/axe you loose versatility, many different attack forms are immediately lost. A long smooth handle is much more versatile. During combat it effects change of length/grip, angle of head and the ability to be thrown. At grappling range the ability to change your grip can be the difference between hitting him effectively or flailing around with your arm at weird angles. With a smooth handle you can spin the weapon in your hand (particularly useful for warhammers and axes).

what did indian plate armor look like?

You're still calling the iron shaft indestructible when you've seen it bend and bent it yourself.

ISTM that those thin iron flanges would bend the first time they strike steel armor.

Unrelated question: what’s with pro fencers celebrating after every point even when they didn’t get a point?

Fine to say we borrowed ideas off them but if you say they borrowed ideas from us...Wayscist!

no it will break ur hand on a house twists your hand u think u can let go not some times