Purpose of the cocked hat pommel???

[StephenF]

I just recieved my Albion Crusader typeXII and was curious as to the purpose/design of the cocked hat pommel.

While dry handling the sword I noticed the cockedhat pommel acts as a finger groove to permit two handed leverage on the sword? Does anyone else know if this part of the design intent?

[J.Hemingway]

Ya know I have never handled anything like that...

Looking at the pic and at what you said, it dose feel like your right...

[StephenF]

Originally posted by StephenF
I just recieved my Albion Crusader typeXII and was curious as to the purpose/design of the cocked hat pommel.

While dry handling the sword I noticed the cockedhat pommel acts as a finger groove to permit two handed leverage on the sword? Does anyone else know if this part of the design intent?

[Russ Ellis]

Well I can't say for sure but I think those C and D type pommels along with A and B type pommels were natural evolutions of viking "lobed" pommels. My guess would be that the shapes were picked more for aesthetic reasons then anything else.

[Angus Trim]

That's what I was gonna say........

An early medieval fashion statement........

[Keith K.]

The finger groove idea makes sense.

Even though they're called "cocked hats" I've always thought it might be a Thor's hammer design.

[StephenF]

Originally posted by Keith K.
The finger groove idea makes sense.

Even though they're called "cocked hats" I've always thought it might be a Thor's hammer design.

Thats another idea.....in CQB (close quarters battle it would make a good blunt object in a pinch.

[Justin Gifford]

Originally posted by StephenF


Thats another idea.....in CQB (close quarters battle it would make a good blunt object in a pinch.

Well, in close combat, any variety of pommel would work quite nicely for that. Basically it comes down to concentrating all the force behind the blow on the small surface area of the part of the pommel that strikes the target - with any pommel it's roughly the same, and very potent. I really don't think the flanges would have that much of an impact on anything, unless you happened to scrape them across the face or something if they tried to move out of the way. If you mean to use it as a club, as per mortschlag, your best bet is striking with the quillons, rather than with the pommel, especially with that key-esque cross.

~JAG

[edited to add a preposition!]