threshing flail, single handed

Wyrm · Post by **Wyrm** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:02 am

http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/ ... 12vc&d.gif

from the picture above you get the idea of the agricultural threshing flail, not something you'd use one handed. Assuming the threshing flail evolved into a war implement, would it have passed through a much shortened single handed version much similar to the nunchuku?

the only time I've ever seen such a thing was on Braveheart. Not that that means much, but its my only ever sighting of such a thing.

freiman the minstrel · Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:10 am

I have frequently seen them hanging on the walls of armories on castle tours in Germany. It really appears to be an agricultural implement, but the folks who organize the armory exhibits seem to think that they have a place with the weapons too.

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Wyrm · Post by **Wyrm** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:14 am

are you speaking of the long agricultural threshing flails or the shorter adaption I am enquiring about? I think you are talking about the former.

freiman the minstrel · Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:23 am

No, I have never seen a shortened one.

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Stefan ap Llewelyn · Post by **Stefan ap Llewelyn** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:43 am

Hussites used a two handed version of this, I have not seen a one handed one but they might be a good place to start looking.

Kaliban · Post by **Kaliban** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 1:05 pm

This is what we in markland call a peasants flail .. i use one myself .. quite nice an have been thinking about makeing a real one ..

Sir Brendan TT · Post by **Sir Brendan TT** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 5:01 am

From what I have seen, the shorter "nunchaku-style" flail was an oriental thingie.
All the european versions I have seen are two-handed.
Not legal for sca-fighting though. Sigh!
They could have been so much fun!

Wyrm · Post by **Wyrm** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 6:09 am

I'm not actually looking to use it in fighting of any sort, I just wanted to know if there was a possibly historical single handed version of the threshing flail, for use in combat or as a tool even.

Kaliban, are your 'peasants flails' based on any historical reality or are they a modern creation for competing in the SCA (loosely based on the medieval threshing flail)? Thanks.

Kaliban · Post by **Kaliban** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:21 am

they are based on the period peasants flail but adapted to the style fighitng we do .. not in the sca though ..they are not allowed .. with what i am allowed to use its total length is 6'3" has a 8" sq braided rope chain about a 1'long head .. the rope chain extends into the head since solid heads are not allowed but still has plenty of impact power.. the rope itself is about 3/8 thick ..

I do hope to make a period reproduction of one so i can try it out on some things ..

hope that answers some of your questions if you have any more just ask .. love the painting you posted ..

Maeryk · Post by **Maeryk** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:26 am

I do hope to make a period reproduction of one so i can try it out on some things ..

I might have one, if I bug my grandmother. My grandpa found the "long" end of one in a dustbin once. It is basically just a tapered pole with a metal loop fitting (think langets down the sides with a forged "ring" top). He simply cut down a Lousville slugger and whacked a hole in the narrower end, and chained it on there. Used to play with it as a kid.

Theres a trick to em, much like Nunchaku.. and they _hurt_ when you screw up. Moreso than nunchaku (mass/speed being what they are)

Maeryk