LOT 1056

Post Medieval Iron Pike Collection

16TH-18TH CENTURY A.D.

89 - 92 1/8 in. (6.3 kg total, 2.26-2.34 m).

Comprising three weapons: a 'ronca contadina' (peasant scythed staff weapon, known as forest bill) made of trunco-conical tubular gorbia with tapering iron shaft, inclined to the right with respect to the axis of the weapon, ending in a bill; an alabarda-sergentina, iron blade halberd with central rib, two axe-heads, one convex one concave; an alghiero, guisarme with tapering pointed iron shaft of rectangular section, furnished with a side-bill; all three mounted upon wooden velvet-covered shafts. [3]

Ex Christie's, Holland, circa 2010.
East Anglian private collection.

Cf. Mauro, M., Armeria della Rocca, mostra di armi antiche, Ancona, 1989, no.124; Pinti, P., Armi e Arte, un viaggio per musei, chiese e castelli alla ricerca di armi antiche, alla ricerca di cose belle (Weapons and Art, a journey through museums, churches and castles in search of ancient weapons, in search of beautiful things, in Italian,) Ascoli Piceno, 1997, p.96; Troso, M., Le Armi in Asta delle Fanterie Europee 1000-1500 (Pole Weapons of European Infantry 1000-1500, in Italian), Novara, 1988, p.58, fig.2.

Certainly the most interesting of the three weapons is the peasant roncone. The hooked part of the weapon could be used to hook or cut things, but also for severing a horse's hocks causing both horse and rider to fall.