Just under 42” length with 20” forged iron head with forge welded socket. While resembling a bill hook in profile, this example is edged on the outer curve while a bill hook is edged inside the curve. Thus it is better described as a form of the bardiche. The hand hewn wood haft shows great age with worm holes and may well be the original as weapons of this sort were stored in town arsenals in northern Europe including Switzerland and the Germanic states, for centuries. The butt shows no signs of being shortened so this weapon was used with both hands in close in fighting, probably backed by halberdiers or pikemen with full length arms.
