Mace

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The Mace, Club or Cudgel is an ancient weapon common to many cultures. With slight variations in design and construction, it served for centuries in the European military context. Even as late as the First World War, fighting men recognized the value of the weapon for quiet, brutal raids on enemy trenches. The mace's chief advantage is that it need not breech an opponent's armour to be effective (unlike many edged weapons). Its mass, concentrated at the end of a wooden or metal shaft, can injure and stun simply by blunt force. An unarmoured opponent might be debilitated by shattered limbs or a crushed skull, and might even be killed outright. This weapon is very comfortable in the hand which is due in part to it being relatively lightweight, but it is also due to the long grip, which facilitates control of the weapon. Holding this mace at the top of the grip makes the weight manageable.

History

Characteristics

A mace has several advantages over a sword, it is cheaper to produce, does not require sharpening, and can cause serious damage even if it doesn't break through armour or skin. Maces are usually found either with cast heads that sport a collection of small knobs, or with forged heads composed of several longitudinal flanges around the socket.

The mace's head is secured to the wooden shaft by means of a steel pin that runs through the shaft and is peened in place. The head is hollow yet still substantial. This allows for strength yet keeps the weight to a manageable level. The opposite end of the shaft is wound with a leather thong and a steel butt cap covers the end