Early 13th Century Bill Hooks

[rampantlion]

I have read several sources that mention German/Saxon infantry at the battle of Bouvines 1214 that had hooks on their bills and were very effective against the French cavalry.  Does anyone know of a mfg in 28mm that makes early 13th century infantry with bill hooks? They seem to be easier to find in later infantry.

Thanks

[Griefbringer]

Presuming these look like later bills, I could think up of some simple conversion ideas:

- metal spearmen standing, with the weapons replaced by separately bought metal bills (easiest done with open handed figures, but you could also drill through hands)
- plastic 13th century infantry from Fireforge, with bill-bearing arms from Perry WotR plastic infantry (presuming these look good when mixed together)

In case the bills would look different from 15th century bills, then the issue could get a bit more tricky.

[HappyChappy439]

Footsore Miniatures' Baron's War range might help, they do some (metal) 13th century infantry, which I *think* have open hands, but if not, clipping off the heads of the spears would probably work!

They also do a set of earlier-period-bills separately, where they're chunkier and with fewer 'hooks' than the WOTR style ones!

https://footsoreminiatures.co.uk/collections/barons-war-range

https://footsoreminiatures.co.uk/collections/barons-war-range/products/bills-polearms-pack-12



You could also potentially use those bills, and then cut the heads off them, to then add to other ranges, potentially, so if you wanted to use Fireforge or Perry arms, you could glue the Footsore bill heads to their polearm...poles?

[bluewillow]

The early thirteenth century ones were basically a Apple tree cutting implement with a hook for removing branches and a axe for larger branches.

Cheers
Matt

[Atheling]

The early thirteenth century ones were basically a Apple tree cutting implement with a hook for removing branches and a axe for larger branches.

Cheers
Matt

A bit of Medieval trivia...... [avert eyes is you're not a pedant like me  ]:

An apple in the Middle Ages was actually an Onion! At least it was in the 11th Century

[rampantlion]

Thanks guys, I like the weapons packs from the Barons Wars range!  I have some of the figs but didn't think to look for the weapons.  Those look accurate to me for what I am trying to represent.

Thanks!

[Maniac]

Footsore Miniatures' Baron's War range might help, they do some (metal) 13th century infantry, which I *think* have open hands, but if not, clipping off the heads of the spears would probably work!

They also do a set of earlier-period-bills separately, where they're chunkier and with fewer 'hooks' than the WOTR style ones!

I do not recommend their billhooks, unless you replace the shafts with wire.  The shafts are too skinny for the material, and will quickly form fracture lines.  I think they would have been better off just casting the heads with a socket to take a wire spear with the head snipped off.

Even without playing, I am already seeing issues on the stock shafts.

[rampantlion]

Thanks for the input.  I am putting the units on single bases which hold about 12-14 figs and I am being careful that none of the spears or swords are hanging out further than the edge of the bases.  I hope that will help with damage during play or transport.  I have had a bunch of weapons casualties over the years....

[David Cowper]

Fireforge do these in plastic:

https://fireforge-games.com/1184-large_default/assorted-bardics-24pcs.jpg

The Footsore figures have solid hands that require drilling.

[rampantlion]

Thanks!