Brief Description:  A medieval war hammer was a devastating, purpose-built anti-armor weapon used between the 14th and 16th centuries. It featured a distinctive metal head with a flat or toothed face for crushing, and a rear spike or "beak" designed to pierce plate armor. The design of the weapon evolved specifically to counter the heavy plate armor of the late Middle Ages, against which swords were largely ineffective. The war hammer accomplished this by delivering massive percussive shock or by puncturing the steel.

Key Design Features:

The Head: Typically made of hardened steel or iron. One side featured a flat, flanged, or multi-pronged face to bypass armor through concussive shock, while the opposite side boasted a curved, pointed pick to punch holes through heavy steel or to target gaps in the armor's joints.

The Haft: Shafts were constructed from either wood or metal, sometimes reinforced with metal strips called langets to prevent the head from being severed during a strike.

Top Spike: Many variations included a long, sharpened spike at the top of the head used for thrusting and piercing.