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Christian Darce was kind enough to give me one of his new Purpleheart pollaxe trainers for review. I have taken some time in making this review, the better to put it through its paces. In point of fact, two Purpleheart polehammers were obtained, one sporting the Purpleheart thrusting tip, the second with the flexible Purpleheart spear tip.
To begin, aesthetically, they are pleasing to the eye, with a well-defined hammer shape and back spike. Furthermore, the aesthetics are functional, allowing for more realistic training. This realism is offset by the need to balance safety and weight issues, but the tradeoffs are understandable given the context in which these must be used. Regarding weight, they are fairly well-balanced and present a healthy weight similar to a steel pollaxe. In this vein, I must offer a word of warning - a weighted head on a long stick is by definition a pollaxe. Treat it with respect as the dangerous object it is.
The back spike, bec or fluke, has a slimmer profile than other offerings, devoir of any dangerous points or edges. It is remarkably rigid for such a long appendage, and hooking actions with the fluke are possible. I suspect a somewhat shorter spike would provide more rigidity, or perhaps a denser rubber, but I understand safety concerns play a primary role in the design. By providing more rigidity, the safety margin these axes provide might evaporate, making it unsafe should someone strike a blow with the back spike.
Purpleheart provide two types of tips for their poleaxes, the “Purpleheart thrusting tip” and the “spear tip.” The thrusting tip is simply a rubber cap on the end of the haft, providing for a measure of safety while maintaining rigidity. The spear version is a pliable rubber tip in the form of a spear head. Again, I like the aesthetics, but the flexible tip is too flexible for use in armoured fighting. Thrusts with the thrusting tip can be felt solidly through armour, providing ample purchase, while the spear heads are ideal for practising pollaxe techniques without armour – providing the proper safety margin for such endeavours.
The haft is of flat octagonal hickory, and provides some flex while being very strong. While the stock hafts are somewhat long for my particular liking, this is a very personal choice that is also dependent on the style practised. It is a simple matter to cut it down or simply ask Mr. Darce to make it to your specifications. This profile strengthens the haft considerably, while providing sensory feedback as to the orientation of the axe.
Overall, the quality is excellent, the balance in the hand is good, and the aesthetics pleasing to the eye. These axes perform well, within acceptable safety parameters, and I would heartily recommend them to any pollaxe aficionado looking to buy an axe simulator.
Jason Smith,
Les Maîtres d’Armes
Author of the upcoming book “Burgundian Pollaxe: The Noble Art of Chivalric Axe Combat,
An Illustrated Guide to Le Jeu de la Hache” with Freelance Academy Press
