# Fighting with a Sledgehammer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497 "2014-01-23T02:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/21 "2014-01-23T17:25:24Z")
drastic quench has the right idea. When your weapon is slow to move, you keep it moving, usually in some circular arrangement (to conserve energy). That way when an opening appears there’s a decent chance your weapon is already moving towards it. Also, it’s much harder to dodge or block a weapon that’s constantly moving. source: history channel special about medieval weaponry ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/22 "2014-01-23T17:35:49Z")
Don’t confuse fast with sudden. Such a heavy thing cannot be moved suddenly. But if you have a chance to get it moving and _keep_ it moving, that’s a whole nother story. Ideally, extend it outwards and just rotate your whole body in one direction or the other. Build up speed in a few rotations, and whatever you hit will be destroyed; hopefully that will happen before you fall from dizziness. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/23 "2014-01-23T17:41:56Z")
I used to work with a German-born carpenter who used a tool much like a sledgehammer, only it had a handle barely a foot long. I called it a “Thor hammer.” It would be good for throwing–as long as you don’t miss and your adversary throws it back! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/24 "2014-01-23T17:44:18Z")
A mason’s sledge (short handle, light head) would be much deadlier than a basic long handled sledge, for reasons stated above, and I’d pick it first. I’d pick the garden variety sledge for breaching operations, however. I’d pick a Halligan tool over both. It can both breach and ruin your entire day. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/25 "2014-01-23T18:06:52Z")
What’s a Halligan tool? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/26 "2014-01-23T18:19:02Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > What’s a Halligan tool? [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halligan\_bar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halligan_bar) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/27 "2014-01-23T21:09:00Z")
I always thought that with a bit of judicious grinding to make a better hook on a bog-standard Home Depot ditch-bank(kaiser blade, sling blade, brush-axe), you’d have something pretty close to an old-timey bill/bill-hook polearm. If we’re going with home-improvement store melee weapons, that would have to be up there somewhere. > **[Bill (weapon)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_%28weapon%29)** > > A bill is a class of agricultural implement used for trimming tree limbs, which was often repurposed for use as an infantry polearm. In English, the term 'Italian bill' is applied to the similar roncone or roncola, but the Italian version tended to have a long thrusting spike in addition to the cutting blade. > The English distinguished among several varieties of bill, including the black, brown and forest bills, but the differences between them are currently not fully understood. Bills were adap... ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/28 "2014-01-24T00:37:12Z")
The common long handled sledge is a 9 pound hammer, sometimes you see 12 and 16 pounders on concrete crews and they are useless, but I’ve worked with a couple of guys who could grasp the handle end and hold that 9 pounder at arms length one handed and lift it from the ground over their head arm fully extended multiple times. I think I’d race to the hammer and if I got it throw it as far away as I could. Honestly, I’d actually take off running and keep going… ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/29 "2014-01-24T15:04:31Z")
> [@slowlearner](#): > > The common long handled sledge is a 9 pound hammer, sometimes you see 12 and 16 pounders on concrete crews and they are useless, but I’ve worked with a couple of guys who could grasp the handle end and hold that 9 pounder at arms length one handed and lift it from the ground over their head arm fully extended multiple times. I think I’d race to the hammer and if I got it throw it as far away as I could. Honestly, I’d actually take off running and keep going… We used to compete with each other when I was in the Seabees, who could hold a sledge at arm’s length the longest. The other “game” was to hold the handle with one hand and swing it toward your own nose, trying to stop it juuuuust before you hit yourself in the face. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/30 "2014-01-24T15:41:39Z")
Just grab the end of the handle, hold the hammer out and spin your body in circles, creating an unstoppable shield of death. Cite: Me, when I was six years old. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/31 "2014-01-24T16:13:15Z")
Another move that would work, if your opponent is the type to lunge, would be to heft the hammer head directly upwards (maintaining a flexible grip on the end of the handle) and take a step backwards, then pull the hammer down on the attacker as he steps beneath it. The trick is in the timing… ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/32 "2014-01-24T16:31:15Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > War hammers (mauls) were common weapons in the late medieval period. I’d certainly choose to grab it - you can jab with either end, use the haft to block, or swing as a standoff weapon. Warhammers are not \*that \*heavy, they were basically pointy maces - smaller than a mace, actually. In more relate-able terms : they were more like large claw hammers, or an ice axe, not weaponized sledges. [QUOTE=drastic quench] Like a huscarl with his axe; you keep it in fluid arcing motions not too far from the body using both hands. This takes both considerable endurance and training of course, but the overall idea was to create the impression of this wall of destruction that one’s attacker would hesitate to leap into – as the two-handed axe left the huscarl without a shield. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I was thinking that too, but then the 1-2 pound head of a Dane axe doesn’t have \*quite \*the same momentum as a 10 pound block of solid metal. Not sure you could really get the same blazing fast figure-8s, which is essential to get that whole “you don’t have a chance to get in there before the back swing” thing going. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/33 "2014-01-24T16:59:32Z")
Grip it right under the head and prepare to thrust it at him: it won’t be fast, and your foe stands a pretty good chance of evading it, but if it lands, pow. Is he keeping an eye on the hammer in your right hand? Good; start throwing left jabs at his face. Once those have his attention, drive your right into his torso. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/34 "2014-01-24T19:40:46Z")
Would a sledge hammer be a workable weapon if you were fighting someone who was on horseback and wearing plate armor, so you would need the reach and the weight? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/35 "2014-01-24T20:07:47Z")
Against mounted enemies, all you have to do is hold the weapon when he charges, the closing speed will do lots of damage, no need to swing at all. If its a mounted melee instead of a charge, you clobber the horses head - it will go down. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/36 "2014-01-24T20:18:53Z")
One hand about a foot from the head, the other hand on the end of the handle. You get an extra foot of reach, if he comes close enough, you can move the handle end to get a quick response on the head. You can also use the handle defensively. ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/37 "2014-01-25T01:44:46Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > I’d probably grab it and swing the handle against an arena wall/column as hard as I could, hoping to break it. Then at least I’d have a sharp, splintery stick to poke with. I assume you’ve never actually seen or used a sledge hammer. ---
**Author:** ![Retratto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Retratto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retratto)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/38 "2017-09-25T14:55:45Z")
> [@Sleel](#): > > Almost any weapon is better than no weapon. You can use something like a sledgehammer in much the same way as a _[naginata](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%96%99%E5%88%80)_, which is basically a heavy _katana_ on the end of a staff. Choke up on the shaft just behind the head for close work, and use staff techniques to maneuver. Holding a _naginata_ this way, you can use short-sword movements, albeit complicated a bit by the length of the shaft behind it. Heavy blows utilize momentum built by manipulating the shaft at more advantageous leverage points and letting the shaft slide out to a greater reach. Recovery can be through grounding the head and then sliding the hand back up the shaft, using footwork, or by maintaining motion if you miss the target. > > There were some historical weapons I’ve seen both in person and in some books (nothing I can show you that’s online, searches crapped up with video game, D&D, and Star Wars references) that looked like a modern sledgehammer. Mauls were mostly used for siege warfare and more often used as tools than weapons, but they could be used effectively even if you’re not that burly. > > One huge example that I got to play with had a shaft more like a small log, about 2–3 inches in diameter, with a wooden head bound with metal straps that was about the size of my head. It was about 60 inches in length. It could be used most effectively by holding it vertically and moving around the shaft, bashing with the head for short heavy blows using the grounded end of the shaft as a fulcrum, in a battering-ram type thrust, or by essentially letting the head fall while sliding your hand down the shaft to guide and add force. It’s hard to describe the movements, much easier to comprehend with video or pictures. We practiced a bit at various training seminars with some of the more esoteric and unwieldy medieval Japanese field weapons, and with the right technique they’re more maneuverable than you’d think. Please can you tell me about those field weapons? I am very interested ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/39 "2017-09-25T15:11:11Z")
You rarely want to swing a weapon at an opponent. You want to stab your opponent. It’s a lot harder to block a stab than a swing and a stab’s effective even with a blunt-headed weapon. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497/40 "2017-09-25T16:00:19Z")
One hand near the end of the handle, the other about halfway up. I can swing it one handed effectively about halfway up, or jab with it two handed, or give full swings using both hands, moving both hands to the end if I’m free to take a full swing. If it’s really close fighting with no room to swing I’ll hold it by one hand just below the head and just punch with the head. In a lot of cases it will be most effective against an able opponent to take out his legs with the sledgehammer, so I might feint towards his head in some way that I can swing it and hit his knee. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-with-a-sledgehammer/679497.md?page=3)