Ive recently become interested in the use of warhammers in medieval times. I haven't exactly had a large dig of the internet for information but i would like to know which major wars in which the war hammer was in use.

From the information i had found, It said that warhammers were created by blacksmiths who were forced to go to war, so they made large hammers which as i imagine would have done some damage to the enemy in the right hands. They originally weren't all that large, only as large as a standard hammer these days.

Soon the armies adapted these, as short as a mace and as large as a halberd and to try to break the newer iron platebodies (maybe steel pl8) made in that time. This could be an indication to what time period they were made. This weapon could do damage with out penetrating which is handy. To make the weapon more versatile a spear like blade was made at the top of the weapon and an axe was at the back.

If it was as large as a mace, or a throwing axe, could these weapons be used as a throwing weapon, penetrate the armour? say iron armour?

Ive heard that the smaller hammers were used on horse back and the larger ones which are often called polearms, used for taking riders of their horses.  

One battle that the warhammer was used was the battle of towton 1461.

The first link shows a picture of the force of a  warhammer which hits a human skull - its quite scary..

http://www.the-exiles.org/Images/lejuepoleaxe/image11.gif

The second is a link to some information.

http://medieval.stormthecastle.com/armorypages/medieval_war_hammer.htm

yeah war hammers and big arse axes - my kind of weapons.

And no the actual hammer head would not have been that large.
maybe 1 or 2 pounds at the most.
Strap a bag of sugar to the end of a broom handle and see how easy it is to wield.
A 1 pound head would have been realistic. With a pointed end it would have easily been capable of penetrating most armour. And a flat end for everyone else. 

But thrown - like lycurgus says: why ?

Out of that lot these two are my favourites.


A full on two handed battle hammer and a neat little belt job for up close work after you've knocked the armoured bugger off his horse (or at least used the long hammer to break the horses knees - best tactic all round)

and why bother with a spear when you've got a pouch of shaped glandes and a sling

Anyway I thought dwarves always threw axes.  

lol I've never liked horses - can't understand why they don't get eaten more

The small hammer pictured is called a "bec de corbin" or Ravens's beak. Not only were these good for penetrating armor, but it turns out the beak is perfect for penetrating into eye slits on the helmets.

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Well no - but it's a case of realism I'm afraid.
The fantasy war hammers heads would probably weigh anywhere between 50-100 pounds. Now put that on the end of a long stick and no bugger's going to lift it. let alone swing it all day.

There was a realistic one in the first conan movie that was wood with metal banding.
They were designed to knock a knight either off his horse or off his feet (and of course also very effective against horses knees - then you'd move in with the small spikey ones.  

Nor am I convinced that breaking even their fetlocks would be as easy as it's made out to be. It would take an enormous amount of nerve to stand and swing at a ton of animal coming at you at 30 mph carrying a heavily armed man who is also intent on disembowelling you. Also horses are not entirely devoid of intelligence, and are perfectly capable of detecting the danger and avoiding it.