Talk:Splitting maul

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[edit] "Combat Maul" Image Removal

The caption of the image stated it was used in combat. The image was taken from this page here. It is a part of an online museum. The particular maul was used at Alcatraz, apparently for driving spikes (as in a railroad, or concrete construction). Not quite combat. The image also lacks proper copyright information. -- Xiliquiern 19:25, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Disputed

I believe the entire section on "Combat use" is yet another piece of fiction created by RPG designers. A real war hammer bears almost no resemblance to a maul, and neither resembles the "mental image" of large, either plain or ornate metal or stone blocks, usually longer than they are tall, mounted on a long, two-handed handle in a "T" shape which in fact seems to come from the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay game and/or the movie Conan the Barbarian. In my reference books I find no reference to such a weapon, which is not surprising since a great lump of stone on a long handle would be totally impractical in combat. -- Securiger 12:46, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

I agree with Securiger. The title of the page is "Splitting Maul", and I am unable to locate any reference to formal use of a splitting maul in combat. Boarding axes, hatchets, etc., are readily found in the literature, but a splitting maul used this way is not only not found, but is a tactical liability. The mauls described on the page, should be restricted to wedge-headed tools. Furthermore, all images of warhammers that I found resemble a fireman's axe or perhaps even a roofer's axe, with a small hammer end, and a spike or small blade. Other images of warhammers resemble an engineers hammer or mini-sledge. Combat presents no use for a splitting maul, as even breaching fortifications have generally included axes, spikes, hammers, or rams. Yankee-Whiskey-Papa 19:44, 4 October 2007 (UTC)