Medieval Flails

The flail was one of the most deadly weapons used in military warfare in medieval times. Made from a shorter stick made of wood and at least one heavy weight attached to the end of the handle with a stout chain, the flail was a military weapon that was fashioned after tools used to thresh grain in the field. The farming tool has a much shorter chain, usually just one link, and the secondary piece attached to it was usually a long wooden handle, not a deadly metal weight.

History of the Flail

Though used for threshing grain, a flail was sometimes used interchangeably with a cat o’nine tails as a whip-like tool to administer punishment for crimes against the state and church. But unlike the whip or any other similar weapon, the flail was more commonly used in combat, as it was especially effective when in the hands of skilled cavalry.

The flail provided a great advantage to a horseman because the speed of a charging horse added even more momentum to the swing of the weapon, adding even greater levels of impact to the ball at the end. With many flails featuring weights bristling with cruel, razor-sharp spikes, this added momentum would often prove strong enough to pierce even the strongest armor.

How Flails Were Used in the Battlefield

Whether on foot or mounted, defending against a flail attack was often difficult. The weighted chain of the flail could easily bend around or over shields or entangle armored limbs, and one swift jerk from the wielder could send an opponent off-balance and reeling even if they weren’t injured.

Even the very sight of a fully armored knight wielding a flail above their head, whirling it as they advanced upon you on the battlefield, was enough to turn even the most stalwart foe’s knees to jelly. And then, of course, they would be literally turned to jelly by a well-aimed swing of that same flail.

However, for as devastating a weapon as it was, the flail was an incredibly difficult one to master. Because of the unpredictable nature of the way the flail moved while swung, it was all too easy to hit yourself instead of your enemy.

Perfect Your Medieval Look with Our Flail Collection

Here at Medieval Collectibles, we carry a full line of these imposing and deadly weapons. Our flail designs include those with stylized skull heads, with spikes, with multiple spiked balls, and traditional designs as well.

Whether you’re looking for a full-size museum-quality replica flail, a medieval fantasy flail, or any other type of flail you can think of, we have the best selection anywhere.