The Polish-Lithuanian Hussar was a mounted fortress equipped with four or more weapons, the lance primary, depending on the adversary. The Habsburg forces grounded in traditional technique suffered defeats from their ferocity and agility. To the east, the Ottoman Empire methodically pressed the border between Christianity and Islam. The defenders of the faith were lightly armored for maximum agility and the Polish hussar carried weapons matched to the task including the war hammer, directly copied from the Eastern model. This example typifies the form. It is decorated with silver scrolling foliage, specific to Western taste. An iron spine protects the haft from being severed by a sword cut. Additionally, this example retains its original cloth covering. 24 1/2" length.