Couteau de Brèche
Unknown Artist
ca. 1500
Medium
Steel, wood (beech)
Dimensions
L. 77 5/8 in. (197.1 cm); L. of head 24 in. (61 cm); W. 1 3/4 in. (4.5 cm); Wt. 4 lb. 8 oz. (2041.2 g)
Classification
Shafted Weapons
Culture
French
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.272
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of late medieval warfare with the *Couteau de Br*, a formidable French shafted weapon dating to around 1500. This imposing polearm, standing nearly 6½ feet (197 cm) tall and weighing over 4 pounds (2 kg), features a robust steel head measuring 24 inches (61) long—ideal for breaching walls and gates during sieges. Its beech wood shaft provides balance and strength, showcasing the practical ingenuity of French arms makers in an era of frequent conflicts like the Italian Wars. Crafted anonymously by skilled artisans, the *Couteau de Brèche* (meaning "breach knife") exemplifie...