University of Notre Dame

 

Hesburgh Libraries

Rare Books & Special Collections

Weapons & Other Military Objects

Many crests and coats of arms have appeared often on shields for use in battle. Because of this, it makes sense that symbols of weapons and other tools used in battle appear at times in heraldry. Below are shown weapons, such as spears and swords, as well as other heraldic battle symbols including grenades and scaling ladders.

  • battle axe
    battle-axe

  • beacon
    beacon

  • broad arrow
    broad arrow

  • caltrap
    caltrap

  • Catherine's wheel
    Catherine's wheel

  • fasces
    fasces

  • gauntlet
    gauntlet

  • grenade
    grenade

  • lance
    lance
    or javelin

  • morion
    morion

  • pheon
    pheon

  • portcullis
    portcullis

  • scaling ladder
    scaling ladder

  • scymitar
    scymitar

  • seax
    seax

  •  

  • sword
    sword

  •  

  • tilting spear
    tilting-spear