Grainflail

A is a common threshing tool favored as a peasant weapon, basically an articulated staff. Grainflails consist of two 18–36 (46–91 ) wooden s joined together by a  thong. The handle staff is usually longer than the impact staff. One stick is held and swung, causing the other (the swipple) to strike a pile of grain, loosening the husks.

The precise dimensions and shape of flails were determined by generations of farmers to suit the particular grain they were harvesting. For example, flails used by farmers to process wheat were generally made from two pieces of wood, the handle being about 1.5 m long by 3 cm in diameter, and the second stick being about 1 m long by about 3 cm in diameter, with a slight taper towards the end. Flails for other grains, such as rice or spelt, would have had different dimensions.

As with most tools, grainflails can often be used as weapons by s who may lack access to better weapons.

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