Bill (roncone)

Culture Northern Italian

Datelate 1400s–early 1500s

Mediumstamped and chased steel, restored wood

Dimensions107 9/16 in. x 27.9 cm (8 15/16 ft, 11 in.)
Weight: 4 lb., 13.5 oz

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsObverse: Near back edge of blade, body has stamped row of 7 toothed crescents ("eyebrows") at base of each is stamped dot. These are in turn cut through by a deeply cut line, & to inside of this is another line so rendered. Just forward of this motif, slightly ahead of peen, is a deeply punched quadrangular mark whose sides are noticeably concave & which is pyramidal within the cavity. Reverse: Similarly treated, but with row of 6 crescents which is framed on the outer side by pair of cut lines.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.135

DescriptionLong, one-piece steel head secured by nails to a restored wooden, untapered shaft. Flat body of head has a straight back with a recurved cutting edge opposite, drawn out in low, blunted point at mid-height. This is opposed by a pointed peen of flattened hexagonal section, projecting from the body at a right angle. Below this, the back edge is flat and unsharpened. The body extends in a long, acutely tapering double edge thrusting spike of like section as peen, sharpened on both edges. At base of spike, cutting edge is finished in semicircular fluke of flattened hexagonal section, sharpened inside and out. Base of body has pair of pointed rectangular-section lugs with decorative triangular molding between them. four-sided integral socket, widening at base and extending down shaft as pair of langets. Restored octagonal section wooden staff is long, and extends without taper in flattened octagonal section to the straight-cut butt without ferrule. The nails that secure the head are modern, and one of these is lost. Of those remaining, two have plain flat heads (common nails), two have low-domed iron ones, and three have similarly formed brass heads.
Label TextLike many other staff weapons, the roncone evolved from an agricultural implement, essentially a pruning-hook used to trim trees and hedges. The nearby English bill is a simpler and heavier version of the same weapon. Here the weapon is distinguished by a gracefully elongated shape—though the multiple spikes and sharpened beak are meant to be both functional and intimidating.ProvenancePurchased by JWH from French and Co. (NYC), their no. 32934-B, on 18 Jan. 1949. Given to the Armory 1954, originally accessioned at 5002. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, january 2014.

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