This was a real weapon used by the Germanic Tribes in the days of the Roman attempt to conquer Germany around 100AD. It consisted of a piece of wood about a meter long and about 16 to 20 centimeters thick. Although it looked like a piece of firewood it was extremely effective as a short range weapon. The base of the weapon was rounded providing the user with a hand grip that was about one foot long. The front two feet were formed into an equilateral triangle so that in use guaranteed a strike by one of the sharp edges.

In use the cudgel was joined by a small shield that was either round or oblong in shape. Although this weapon was used for striking in practice it was used like a short slashing sword. Its main purpose in battle was to break bones or smash skulls. For this it was eminently suited as the sharpened edges of this weapon were capable of hitting with a force exceeding 400 pounds per square inch. It only requires about 15 pounds of force to break bones. In the hands of an expert the German cudgel could be a terrifying and deadly weapon.

Under the circumstances the German Tribes were living under in the first century AD they had no trouble making these weapons as they had a good supply of timber at hand, and all the tools they would need to make one was an axe. The shaping of the cudgel didn’t really need the hands of an expert as any tribesman was capable of making his own weapons from locally available material.

This weapon as used to defeat and slaughter three Roman Legions in the Thuringer forest by Germanic tribesmen lead by their leader Arriinus

Have to check this on the internet at home!