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Some original axe heads have a clearly visible weld on the hammer (back) side of the eye. The wrap was symmetrical in some cases, while in others it was asymmetrical, with the weld positioned slightly forward of the eye. A steel bit is then welded onto the iron head for the edge. With thinner blades, the blade is folded around what eventually becomes the eye. The hole for the haft (also called the eye) was then punched out with a drift. When looking at original Viking axe heads from axe restorations, especially those that are thick and wedge shaped, they clearly show evidence of having been produced as a single piece. Although these axes were too thin and delicate to be used for splitting wood, they are excellent for splitting skulls. Some axe heads had a very thin, elegant cross section. The cross section of the head near the edge was however often a diamond shape, providing greater strength for the weight of iron. Viking Axe ConstructionĪxe heads typically had a wedge shaped cross section. Hults Bruks and Gransfors Bruks are 2 of the biggest Swedish axe makers. The Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe is a great example of a high quality modern version of a Viking/Dane axe. The steel allowed the axe to hold a better edge than what would have been possible with iron.Īlthough these axes were mostly used for combat, there are some Scandinavian companies that still make these style axes with a more modern feel. The cutting edge of a large axe head ( 22cm / 9 inches long) was made from hardened steel that was welded to the iron head. Broad axes could have crescent shaped edges between 22 and 45cm (9 and 18 inches) long. In the early part of this era, the cutting edge was generally between 7 and 15cm (3 and 6 inches) long, while the axes became much bigger later in the Viking age. In the Viking age, many different types of axe head shapes were used. Axe heads were typically shaped of iron and only had a single edge. When desperate, a poor farmer could simply take his farm axe and use it to fight.Īxes intended for battle were designed to look and operate very differently than farm axes. Even the simplest farmhand had to have a wood axe to chop and split wood. The axe was often the obvious choice of weapon for the poorest men in the Viking age. They were not only used for fast, deadly attacks, but also for various nasty and sneaky moves. In reality, Viking battle axes were well balanced, light and fast. When thinking of authentic Viking axes, most people normally first think of battle axes, and a common image is that of a huge weapon that can only be used by trolls. The battle ready Viking axe was not only used for warfare, but also served as a tool on farms and for cutting timber, especially for building their Viking ships. Other Viking axes were designed for perforating enemy armor, or cutting through helmets in close combat with their relatively short cutting edge. Viking axes are normally made light enough to be thrown and were handcrafted axes with forged axe heads with the edges hardened. Specific historical axes used by the Vikings are also known as Danish axes, an early type of polearm. A Viking axe was a deadly weapon with few equals in the hands of a Norseman. Viking axes are not fancy and they do not have to be. Viking axes were manufactured in numerous sizes, from small hand and throwing axes to huge battle and war axes that Viking warriors wielded when committing themselves to a battle. Viking axes are universally as simple as they are effective. Viking battle axes were made in different one and two handed designs, all manufactured with either carbon steel or forged steel heads.
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They could be used in a village, or on a farm to perform a number of tasks, yet when used in a fight, they became deadly weapons that could shatter shields and cleave through armor as easily as splitting logs. Viking axes were weapons designed for many uses. These weapons were brutally effective and well-suited to the wild but powerful strokes that Vikings utilized when they went into battle. Also known as a medieval throwing axe, these axes were both easy to create and repair. The battle ready Viking axe was an often used weapons wielded by Viking warriors. The axe was an important weapon for the Vikings – here’s why. These are a collection of Viking axe facts from several sources.