The axe was a vital part of every Viking warrior's arsenal. It was inexpensive and easy to make, making it a weapon that even the poorest Norseman could afford.
Axes were often paired with Viking axes shields and used for a variety of attacks. They could cleave the head down to the shoulders or hook an opponent's ankle, throwing them off balance and onto the ground.
Axes were a very common weapon
Axes were one of the most common weapons among vikings. They were commonly used in everyday life as well as in battle. Axes were much more versatile than swords, as they could slash, stab and hook their opponents’ weapon or shield. They were also much more affordable, making them a popular choice for many Vikings.
Most axes used in the Viking age were wood axes, which were made for cutting and splitting wood. They were designed to be lightweight and easy to carry around, but were still heavy enough to chop or split a lot of wood quickly.
However, there were also axes that were specifically meant for use in battle. These were usually larger than farm axes, with a long shaft and a longer, sharper blade. They were generally between one and five feet long, and often had a haft that was engraved with elaborate designs.
The blades of these axes were usually about 7 to 15cm (3-6in) long and had a single edge. They were usually forged very thin, incorporating a harder type of steel near the edge to facilitate an even sharper edge.
Some axes had thick wedge-shaped heads, such as the historic axe in the middle left of the photo above, but many also had very delicate, elegant cross sections. A few of these had very sharp edges, so that they could be used to slice through a bone.
They also had very strong horns on the head, which were used to cut people in the neck or throat. This was especially dangerous when using an axe to slash, as the horns can widen more than a spear or sword point, creating vicious wounds that would kill an opponent very easily.
Despite their ubiquity and iconic status, there have been few scholarly studies of historical Viking axes. The most important of these is Jan Petersen’s axe typology, which assigns a letter to different axe designs and uses the same principles as his famous sword typology.
There are several types of axes that were used by Vikings, with some being more common than others. These include skeggox, which is a bearded axe with an asymmetrical head and the lower edge extending downwards like a beard, and breid-ox, which is a broad axe with crescent shaped edges 22 to 45cm (9-18in) long. Other axes were smaller, with the upper blade extending below the head to allow the user to slash or stab their opponent.
Axes were a very dangerous weapon
In the Viking age, an axe was an essential tool for every farmhand. It was used for chopping, splitting, and even building houses and ships. As time went on, these axes were developed into weapons that were used by warriors in battle.
Viking axes were a powerful weapon and they shaped the way people saw warfare in the medieval world. In a single blow, they could cleave heads and bodies.
These axes were also very heavy and had to be held in both hands to be effective. This made them difficult to control and they were prone to breaking in fights.
As a result, they were very dangerous and they caused many deaths among vikings. They were often referred to as the “Witch of the Helmet”, the “Wolf of the Wound” or the “Fiend of the Shield”.
While the Dane axe was a common axe in the Viking Age, it was not the only type of axe that vikings used in battle. Other axes were also used in combat, but they were not as powerful and they could not cleave as well as the Danish axes.
The axes were made with iron and they had one edge. This was much different than the sharp blades on farm axes, which had two edges and were usually used for splitting wood.
Axes were a very dangerous weapon that caused a lot of injuries during wartime. The axe head could be shattered easily if it was hit by a hard object, especially a stone or an enemy’s weapon.
Another dangerous part of the axe was the blade itself. It was very sharp and could cause serious injury if it was accidentally cut by an opponent’s sword or spear.
This was why a warrior had to wear a helmet when using an axe in combat.
In fact, axes were so dangerous that some sagas have mentioned that axe heads would often fly off their hafts during a fight. This was very frustrating for a fighter who was trying to use his axe to kill his opponents.
Some of the axes were designed so that the head could be hooked over an object, like a fortification wall. This was a clever move and it is described in several Viking sagas, including chapter 62 of Eyrbyggja saga.
Axes were a very effective weapon
Vikings were a hardened group of warriors who thrived in combat and were able to defeat most opponents. One of their primary weapons was axes. They were a versatile weapon that could dismember armored limbs and break shields in two with a single blow. Axes were also lightweight enough to be swung with only one hand, making them a very effective weapon for close combat.
Viking axes were used for chopping and splitting wood, but they could also be used in battle. In fact, they were the weapon of choice for most Vikings because they were a cheaper option than swords and spears.
Compared to swords, Viking axes were much lighter and required less metal to make. This meant that they were easier to produce and less expensive, so Vikings had a better chance of having enough axes to fight in a war or raid.
Axes were also very durable, and could be forged and tempered over time. This meant that they were often made into more powerful versions than their farm axes.
The blades of axes ranged from very wide and thick to thin and sharp, with each edge being different from the next. The sharp edges on the axe head were used for stabbing and slashing attacks.
When the axe was not being used in battle, it was often stored under a shield. This was a great advantage because the blade would not be as easy to cut with a spear or sword.
Viking axes also had a hammer on the back of the axe head that could be used to strike a non-lethal blow against an opponent. This was a common practice to humiliate an opponent or to strike a blow that they would not be able to defend themselves against.
Another interesting move with axes was hooking the head of the axe over a wall to get through it. It is described in the sagas and is an interesting technique that would have been very dangerous, but was also used for self defense.
Axes were an effective tool for vikings and they helped them dominate many areas of Northern Europe. Axes were also an important part of building the famed longboats, which were a staple of their ships and their lives.
Axes were a very expensive weapon
Axes were a very popular weapon among vikings, who used them to build ships, houses, and carts. They also used them in battle to slash through the shields and helmets of their enemies.
Viking axes were very popular because they were easy to use and were extremely effective in combat. They were also very light, so they could be easily carried by Viking warriors during a battle.
Most axes were forged by blacksmiths, and were made of iron or steel. Compared to swords, which required much more skill and material, axes were cheaper and easier to produce. This meant that a poorer viking man might have been able to afford an axe.
Axes were often used as funeral relics, and were also a common gift for relatives. They were carved in a variety of shapes and sizes. They often featured motifs that indicated the transition between pagan times and Christianity, including the tree Yggdrasil and rooster Gullinkambi (also known as the Old Norse "golden comb").
There are many different types of axes. Some were very large and heavy, while others were small and light. Axes were also shaped differently according to their purpose. For example, the bearded axe was a popular type of Viking axe, as it had a unique blade design that proved very useful in battle.
Another popular type of axe was the skeggox, which had a long, thin blade with a curved edge. This type of axe was popular during the early medieval period in Scandinavia.
AXES FOR THE HONORABLE KING
Some axes were crafted in the shape of a crown, which was a traditional symbol for the Norwegian monarchy. The crown was made of horn or wood, and it was also decorated with decorative inlays. These inlays included a lot of intricate details and often included symbols of the king’s name, crest, and coat of arms.
Axes with a bearded blade were also popular during the medieval period in Scandinavia. They had a curved neck that protected the Viking’s hand during a battle, and they were lighter than other axes.
