The axe was one of the most viking shields common types of weapons and tools used by medieval Scandinavian people. It was used as a weapon on the battlefield and also for woodworking purposes.
Axes were a very effective weapon in battle because they could cause a lot of damage to their opponents. They could tear the shields of their enemies and also be used to attack them in close combat.
Handmade
The handcrafted pair of viking battle axes is a great addition to any warrior's collection. They come with a sturdy wooden handle and feature a drop forged 1055 carbon steel blade that is ready to cut through anything you throw at it.
Axes were a popular Viking weapon, especially for those who could not afford a sword. They were light and easily carried, which meant that they could still deal serious damage to their enemies if they were used in combat.
This one-handed axe is a perfect addition to any Viking fanatic's arsenal and comes with a solid wood handle that features Norse Elder Futhark runes along the sides. It's razor sharp and comes in a beautiful sheath for storage and transport.
Its sturdy handle is accented with hand carved Norse Elder Futhark runes, and the axe head is also decorated with a cross pierced through the haft near the handle. It makes a wonderful gift for any Viking enthusiast and can be customized with different motifs.
They're available in different sizes and designs, including a large double handed axe that can be used with one or two hands. This axe can be ordered with either blunt or sharpened edges and comes with a choice of a hardwood shaft or an aluminum haft.
Another option is the Cold Steel Great Axe. It has a 48-inch handle with a 10-inch cutting edge. It weighs 4.6 pounds and is a great weapon for those who want to go in with a real heavyweight on their side.
You can also find a variety of other axes on the market, including Viking axe heads that are designed specifically for reenactment purposes. The heads are made from high carbon steel and can be tempered for use in combat.
Axes were incredibly important for the Vikings because they could be used as a defense in several ways. First, they were often used as a shield because they were lightweight and did not tend to break or split like a regular shield.
They could also be used as a machete or falchion, depending on their size and the strength of the handle. They were usually lighter and thinner than swords, but could still cut through shields and even helmets.
Durable
When people think of a Viking, the first image that comes to mind is a fearless warrior using a battle-stained sword or massive axe. However, axes were also used for other purposes as well, and they came in many different shapes and sizes.
During the Viking age, axes were not just used for combat; they were also used as tools that helped farmers in their daily tasks. Farm axes were much smaller in size and were not designed for warfare, while axes that were used in war were more powerful.
Axes that were used in battle had a long cutting edge and came in a variety of shapes. Some of these were broad axes and had a crescent-shaped edge, while others had a more curved shape. These axes were usually made of steel and were attached to an iron head.
These axes were very durable and could withstand the wear and tear of battle. They were also extremely effective at dealing with opponents and their equipment.
In addition, axes could be hooked over certain parts of the body, which would compel an opponent to move in a certain direction. This would give the user control of their opponent, which was essential for a successful attack.
Alternatively, the axe could be hooked over the edge of the shield, which would allow the user to slash at the edge of the shield or pull it away from an attacker. This was a very effective technique in Viking combat, and it’s often seen in sagas.
For example, the Sturlu saga (chapter 22) says that Thorsteinn hooked one of Sturla’s men with his axe and dragged him to where he could stab him. This is a very practical and realistic use of an axe, which shows how a skilled warrior could quickly switch from one weapon to another.
Thankfully, there are now a variety of axes available that are both faithful to the Viking era and fun and practical. These axes are great gifts for history enthusiasts or those who want to recreate the Viking era in their own backyard.
Lightweight
The axe was the most common weapon used in the Viking era and was also an essential tool for everyday life. They were used to build ships, houses, carts and other objects as well as in battle.
The Viking axes were light in weight and easy to move. They were made from a variety of materials such as wood, metal and stone.
Axes were also commonly used in farm tasks such as chopping timber. Unlike swords, they did not require a large amount of expensive and scarce metals. They were therefore a common and affordable weapon to the average viking warrior.
Although they were lightweight, a well-crafted Viking axe could be incredibly dangerous in combat. They were strong enough to split a man's skull, or to throw against an opponent's shield.
They were also very fast and had great range, making them perfect for throwing or striking at a target from a distance.
Early Vikings often used heavy axes, but the lighter Dane axes were soon introduced and became popular for both combat and general use. This design gave the Vikings speed and maneuverability in battle and helped to keep them from using heavy weapons.
Some axes were made of bronze (right) and other metals such as iron or steel. This was done to reduce the possibility that the haft would break.
Axes were also designed in such a way that they were hard to strike but not too hard that they could not be controlled. This was so that they were not too hard to hold, allowing the warrior to control their movement easily in a battle.
The cutting edge of the axe was usually longer than the haft. This allowed the axe to be sharper and cut harder.
It was also possible to hone an axe's blade by hand. This was a good option because it reduced the risk of damage from falling and knocking.
In some cases, a Viking axe's haft was wrapped in metal to make it less likely to break. This was suggested by the sagas, which said that Hrappr Orgumleidason, who had been seducing Gudrun, carried an axe with a wrapped haft (vafinskepta).
A well-crafted axe had a long cutting edge. It was not uncommon to find an axe with a cutting edge that was over 22cm long, and some sagas mention that axe heads that had been honed by hand had very sharp edges.
Authentic
Axes were one of the most common weapons in medieval Scandinavia, and they often served as both a tool and weapon. They were especially important during the Viking age, when swords were largely unavailable for military purposes.
Viking axes were designed to be strong, light and easily maneuvered in the hand of a skilled warrior. The handle was typically sweeping, with four lugs to ensure a secure grip on the blade. The axe's handle was also wrapped in leather near the blade for better control.
During the Viking era, many people were poor, and axes were often the only tools they had available. Axes could be made from wood or iron, and they were a crucial part of the everyday lives of many Vikings.
The design of axes changed over time as a result of the development of iron. Some axes had a long head (or haft), while others were shorter. They may have been used by a single man or a group of warriors.
Some axes had a curved, round back (hammer end), while others had a flat and thick back with a single, sharp edge. The eye of the axe (where the blade would end) was usually D-shaped or shield-shaped, as seen on three historical Viking-age axe heads to the left and in the reproduction axe head to the right.
These axes were used as tools for cutting and splitting wood, but some were also made into weapons. Some were small throwing axes, while others were large broad-axes with crescent shaped edges.
As the Viking era developed, axes became much more sophisticated, with horns on both ends of the head (oxarhyrna) that could be pointed to create a variety of offensive attacks. The horns were sharp enough to slash through plate armour and could even be driven into the throat of an opponent, as was done by Kolbeinn in chapter 5 of Graenlendinga thattur.
Axes were so popular that Viking axes are found in many places beyond the Nordic region, including Europe and North America. Some axes were made of stone, while others were forged from iron or steel.
