Back in the Viking era, swords were expensive and only wealthy warriors could afford them. On the other hand, axes were cheap and easy to make.
Axes were often used for cutting down trees, processing wood, and building, which made them a common tool in Scandinavia. As time went by, axes were transformed into game changing Viking combat weapons.
The Axe
The axe was one of the most viking axes common weapons in the Viking world, and was often used in battle. It was used for both killing and hacking opponents at close range. The axe was a versatile weapon and was more affordable than swords, making them easier to afford for the lower classes of people.
Swords were the most expensive Viking weapons and were reserved for warriors who were wealthy and well-trained. This made them the most sought after weapon in the Viking world.
Axes were relatively simple to make and were cheaper than swords. This was because axe heads did not need to be forged from iron or steel, making it much cheaper to make them. Axes also required a lot less metal than swords. This made them easier to produce and more affordable for the lower class of people in the Viking world.
Some axes were very heavy, while others were light and easy to handle. They were also more durable than other edged weapons, which made them a popular choice among the Vikings.
The axes were attached to wooden hafts, which varied in length depending on the specific design of the weapon. Axes with longer hafts were used in battle while those with shorter hafts were more suitable for woodcutting and other tasks.
As the axe head curved, it concentrated all the force of the blow into a small section of the edge, which meant that it was more effective in combat than other edged weapons like swords and sabers. It was also more dependable in the long run because it could be kept sharper for longer by using an oil-based abrasive.
There are many stories in sagas about how axes were used, and some of them include some pretty unusual ways to use them. For example, in chapter 33 of Hardar saga og Holmverja, Sigurdr threw his axe at Thorvaldr, hitting him in the head.
It is not clear if this was a regular practice in battle, but it was a way to kill opponents who were too tough for the axe or whose axe was unable to hit the target. It is also not clear if there were other ways to use an axe that did not involve throwing it.
The Sword
Vikings were famous for their ships, but they also used a variety of weapons in combat. They were important for plundering raids, as well as for self-defence. Swords and axes were used for both stabbing and thrusting.
Swords were generally around 90 cm long and double-edged. Their hilts, or handles, were made of bone, antler or precious metals. They were often decorated with patterns or inlays of gold and silver.
The blades of Viking swords were usually produced from several pieces of iron, rather than a single piece, which produced more flexibility and hardness in the cutting edge. However, this process created weaker sword blades than if a single piece of metal was welded together to form a single blade.
These pattern-welded blades were a common feature of early swords, although this technique gradually went out of use after the 9th century. It was a good technique to produce a patterned blade with varying decorative details, but it was not a reliable way to make strong, hard-wearing swords.
Axes, on the other hand, were a common weapon, and they were usually produced from wrought iron. They were less expensive than swords, so axes were widely used. Some axes were used as throwing weapons, while others were specialized for stabbing. The sagas mention a number of clever tricks with axes, such as the story of Sigurdr throwing an axe at Thorvaldr in chapter 33 of Hardar saga og Holmverja.
One of the most effective ways to strike with an axe was by striking a person in the head. The horns of the head were kept sharp so they could be driven into the throat, causing a deep wound.
Some axes were curved, while others were straight, but both styles are useful for stabbing and thrusting. The curved blades help transfer energy from the arm and shoulder to the point of the edge with maximum efficiency.
Axe hafts were often wrapped in leather to protect them from rust and damage. They were also padded to protect the handle. Axe hafts can sometimes crack, but they are more likely to be damaged when hit by a hard object, such as a stone.
The Shield
A shield was one of the most essential defensive weapons for Viking warriors, as it protected their arms and shoulders from many blows. It could be thrown and dragged around the battlefield as a battering ram, or it could be used as a personal shield wall to deflect or block an attack.
Shields were usually made of wood, though they have been found in a variety of materials. Linden (Tilia, commonly known as basswood in North America) was the most common type, but it was also possible to use spruce, pine or fir. The shields were often carved with scenes or mythological heroes, and some shields were painted and decorated with designs and patterns.
The shield was a weapon of choice for most Viking warriors, and it was used nearly exclusively in combat. The richer Vikings owned a complete set of defensive weapons, including an iron helmet and chainmail, while poorer Vikings would carry only an axe or spear and a shield.
Most Vikings carried a round shield, but larger and wider ones were available. These were especially useful for men who fought in close quarters. The smallest shields were probably less than a metre wide, while the largest could reach a meter across.
They were typically held on the shoulder or slung over the arm when not in combat, although some were also hung on the walls for decoration. Some elaborately decorated shields were given as gifts.
In a battle on the Markarfljot river in chapter 92 of Brennu-Njals saga, Tjorvi tossed his shield at Skarphedinn as he slid across the ice. Skarphedinn jumped over the shield and continued his glide to place his axe in Thrain’s skull.
While the sagas don’t mention shields by name, they are all littered with examples of them breaking or puncturing under incoming swords and axes. A fight between Gunnar and Atli in chapter 43 of Grettis saga, for example, shows that Gunnar’s shield split when Atli delivered a blow with his sword, cutting through part of the shield.
It is believed that a shield’s leather edging was typically attached with a series of small holes all around the edge, and this was often held in place with either nails or iron clamps. Some shields show evidence of these iron or bronze clamps, but it is not always easy to tell where they are from the shield itself.
The Weaponry
Viking axes were powerful weapons that were used on the battlefield and for plundering raids. They were light, fast and well balanced.
They were also very good at delivering crushing blows that inflicted serious wounds. Unlike other edged weapons, an axe's curved cutting edge concentrated all of its power into one small section of the blade. This meant that an axe could punch through a helmet or mail and still have enough power to knock the enemy down on the ground.
Axes were generally made from iron, although some were made of bronze. These bronze axes are known as ‘broken-back seaxes’, because the blade was broken back by having the blade welded onto an iron cutting bit (see photo to left).
These were often used in combat and were more effective than ordinary axes for delivering crushing blows and cutting through leather armour. They were also less likely to break or fall apart in battle, which was important in a time when many warriors did not have access to spare parts.
Besides axes, Vikings also carried swords on their person. These were usually double-edged, meaning they were intended as a slashing rather than stabbing weapon. Swords were regarded as very effective in war and the names of some of them are mentioned in the sagas.
Swords were often decorated with motifs and patterns, and some had inlays of gold or silver on the blade. Some of these were geometric designs, while others were pictorial, depicting wolves, snakes and birds.
In general, Viking swords had highly polished blades that resisted corrosion better than lower quality blades. Some were also adorned with intricate inlays of silver, gold or iron.
The swords of the Vikings were very similar to those of their European contemporaries, with long curved blades and short swept edges. They were also forged in a variety of materials, with some having highly polished surfaces and others being less finished.
Aside from swords, vikings also carried spears on their person, which were a popular means of defence. The length of a typical Viking spearhead ranged from 20 cm to 60 cm. The majority of them were angular, but some were leaf-shaped and some were square or diamond-shaped, which were especially good at penetrating chain mail armor. Spearheads also often had ‘wings' at the base of the socket, which limited the depth of penetration and allowed them to catch and hook an enemy's weapon, shield or body part.
