Axes were an essential tool for the Vikings and used for a variety of purposes. They were also a weapon that was carried on raiding expeditions.
Axes were often thrown during combat, as a way of getting a good hit on an opponent. This was especially true when fighting on the ground where fortifications were present.
Axe Head
Axes are a popular weapon amongst Vikings and have been discovered in hundreds of Viking graves. They are a versatile tool which can be used for both combat and everyday tasks, making them a favourite for Vikings of all social statuses.
They can be categorized into many different types depending on their function and purpose. For example, farm axes were designed for everyday tasks whilst war axes were created to be more effective in battle. The shape of an axe head was also crucial to the performance of each design.
Some axe heads had a wedge-shaped design which meant they would be more secure in a handle. This was a common practice in the Viking world as it gave the axe head a strong joint with the handle which could be hammered into place securely.
Other axe heads were designed to be more simple in nature and had thinner cross sections which made them more lightweight and easier to manoeuvre. These designs are more suited to splitting wood rather than cutting it.
During the Viking Age there were numerous mentions of runes being added to axes as they were thought to have magical properties. This made it important for Vikings to be able to easily identify their weapons so they could be sure to know which one to use when fighting.
Another way to make it easy for the Vikings to tell which type of axe they had was by decorating the axe head with images and patterns. This was a common practice for both farm axes and war axes and it was something that was very likely to have been done by hand rather than by a machine which would have been more difficult and time consuming.
The vikings were also known for their creativity when it came to completing their weapons, and they were always looking for ways to personalize their weapons which can be seen in the different engravings that have been found on axes from this period.
There are a few different methods of etching and marking the axe head however the most common is by using acid etching which was a method that the Vikings may have had access to but not necessarily on a daily basis. This process uses a strong electrolyte which is placed onto the metal and dries to form an oxidised mark, this is what is seen in the viking axes stencils you see here.
Axe Hand
In medieval Scandinavia, the axe was one of the most common weapons used by the Vikings. It was used in battles as well as building ships, houses and other structures. It was a powerful weapon that could be used for throwing or chopping and was primarily made from wrought iron. It was also commonly seen in art and literature as a symbol of power.
There were two main types of axe design: the farm axe which was made for woodwork and the battle axe which was designed to be more powerful and effective in combat. The difference between the two was in the shape of the axe head. Axes made for fighting were usually larger in size and had a longer cutting edge to give them more power when striking their targets.
Another important difference between the two was in how they were shaped. Axes that were intended for warfare would have a bearded axe design which allowed for a longer cutting edge while also decreasing the weight of the axe and increasing its manoeuvrability. Axes that were intended for farming were more traditional in their design and had a straight edged blade which was less powerful but easier to use when chopping.
The axe head was often decorated with engravings and runes. These were thought to have magical properties and were added to some axes for this purpose.
Some axes were also painted, engraved or etched with designs and patterns. These were particularly common on mammen axes which had long, thin handles and were used for spearing or striking.
These stencils are an excellent way of decorating your axe head with some great Viking art. They can be purchased at a variety of different places, including amazon.
You can even purchase a Viking axes stencil as a gift for someone special! These are a great gift for any history enthusiast, re-enactor or someone who just wants to have an awesome piece of Scandinavian history on their wall!
Axes were a powerful weapon that had an incredible impact on Viking culture. They were considered a symbol of power and they were frequently referred to as “Witch of the Helmet” or “Fiend of the Shield”. Axes were also frequently used in stories and sagas as well as being shown in Viking art.
Axe Shield
Viking battle-axes were among the feared and most effective weapons in the Viking era, cleaving heads and bodies at a single blow. They were also very popular in Scandinavian sagas, and they can still be found in many archaeological contexts.
They were not limited to the battlefield – they were also used for hunting and woodworking. They were a useful weapon when paired with a sword, spear, halberd or shield and could even be concealed in a cloak. The axe was the most common of all surviving Viking weapons, with an estimated 100,000 examples recovered in the course of archaeological research.
It was not uncommon for axes to be paired with swords, which is evident from the two stone crosses in Middleton, North Yorkshire depicting warriors during the ninth century. The first cross is adorned with a sword, spear or halberd, shield and seax; the second shows just the axe.
Aside from being a highly practical weapon, the axe was also impressively large and aesthetically pleasing. The axe-head was about a foot long, and the blade a metre or so long.
The axe-head was designed to be swung with both hands, and it was crafted from iron, so it was very durable. A particularly good example is the Mammen axe from Jutland in Denmark, which is inlaid with designs in silver.
Another awe-inspiring axe design was the skeggox or bearded axe, which has an asymmetrical head and a very long blade. The skeggox was one of the most interesting Viking weapons, and is referred to in Jan Petersen’s 1919 book on the Norwegian Viking sword.
Although they are not as well known today, the Viking axe is still an important part of Norse history. The viking axe is a secondary melee weapon unlocked via the Medieval Pass or 7000 CR and is available in a variety of styles and sizes.
Axe Horn
During the Viking age it was common for everyone to have their own axe. They were used for various tasks including woodworking and as weapons on the battlefield.
Many axes were decorated with viking patterns and images. This was a good way for the warriors to show their loyalty and courage to their king.
The axe horn was also a very important part of the axe. The axe horn was made of iron and forged by hand. This could take a lot of time and would probably have been a task that was not suitable for most people in the Viking age.
There are several different types of axe horn. These include type A, type B and type C.
Axes with type A horns have pointed spurs and a slender neck. This allowed for a larger cutting surface while minimizing the weight of the weapon. It was also a great tool for hooking an enemy’s shield, allowing a Viking to pull it down and kill their opponent easily.
Type B axes have pointed spurs but the lower edge of the blade curves to form a “beard”. This blade shape allowed a Viking to quickly hook an enemy’s shield, allowing them to kill their opponent easily. This type of axe was popular until around 840 AD.
Some axes have a very thin cross-section which is very good for splitting wood but too delicate for fighting. Some axes had very thick wedge shaped axe heads which were often used for splitting skulls.
Another type of axe is called the Berserker axe. This axe was often thrown at the enemy and this was an effective way of disrupting their cohesion by making holes in their defenses.
This type of axe was most often found in the north of Sweden and is believed to have been in use from 600 until 840. These axes were very durable and were made from a high quality steel that was hardened.
This axe has a large handle and is a good choice for anyone looking to get a real Viking axe. It weighs 4.6 pounds and is very strong. It is also very accurate in size and design. The axe is also very well constructed, and it has a sharp blade that will definitely cut through anything.