| A battle axe (also battle-axe or
| |
| | Battle axes were also common in Northern
|
| battle-ax) is an axe specifically
| |
| | Europe in the "Viking Age" (9th and 10th
|
| designed as a weapon. Battle axes were
| |
| | C) and up to the 16 Century, see Viking
|
| specialized versions of utility axes.
| |
| | Age arms and armour.
|
| Many were suitable for use in one hand,
| |
| | Most medieval European battle axes had
|
| while others were larger and were wielded
| |
| | broad, socketed heads (meaning that the
|
| two-handed. Axes designed for warfare
| |
| | axe head has an opening into which the
|
| ranged in weight from just over 1 lb to 6
| |
| | haft is inserted.), and some included
|
| lb, and in length from just over a foot
| |
| | long strips of metal (langets) along the
|
| to upwards of five feet, such as the
| |
| | haft to prevent the haft from being
|
| Danish axe or the sparth axe. Anything
| |
| | damaged during battle. Many polearms,
|
| longer than five feet would arguably fall
| |
| | such as halberds and pollaxes, are
|
| more into the category of polearms.
| |
| | variations of the form of the battle axe.
|
| Through the course of human history,
| |
| | The axes had fallen out of favor among
|
| commonplace objects have been pressed
| |
| | knights and nobility replaced by swords.
|
| into service as weapons. Axes, by virtue
| |
| | However, when armor designed to defeat
|
| of their ubiquity, are no exception.
| |
| | swords appeared, simpler weapons were
|
| Besides axes designed for combat, there
| |
| | employed. The mace could crush though
|
| were many axes that were both tools and
| |
| | armor and damage the tissue underneath.
|
| weapons. Axes could be designed as
| |
| | The battle-axe took this one step
|
| throwing weapons as well (see the
| |
| | further, by concentrating the weight on a
|
| Francisca for an example). Axes were
| |
| | wedge it crushed through armor and easily
|
| always cheaper than swords and far more
| |
| | cut flesh.
|
| available.
| |
| | In Napoleonic times and later, equine
|
| Overview
| |
| | specialists, or Farriers in military
|
| Battle axes generally weigh far less than
| |
| | service carried heavy long axes. Though
|
| modern splitting axes, especially mauls,
| |
| | these could be used for fighting, their
|
| because they were designed to cut flesh
| |
| | primary use was logistical. The branded
|
| rather than wood; consequently more
| |
| | hooves of horses were removed to prove
|
| narrow, slicing blades are the norm. This
| |
| | that they had died. Napoleon's Pioneer
|
| facilitates deep, grievous wounds,
| |
| | Corps also carried axes that were used
|
| additionally, a lighter weapon is much
| |
| | for both clearing a path and fighting.
|
| quicker in combat. The handles of
| |
| | This is an example of a battle axe that
|
| military axes were often reinforced with
| |
| | was specialized for the use of horsemen.
|
| metal bands called langetts so that an
| |
| | A Note the hole on the haft for the
|
| enemy warrior could not cut the wooden
| |
| | accommodation of a leather thong to be
|
| handle. Some axes even had all-metal
| |
| | passed over the wrist, the belt hook for
|
| handles.
| |
| | ease of carrying when not in use and the
|
| Stone axes have been in use since at
| |
| | lagnets. This example dates from the last
|
| least the 3rd millennium BC, see
| |
| | quarter of the fifteenth century and is
|
| Battle-axe people. They were followed by
| |
| | 27 inches long. The haft is a
|
| copper, bronze, iron and steel axes.
| |
| | replacement. The punched decoration on
|
| In the eastern Mediterranean the
| |
| | the blade suggests German manufacture.
|
| double-bladed labrys axe was prevalent,
| |
| | Other variations of this design include a
|
| and the sagaris, described as either
| |
| | hammer face instead of the spike behind
|
| single or double bladed became associated
| |
| | the blade.
|
| with the mythological Amazons, though
| |
| | A good reference, contemporary with their
|
| these were generally ceremonial rather
| |
| | use, is the Maciejowski Bible of ca.
|
| than practical tools.
| |
| | 1250.
|
