Viking Wooden Axes
Axes were a fearsome weapon in the hands of a Viking warrior. They were relatively cheap to make and had the advantage over swords of being lighter.
One side of the axe of Mammen displays a bird motif, possibly the rooster Gullinkambi or the Phoenix. This symbol, like the pagan tree Yggdrasil, belongs to Norse mythology.
The axe head
The axe head is the most important part of any axe. It needs to be forged of high-quality steel and have a sharp cutting edge that can cut through wood. It also must be strong enough to resist breaking or chipping. In addition, it must be shaped and finished to provide an elegant appearance and to give the axe a good balance between its head and haft.
The heads of viking axes were of varying shapes. Some, such as the bearded axe illustrated above, were designed specifically for battle. The beard was useful for a variety of purposes in combat, including hooking an enemy’s shield or armor and disarming them. It could also be used to slash throats or, when hit with the blunt butt, to knock opponents down and humiliate them.
Another type of axe head was the hoop axe, so called because of its hoop-shaped cross-section. It was forged from a single piece of metal, which was then split down the center to create two arms. These arms were then forge welded together to form the eye of the axe. This was a time-consuming process, but it allowed the smiths to make an extremely durable axe head that could easily cut through steel or stone.
As with other weapons, viking axes were often given names. Saga authors mentioned the hoop axe frequently, with names such as Himintelgja ('heaven-scraper'), Rimmugygr ('battle-hag'), and Tjald-sperra ('tent-spar').
Axes were not only used for chopping wood but as an essential weapon during battle. The curved shape of the axe head meant that it was well-suited for hooking and tripping opponents, as well as parrying swords. The sagas mention that the axe haft was sometimes wrapped with iron to reduce its breakability when used to parry edged weapons or when the axe was otherwise stressed.
At Gransfors Bruk, we have incorporated some of these ancient methods in our production processes. By doing so, we have created a range of axes that is better suited for modern use. Smarter production means that fewer natural resources are used and the axes have a longer life.
The haft
The haft is the shaft of the weapon that connects the head and the handle. The axe head could be attached to the haft by either welding it or driving a wedge into it. Most axes found in Scandinavia had the head secured by a metal wedge. This wedge was typically made of bronze or iron and was shaped to fit the eye in the axe head. Some axes, however, were forged without a metal wedge. A recent discovery of an axe from Harup has one nail that goes through the eye (see here). There is also evidence that some Viking axes had a butt or a ferrule at the bottom of the shaft.
The axe haft is designed for use by both left and right handed warriors. It has a pronounced bend near the head that maximizes the transfer of power from the arm, shoulder and upper body to the point where the edge contacts its target. The haft also has a short grip near the head called the throat and a long grip at the end of the haft, known as the knob.
During battle, the axe was used as a weapon in combination with a sword and spear. It was often used to hook an opponent’s armor or shield in order to disarm them. Its incredibly sharp blade could then slash the enemy’s throat and kill them. The blunt butt of the axe could also be utilized in this way. The pointy “horns” at each end of the axe head could be used to stab the enemy as well, and these would create vicious wounds.
This Viking axe is a great choice for anyone looking for a unique piece of history to hang on their wall or as an awesome tool to wield in the field of battle. Its heavy steel head with a rough "stone" texture is mounted on a wood haft and is a size that can be used for both one-handed or two-handed use. Some simple assembly is required and instructions are included.
The handle
The handle (haut) of a Viking axe was typically made from wood. This allowed for more flexibility than steel handles and a good grip.
The haft was also likely bent slightly, which maximized the transfer of power from arm and shoulder to the point where the edge of the axe touched its target. This was especially important when the axe was used to chop down a tree or other heavy object, as this would increase its cutting power and efficiency.
In addition, the axe had pointed “horns” on each end (oxarhyrna), which were sharp and could be used for slashing attacks. This type of attack was used by Kolbeinn in chapter 5 of Graenlendinga thattur, where he drove the horn of his axe into Thord’s throat, killing him.
During a fight, the axe could also be thrown at an enemy for a surprise attack. This was often done by throwing the axe head at an opponent while they were attacking with spears and swords. In the battle of Stiklestad, for example, Helgi Hardbeinsson threw his wooden axe at Lodinn and caused a serious wound.
While axes were not as common as swords in Viking battles, they were still a very useful weapon. They were cheap and easy to make, and they required less skill to wield than a sword. They were also very effective at chopping down trees and other heavy Viking axe for sale
Axes were also commonly used in close quarter combat to kill or injure opponents. The pointed horns of the axe were useful for hooking an opponent’s ankle to trip them or to slash their throat, while the blunt butt of the axe could be used to bang someone on the head for a humiliating and not lethal blow.
Making a Viking-style axe is not as difficult as it may seem. With the right tools and a little bit of know-how, anyone can make a functional axe that is sure to impress their friends and family. Just be sure to treat the wood with oil to help prevent it from drying out and cracking over time.
The blade
The blade of an axe is usually a combination of both weapon and tool. It has to be able to cut through wood like a knife, but it also has to be able to punch through armour. For this reason, axes were often shaped with curves that would provide the force multiplier needed to deal with a tough opponent.
The curved axe blade, called a hilt (or skjald) was an essential part of the Viking warrior’s equipment. It helped them transfer the maximum amount of force from their arms, shoulders and upper body to the edge of the blade when they swung it in battle. This made it much easier to penetrate armour, chop through limbs or decapitate an opponent.
Axes were often designed with pagan or Christian motifs that could be used as symbols of strength and bravery. On one side of Mammen’s axe we can see a depiction of a tree that looks like Yggdrasil, the Pagan World Tree. The other side features a bird motif that may be the Gullinkambi rooster or Phoenix.
In the Viking age, axes were often used to chop wood for ships and houses, but they also had a dual role as weapons. This meant they had to be able to withstand a lot of impact from blunt force, and they also needed to be able to penetrate armour, as was demonstrated by the fact that many axe heads, such as the one on Mammen’s axe, were found to have shattered after being hit by an enemy weapon or shield (see Egils saga rauda chapter 38).
To increase the durability of axes, they were often heat treated and tempered. This involved heating the metal to very high temperatures, then allowing it to cool slowly, so that it strengthens and hardens. This process also helps reduce brittleness. Axes were also honed, so that the edges were sharper and more effective. Smaller axes, such as the seax that Thormodur pulled out of under his cloak at the battle of Stiklestad (1066), were often within the fabrication capability of common blacksmiths.