The curved head of this axe concentrates the force of the blow into a small area. It can be used to hook an opponent, for example in a stab, or for a disarm (see chapter 22 of Sturlu saga).
Axe hafts often have a bend near the head, which maximizes transfer of power from arm and shoulder to the edge Viking axe for sale of the weapon.
Axes
Viking axes were a common weapon during the Viking Age. Originally designed as a daily utility tool, the axe was modified for war and became a formidable attacking weapon capable of devasting shields, swords and helmets. The axe was often used in place of a sword, as it was more versatile around camp and could be quickly wielded with one hand. In battle, the axe was often used in combination with a sword or spear to cleave through shields.
Axes were commonly decorated and gilded. This is illustrated by the axehead from Mammen in Jutland, which has silver and copper inlay in patterns that possibly form an animal figure. Other axes were also found with inlaid gold decoration. These were most likely given as gifts to important individuals, such as the axehead from Over Hornbaek which may have belonged to a magnate. Similarly, the axe from Botnhamn has a ringerike ornament in gold.
The axe heads were often shaped differently, and there was a great variation in size. Early axes had cutting edges between 7 and 15cm (3-6in) long, while later axes were wider. Wider axes were called breid-ox and were sometimes used as siege weapons.
In the sagas, axes were often mentioned by name. Examples include Himintelgja, Rimmugygr, Tjald-sperra and Svartleggja. These axes were often used in conjunction with a cross shield, and the names suggest that the axes were feared and respected.
Unlike the swords, axes were rarely referred to as a bludgeon. This is probably because axes were used for more practical tasks, such as hunting and felling trees. The axes were also easy to handle, and they could be used by one person in order to cut and chop wood. This made them a more useful and effective weapon than the sword, which had to be swung by two hands in order to hit its target.
In battle, axes were often thrown and stabbed into the body of the opponent. These methods of attack were especially effective when the opponent was wearing armor, as the axes could penetrate through the scabbard and into the flesh. This was a very effective way to kill an opponent, as it would cause severe injuries and bloodshed.
Swords
The axe was the primary weapon for Viking warriors, and their swords were secondary weapons. Unlike the axe, which was designed to penetrate with one blow and kill the opponent, the sword could be used as a deflecting device or to deliver angled cuts. It also allowed warriors to close the distance in a grapple.
Swords were heirlooms passed down from father to son, and their loss was a serious matter. The sagas tell of warriors who fought to the death in order to recover their swords. The sword was a tool, but also a powerful weapon in the Viking Age, and its use was often improvisational.
There were a variety of swords used in the Viking period, but all had similar characteristics. The hilt was a rounded pommel, and the blade was either straight or tapered. The length of the blade varied, but was typically longer than an axe. The eye of the sword head was sometimes D-shaped or shield shaped, and it was often thicker in the back (the hammer) than on the sides. Axe heads were asymmetrical, and the edges were sharp. The haft was usually made of wood, and the blade was often forged with a weld just forward of the eye.
Axes were designed to be held in one hand, while swords were intended to be used two handed. Consequently, the axes in Viking-age graves often had shorter hafts than swords. The reproduction axe shown to the left is 70cm (28in) long, while the sword pictured to the right is 140cm (55.5in) long.
Some axes were inlaid with precious metal, and even a few swords have been found decorated with silver. Swords were often adorned with carvings, and one from Jutland is particularly well known because of its ornate motifs.
Occasionally the axe pommel was used to strike blows. This was typically not meant to be lethal, but rather a means of humiliation or distraction. An example is told in chapter 33 of Hardar saga og Holmverja, when Sigurd threw his axe at Thorvaldr after driving a spear through him.
Shields
The axe was a feared weapon in Viking battles. With its long shaft, wielded in both hands and sharp edge, it was capable of cleaving shields and bodies in one blow. A shield was essential to a Viking warrior, and they often began using theirs as boys.
They were often crafted from linden or other types of timber, and reinforced with iron on the front and sides. The wood was typically chamfered, meaning it was thinner on the edges than in the middle. This was done to protect the shield from a spear blow. It was also designed to allow a sword or axe to hook onto the edge of the shield for offensive and defensive purposes.
Shields were generally 80-90cm (32-43in) across. They were sized to match a man’s body size and fighting style. A shield that was too small exposed lines of attack for an opponent to exploit, while a shield that was too large could slow the fighter’s defensive responses and cause him to tire unnecessarily.
A shield could be decorated with ornaments or patterns, which acted as an indicator of wealth and status for the owner. They were referred to as “fore-hafts” or “silfrholkr”. The Egils saga mentions that King Thorolfr gave his shield to Sneglu-Halli, who was then a wealthy chieftain, and it was richly decorated with a silver knob and precious stones.
Other examples of shield decoration include inlay, where silver is hammered into the shield to form decorative designs. There are several finds from Scandinavian sites that have been inlayed this way, including the axe from Hultsjo (SHM 737), and a shield from Botnhamn, which is dated to the second half of the 10th century. Other examples of inlay have been found on a shield from Posio, Finland (KM 24379), and in a shield from Koylun, Poland (Kotowicz 2013: 49, Fig. 9).
The shield also had braces, called enarmes, which were affixed to the back of the shield by rivets. The enarmes were used to hold the shield, and they can be made of leather or wood. Often the enarmes were adorned with Christian and Pagan motifs.
Helmets
A helmet was a valuable item to have. Vikings wore them to protect themselves from the sharp blades of their swords and axes and to avoid serious injuries if they were knocked unconscious or fell off their horses during a battle. They were also worn during religious ceremonies to show respect and loyalty for their gods. They were not only useful for protecting against injury, but they also served as a symbol of power and courage.
The earliest viking helmets were made of wood. Later they were made of metal, particularly steel and iron. They were very thick and covered the head of the wearer, and they also protected his ears. Some of them even included a visor and a nose guard. These helmets were very expensive, and they could only be afforded by the wealthiest aristocrats and powerful kings.
Viking axes were both tools and weapons, and they came in a variety of shapes. One of the most common types was the breid-ox, which had a crescent-shaped edge that extended to the back of the head. This shaped concentrated the force of the blow into a small area, making it effective against armor and helmets.
Another type of axe had a smaller single-edged head that could be used for chopping or cutting wood. It was also possible to conceal these axes under a cloak and use them for surprise attacks. One of these moments is described in the Fostbraedra saga, when Thormodur pulled an axe out from under his cloak and hit Lodinn in the head, killing him.
It is not known whether Vikings used sheaths for their axes. Some archaeological evidence suggests that they did, but other than a few finds from Hedeby, there is no literary or documentary proof of this. There are, however, references to knives in sheaths and axes in scabbards in the Sagas of Icelanders, but not to swords in sheaths or saxes in sheaths.
In a battle, Vikings would typically wield their axes two-handed and left-handed, and they would aim them at the undefended sides of their opponents. The curved edges of the axes could cut through mail or even a helmet, and the force of an axe blow cleaved through a skull would severe major endocranial blood vessels and cause massive bleeding. Within a few minutes, the victim would die from shock or loss of blood.
