The Vikings were a seafaring Viking shields people from Scandinavia who raided and traded with other parts of the world from 800 to 1100.
They used swords, axes and spears as weapons during war. Axes were cheap to make and easy to use so they were a popular weapon.
Axe heads were typically crescent shaped and sometimes even curved. They also had pointed “horns” at each end of the head that could be used for stabbing or slashing attacks.
Axes
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Axes were a popular weapon during the Viking age, and they can be seen in many depictions of Viking battles. They were cheap to make and easy to use, so they could reach people who might otherwise be unable to fight. They also were not as heavy or sluggish as swords, so they were easier for warriors to use, and required less training.
The curved edge of the axe makes it powerful enough to punch through helmets or mail, and they can be used to cleave an opponent's head. The sagas often describe axe blows that can cleave the head down to the shoulders, causing fatal injuries (see this video).
Other axe moves include hooking an opponent's ankle with the axe, throwing him off balance and onto the ground. These moves were particularly effective against opponents who were defending themselves, and the sagas provide several examples of them.
Another clever move was to hide an axe under a cloak and then surprise the opponent with it (see chapter 22 of Fostbraedra saga, or this video). Thormodur, for example, pulled his axe out of under his cloak when Lodinn tried to attack him. The axe struck Lodinn in the head, killing him.
There are also some reports of axe heads flying off their hafts during a fight, such as in Hardar saga (chapter 36), which describes Hordur fighting a group of men with his axe until his head flew off the haft. This must have been a very discouraging experience for the fighter with the axe, and may have been why the sagas mention that axe heads sometimes shattered during use.
Axes are often found with a visible weld on the back of the eye, suggesting that they were forge-welded together. The sagas mention a number of different ways that this weld was made, including cutting the eye into a D-shaped shape and forging a Y-shaped cross-section through it to form a forge weld.
Swords
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Shields
Shields were an important part of any Viking warrior's arsenal. The shield could be used to protect against arrows, spears, magic and nullify most bullets. It also had an attribute that allowed it to reduce knockback by absorbing the projectile's force on hit.
The shield was made of wood, a material that could withstand the wear and tear of war. Various types of timbers were used, including fir, alder and poplar. They were usually reinforced with iron or bronze.
While some Vikings had their own personal designs, others opted for simpler styles that represented the elements of their tribe, such as a cross or derivations of the sun wheel. Those with more elaborate shields were often adorned with gold or silver inlays or elaborate designs.
These shields were expensive and were primarily for the aristocracy and those who were in prestigious positions. However, these shields were not uncommon for poor farmers as well.
They had different shapes and sizes depending on the person's preference and how they wanted to use the weapon. They could be used as a throwing weapon or a fighting tool.
Axes were another common weapon for the Vikings. They were not only useful for combat but they could be used for hunting as well. They were not as costly as swords and were much lighter.
There were three different types of axes that the Vikings used. They included small hand axes that were for everyday use, throw-axes that were for hunting and large axes that were used for fighting.
The blades of these axes were sharp and had excellent cutting power. They were also heavy to carry.
They were able to pierce and shatter armors, but they weren't always effective against shields. The main problem with ax blades was that they were easy to break, which was one of the reasons that they were not as popular as swords.
Some swords were not very strong, especially in the cold climate that the Vikings were accustomed to living in. As a result, they had to trade and import swordsmiths from other regions in order to have the weapons they needed for war.
Helmets
The vikings had many different weapons, including axes. These were often used as sidearms and could be carried on horseback as well.
Axes are known for their strength and power. They have a curved edge, which concentrates the force of their blows into a small area. This makes them great for striking through armor and other hard materials.
Vikings were also very skilled with their axes. They were able to cleave opponents’ heads down to their shoulders with one blow. This is a particularly dangerous move, which is mentioned in several sagas.
For example, in chapter 22 of Fostbraedra saga, Thormodur unexpectedly pulled out his axe and struck Lodinn in the head with it, killing him. The sagas also describe other instances in which an axe was used for a surprise attack (such as the example in Egils saga).
Some axe heads were built to be strong enough for use in a fight. In some cases, they were shaped around the head and then folded or welded to the shaft, as seen in this historical Viking axe.
Another common feature of axe heads is the "horn" at each end. These horns are similar to the "horns" on swords, but are wider and point outward rather than towards an opponent. They can be used for stabbing, which is deadly, and they are also used for hooking an opponent's ankle, which can throw them off balance and onto the ground.
The axe horn was often kept very sharp and would create vicious wounds when used for stabbing or hooking an opponent's ankle. This was especially true when the horn was driven into an opponent's throat, as was done by Kolbeinn in chapter 5 of Graenlendinga thattur.
This was probably because the horns were much larger and thicker than a spear point or sword point. This made them more likely to pierce through an opponent's clothing or skin, and it was also a good way to cut through bones.
The axe was also used for a variety of other attacks, such as driving spears through an opponent's skull or breaking their bones with the pointed tip. These moves were less common but were very effective in combat.