DIY Viking battle axe. Battle axe: origin and historical features. Handle material

The battle ax took a strong place among the weapons of antiquity, and even in our time it is used. Nordic, Scythian, Russian warriors different countries fought on the battlefield with defense-crushing axes, bringing terror into the hearts of their enemies.

Types of battle axes

Photo	View	Characteristics
	One-handed	Ax with short shaft
	Two-handed ax	Ax with a long shaft
	Unilateral	One blade (blade)
	Double sided	Two blades
	Combination	On the butt there is a hook, a hammer, a mace and even a firearm

Story

Ancient battle ax

The ancestor of weapons is considered to be a simple stone ax. Presumably, this type of battle axes appeared during the Late Paleolithic. It was attached to the handle using leather flaps or animal sinews. Also, sometimes a special hole was made into which the handle was inserted and then resin was poured.

Initially, the sharpness of the blade was obtained by striking one stone against another, which was the future blade.

Various stones were used, the main requirement was that their parts should be chipped to give sharp edges.

The blade was secured to a muff made of twisted wood, bone or deer antler. Some axes, in order to be fastened with flexible rods, had a special transverse groove.

The simplest designs were found on some stone blades. The desire for art and murder has been inherent in people since ancient times.

In most graves from that time, men were buried with stone axes. There are broken skulls - according to scientists, this means death from a blow to the head with a blade.

In the Neolithic, drilled axes appeared with a special hole inside the stone into which the handle was inserted. But the real use of this technology began only in the Bronze Age.

Bronze Age axes

In the Bronze Age, axes were made using drilling - with a special hole inside the blade for attaching the handle. Tubular bone was used for drilling, and sand was used as an abrasive. A stone drill, a bamboo stick or a copper pipe were also used.

Bronze is advantageous because it has hardly been exposed to corrosion - over time, a kind of film forms on it, protecting it from contamination.

Celt was the name of the bronze axe.

Various nationalities had it. Unfortunately, no extensive knowledge about him has been preserved.

Barbarian axes of the era of Ancient Rome

To begin with, it is important to remember that for Ancient Rome barbarians were everyone who was outside their lands.

Compared to other countries, the ancient Germanic tribes are known for their love of axes, as a rather cheap and effective weapon at that time. Usually they took two small axes in their hands. They crushed shields and pierced armor (before the appearance of armor).

A popular ax of those times was a weapon called the francisca. It had a meter-long handle, since it was used to fight with one or two hands, depending on the situation.

It was also made with a short handle and was used for throwing. They threw the Francis to destroy shields and make a hole in the front ranks of the enemy.

The Germans preferred a free formation and, having made a hole in the defense, fought with each warrior one on one - in a close battle the ax was ineffective. For the same Roman troops, with their clear formation and tactics, large shields, this weapon was not suitable.

Viking battle axes

The Vikings who descended on Europe became a disaster, and their favorite weapon was the two-handed Brodex ax, the embodiment of horror and death.

The Vikings valued and loved their weapons so much that they gave them names - during the battle, enemies were cut with axes with the names “Battle Witch”, “Wolf Bite” and a lot of others.

To lighten the weight, the Brodex blade was thin, but it had a distance from the tip of the blade to the butt of up to 30 cm. It was not easy to miss, as well as to dodge. Handle at two-handed ax reached the warrior's chin - to match the terrible blade.

Despite the lethality Two-handed weapon had the disadvantage that it was impossible to defend against attacks, especially in a battle with several opponents.

Therefore, the Vikings valued one-handed axes no less. It is difficult to distinguish them from a simple, working ax. Two differences - more narrow blade and reduced spine.

Russian battle ax

In Rus', thanks to the route from the Varangians to the Greeks, there were weapons of Scandinavians, nomads, and European models. Here the ax evolved into different types.

Chekan is a Russian battle ax with a small hammer on the butt.

According to the classification of weapons, it is sometimes correlated with a war hammer, but there is no clear decision on this issue among experts on Russian battle axes. It was suitable for crushing enemy armor.

In Russia in different times often used not only as military weapons, but also in the form of an insignia of military leaders.

The berdysh (an analogue of the European halberd) is also known. It has a long handle and a curved blade shape.

In the paintings of the past you can see Moscow archers with a arquebus and a reed. Allegedly, each of them leaned the arquebus on the reed for a sure shot. In reality, not everyone used it - it depended on personal preferences in close combat. As a wealthy class, the archers could afford a berdysh as a weapon.

The savvy Russian mind, however, wanted to have an ax not only as a weapon, but also as a craft item for use during a campaign.

The ideal was the ax, which does not have a clear name, but in our time is known according to the classification of Kirpichnikov A.N. called "type 4". It has an elongated carved butt, two pairs of lateral cheeks and a blade pulled down.

Such axes were also suitable for domestic needs - cutting branches for a fire or acting as a tool for creating protective structures. They also proved themselves in battle, easily crushing the enemy.

Battle ax and sword: comparison

The sword in the understanding of people is firmly entrenched as a military attribute. In many fairy tales and films, this is what the warrior often fights with.

Mastering a sword required years of hard training.

Therefore, it could be used professionally by people whose craft was war. For the militia: a peasant or artisan who jumped off the land to war, an ax that was cheap to manufacture and easy to attack was preferable.

Of course, this means a one-handed ax - only a real hero could handle a two-handed one well.

There was even a tactic when a dense formation was broken by several powerful warriors with two-handed axes, opening a gap for the allies.

An ax strike required a large swing - otherwise it was unlikely to penetrate the armor. It is easier to deliver quick thrusting blows with a sword.

They did not differ in weight, so it is unlikely that a slash with a sword took less time than inflicting mutilation with an axe.

The sword was convenient for defense, while the ax was suitable for crushing death attacks, but as a defense the warrior had to dodge, rely on armor or cover himself with a shield.

Modern battle axes

In modern times, the military battle ax or tactical tomahawk is used.

Modern battle ax applied American troops- suitable for breaking doors and locks, opening surfaces, and also as an assistant in extreme situations and when performing operations outdoors - in the mountains, forests, etc.

The American military hatchet is an analogue of our sapper shovel.

Of course, if necessary, you can hit them and the terrorist on the head once or twice. But these are extremes. The American military hatchet is an analogue of our sapper shovel in terms of purpose of use.

Ancient axes

Boarding Ax

Designed for cutting in cramped deck conditions. It was no more than a meter long and had a hook on the butt that played the role of a hook - the latter was used to attract an enemy ship before boarding, or vice versa - to push it away.

Ax with firearm

In naval battles, flintlock pistols were sometimes attached to axes. For destroying the first ranks of the enemy or for use in a critical situation, if the fighter was surrounded by several enemies, the weapon was excellent.

Very few copies have survived to this day, so it is impossible to say anything about the frequency of use of such exotic weapons in the navy.

Fortune telling with an ax

A certain magician from Persia, Ostan, came up with the following fortune-telling: an ax was driven into a round block. Sometimes the action was accompanied by conspiracies. The answer to the question was interpreted depending on the vibrations and sounds made by the weapon when striking the block.

With the help of an ax they also searched for the criminal - taking the weapon by the handle, calling names and waiting - when the log (the log on which the logs were cut) began to spin, it means that the culprit was exposed.

Ax as a gift

It was customary for warriors to give weapons, including axes, for their merits. Archaeologists have found many blades coated with silver, gold or damask steel.

Conclusion

Axes are formidable weapons that can crush any enemy. It has firmly taken its place in military history and took thousands of lives over many centuries.

How to make a Viking ax from a regular axe. DIY Viking ax from a simple axe. Viking ax handle. This ax has quite interesting shape, but it is needed so that a warrior can use it in battle as both a weapon and Peaceful time for the construction of housing and cutting down trees for the hearth to heat the Viking’s home. Thus, it turns out that the ax was also used as a carpenter’s tool; by the way, they built their famous drakars (wooden sailing boats) with just such axes, and then engaged in robbery and robbery using the same ax.

Since childhood, the author has loved watching films and cartoons about Vikings; his dream was to get the same hatchet as the bearded Vikings, but since this weapon was only a dream for a little boy. But years passed and the boy grew up, learned to hold an instrument in his hands)) I decided to make myself a Viking ax no matter what.

I found my grandfather’s old hatchet in the barn and began to transform it, namely, I welded the existing cracks in the metal, the heel had to be changed a little, then the metal was ground. Next, the author decided to harden his ax, heated it until red hot in a forge and cooled it in a bath with machine oil, then placed it in an oven heated to 200 degrees to relieve the stress from the metal. Then I carefully sanded it on a belt sander.
The ax handle is best made from hard wood (oak, maple, hornbeam)
A Celtic pattern was also applied to the handle, pre-printed on a sheet of A-4 paper. The drawing was transferred to the pen and selected using a burr. And finally coated with linseed oil.

So, let's look at what exactly is needed to make an axe.

Materials
1. old ax
2. handle made of hard wood (oak, walnut, hornbeam, maple, cherry, etc., whatever you find))
3. wooden wedges

Tools
1. welding machine
2. grinder (angle grinder)
3. drill machine
4. brush
5. pencil
6. Belt sanding machine

Step-by-step instructions for making a Viking ax with your own hands.
First of all, the author got hold of an old grandfather’s ax that was stored in a shed on the street. The metal was rusty from time to time, had cracks and had not been used in business for a long time, but it made an excellent donor for creating a cool ax.

The ax had to be disassembled and the old ax handle, already dry and cracked from time, removed.

Then the master began to remove the rust, for which he uses an angle grinder.

During the work to remove rust, it was discovered that there were cracks in the metal and it was decided to seal them by welding.

We remove scale and excess metal.

The heel of the ax is given a slightly different shape, a metal lid from a can is used as a template, we apply it and trace it with a marker.

The metal of the ax is also selected using a grinder.

Irregularities are sanded using a belt sander.

After which it quenches in oil (machine oil)

The hardening is carried out successfully, then the metal is tempered in a preheated oven to 200 degrees to relieve stress.

Then it is sanded again on the machine.

The Celtic pattern was printed onto a sheet of A-4 format.

Then the pattern is transferred to the ax handle and selected along the contour using a burr.

The ax handle is coated with linseed oil or varnish. The ax turned out to be quite similar to a natural antique Viking battle hatchet. The author’s dream came true and he realized it himself, with his own hands, which doubles the happiness and joy from the work done. Today they practically no longer fight with axes, with the exception of the countries of the 3rd world)
An ax should be used for creative purposes, as a tool for peaceful labor, for construction and extraction of wood to heat your home.

Reading time ≈ 6 minutes

An ax is a very useful household item if you live in a private house, especially outside the city. But if you agree that a thing should not only be functional and practical, but also stylish, beautiful, and with history, we suggest making a Viking ax with your own hands from a simple axe. Such a product will invariably please you with its appearance and serve properly!

Viking axe.

Distinctive features

Among the Vikings, axes were in second place after swords in use. It was often a universal tool that could be used in peacetime to cut down trees, chop firewood, and also be used in battle as an excellent weapon. Axes could be one-handed or two-handed, and varied in shape. By the way, this type The design of the ax is similar to the domestic taiga one:

Viking axes and taiga ax (right).

Necessary materials

To make such an ax yourself, you can use:

• any available old ax(even if cracks and rust have already appeared on the metal);
• beam for the handle;
• a small piece of leather or substitute for braiding the handle;
• wooden wedges;
• paper and a simple pencil;
• linseed oil (varnish) and brush.

Important! To make such a product, you need to be confident in many tools!

Be very responsible when choosing wood for the handle. It is best to use wood for this purpose. hard rocks only deciduous tree species. The degree of drying of the wood is very important - the amount of moisture should be less than 8-12%. Such a handle will not become loose in the future when it dries out if the environmental humidity changes. To achieve the desired wood moisture content, dry the workpiece in a very dry and warm place.

Product examples.

The best types of wood for the handle:

1. Ash. The most optimal material is affordable, strong and hard, durable. The handle has a beautiful color and grain pattern. Most often used to make a handle.
2. Oak. Strong and durable yet hard.
3. Beech. It has all the advantages of oak, but there is a significant disadvantage - hygroscopicity. Therefore, such a handle requires additional processing to protect it from moisture, since oil impregnation does not completely protect the wood.
4. Maple. Durable, elastic material, the handle has beautiful view and texture.

The following materials and tools will be required during the work process:

• grinding machine (grinder);
• welding machine;
• grinding machine;
• bur machine.

Example of Viking axes.

Manufacturing process

So, when all the materials are ready, we can start making the tool. Step-by-step instruction:

1. 1. Remove the old handle from the axe.
   2. Remove rust from metal using a grinder. Don't forget to remove the scale.
   3. If cracks are found in the metal during work, they must be sealed by welding.
   4. Give the heel of the ax the desired shape. You can draw a stencil by eye or choose any round object of a suitable size, for example, a jar lid. Trace the object onto the panel and cut it into shape using a grinder.
   5. The cut needs to be processed on a grinding machine.

Manufacturing process.

1. Since an old ax was used for manufacturing, the metal needs to be hardened. We will describe the hardening process in detail below. At this point, the production of the panel is completed.
2. Let's start making the ax handle. From a block (with a cross-section of approximately 4*4 cm) you need to cut a simple straight handle.
3. To decorate the handle, we transfer any Celtic ornament onto the wood with a pencil and develop the design with a drill.
4. To protect it from moisture, the handle must be coated with varnish or oil.

Making the handle.

You can see examples of Celtic patterns in the photo below:

Celtic ornaments.

Metal hardening

This process consists of three stages, let’s look at each of them:

• Annealing. First, blunt the tip to 1 mm. To do this, the panel should be heated to a red-burgundy color (about 760°C), and cooled slowly. Removes scale from metal.
• Hardening. It is necessary to heat the metal to a temperature of 830°C. This can be done by anyone in an accessible way, in the oven or even on the fire. Next you need to prepare two containers: a bucket with warm water and a metal container with oil. You only need to lower the ax blade up to 4 cm into the water for a few seconds. The ax is completely immersed in oil. In case of fire, you should have a thick cloth on hand to cover the container. Remember fire safety rules!
• Vacation. Necessary to reduce the brittleness of steel. The metal must first be cleaned to reveal the tarnish color. You can spend the holiday in a conventional oven at a temperature of 200-300°C for 60 minutes.

Tip: You can check the temperature of the metal by color or using a magnet. Metal stops being magnetic at temperatures above 768C.

Video: how to harden metal.

Handle braid

First you need to connect the panel and the handle, drive the prepared wedge. Now all the main work has been done, all that remains is to decorate the handle. But in addition to its decorative function, the braid will also reliably protect the butt.

So, how to make an ax braid:

1. 1. Cut a rectangle from a small piece of leather and wrap it under the butt for fitting. Make appropriate cuts to fit the length to the butt as much as possible.
   2. At the edges of the piece, make holes for the seams using an awl or a regular nail.

Making braid.

1. To make working with leather easier, treat it with linseed oil - this will soften the material.
2. From the back side, sew a section along the handle.

Finally, the braid and the entire frame can be lubricated with oil again. The wonderful ax is ready!

You can see an example of making a Viking ax in the video:

Making your own Viking ax from a simple ax is easier than it seems, provided that you have the skills to work with the listed tools. This product has a beautiful appearance, and its functionality and practicality are worthy of the highest praise!

An ax was one of the most common types of bladed weapons in ancient times. It was much cheaper and more practical than a sword, the production of which required a huge amount of scarce iron, and in terms of combat effectiveness it was in no way inferior to it. Perfect example This type of weapon is Viking axes, which will be discussed in this article.

Where did they come from?

Where did combat and utility knives come from? Ancient axes were very vaguely similar to their modern “descendants”: forget about pieces of sharpened flint, fastened with ropes to the shaft! Much more often they took the form of a drilled cobblestone impaled on a stick. Simply put, initially axes were not a chopping weapon at all, but a crushing weapon.

And this is justified. Imagine a relatively thin, chipped piece of flint: what will happen to it if the owner hits a shield, wood or stone? That's right, you can say goodbye to the weapon, since this mineral is very brittle. And this is in the midst of battle! So a stone mounted on a strong shaft is a much more reliable weapon. And an ax in it modern form could appear only after humanity mastered the basics of metalworking.

Basic information

Contrary to popular belief, Viking axes, even the most menacing in appearance, were never heavy. Maximum - 600 grams, no more. In addition, the shaft was never bound with iron! Firstly, metal used to be extremely expensive. Secondly, it made the ax heavier, and a massive weapon in a long battle could lead to the death of the owner.

Another misconception of our time is “the ax is the weapon of the common people.” They say that all “self-respecting” Viking leaders used swords. This is one of the Hollywood myths about the Vikings. An ax is much more practical, simpler, and it’s not such a shame to lose it in the heat of battle. A good sword made of “good” iron was so expensive that archaeologists have so far been able to find only single copies of such weapons.

Confirmation of this is the found graves of military leaders and high-ranking “philistines”. Sometimes entire arsenals were found in them, including many axes. So this weapon is truly universal; it was used by both ordinary soldiers and their commanders.

The emergence of two-handed axes

But the favorite “toy” of the northern peoples was the legendary brodax, also known as a two-handed ax on a long shaft (that’s what the Viking ax is called, by the way). In periodicals it is often called the “Danish axe,” but this name is not very true, since it does not fully convey the very essence of this weapon. Brodax's "finest hour" came in the 11th century. Then people armed with it could be found from Karelia to Britain.

In full accordance with the ancient sagas, the Vikings simply loved to give their weapons sublime and epic names. For example, “friend of the Shield”, “Battle Witch”, “Wound Wolf”. Of course, only the best and highest quality samples received such treatment.

How were two-handed axes different?

In appearance, the Brodax blades were very large and massive, but this impression is only partly true. The blade of such axes was significantly thinned during manufacturing in order to save precious weight. But the “axe” itself could indeed be large: the distance from one tip of the blade to the other often reached 30 cm, and this despite the fact that the “working body” of the Viking ax almost always had a significant bend. Such weapons caused terrible wounds.

The handles had to be large for a reliable swing... and indeed they were! The “average” brodax, with its shaft pressed into the ground, reached the standing warrior’s chin, but more “epic” examples were often encountered. These axes were extremely powerful weapon, but still they had one serious drawback. Since the shaft had to be held with both hands, the warrior was automatically left without the protection of a shield. And therefore, the “classic” one-handed axes of the Vikings occupied far from the last place in the life of the Vikings.

Influence on the military affairs of the Slavs

Many similar weapons were found in and on the territory of our country. Brodaxes are especially common, and such finds are most typical for Leningrad region. Around the 12th-13th centuries, the situation in those parts became less “tense”, and the list of standard weapons gradually changed. Viking axes with wide blades are gradually “transformed” into relatively harmless household tools.

By the way, according to historians and archaeologists, it was during the period of maximum distribution of Brodaxes in Rus' that a real “boom” in the development of domestic weapons thought of those years occurred. Battle axes in Rus', created under the influence of the Varangians, absorbed all the best from European, Asian and Scythian samples. Why do we pay attention to this? It's simple: the evolved Russian axes will later appeal to the descendants of the Normans.

Combined models

Exactly Kievan Rus gave a second life to combined options, with a striker on the butt. Similar weapons at one time it was highly regarded by the Scythians. It was these axes that the Vikings would “get their hands on” in the 10th-11th centuries, and from our country these weapons would begin their march across the countries Western Europe. It should be noted that initially the Vikings used klevets with a simple, round or mushroom-shaped cross-section.

But already in the 12th century, battle axes in Rus' acquired a square-shaped coinage. This evolution is quite simple to explain: if initially the military people wore chain mail and other light armor, then over time the armor became more and more serious. It was necessary to punch it, so pliers and “punchers” with a pronounced faceted section appeared. Most a prominent representative Varangian-Russian axes are the hatchet of Andrei Bogolyubsky. Most likely, it never belonged to the prince himself, but was made precisely during the historical period we are describing.

Weapons of "modern Vikings"

Today, by the way, modern replicas of these weapons are produced. Where can I buy such an ax? Kizlyar (“Viking” is one of the most popular models) is the new “homeland” of excellent weapons. If you belong to the enthusiastic reenactors, then best choice you won't find anywhere else.

Why not a sword?

As we have already noted, the ax is often perceived by the average person as a weapon of a lumberjack and owner, but not of a warrior. Theoretically, this assumption has some logical premises: firstly, these weapons are much easier to manufacture. Secondly, even more or less tolerable mastery of the sword required at least ten years, while the ax was with a person constantly in those days, and improvement in the skills of its use occurred, so to speak, “on the job.”

But this point of view is only partly true. Almost the only factor in choosing a weapon was its combat practicality. Many historians believe that the ax was supplanted by the sword because of its heavy weight. And this is also not entirely true. Firstly, the weight of the Viking ax was only slightly greater than the mass combat sword(or it was even smaller - the mass of the ax itself was no more than 600 grams). Secondly, swinging the sword also required a lot of space.

Most likely, in historical perspective, the ax gave way to its place due to advances in metallurgy. There was more steel, soldiers could be provided for big amount albeit inferior, but technologically advanced and cheap swords, technology combat use which was much simpler and did not require such significant physical data from the “user”. It must be remembered that the fights of that time were by no means elegant fencing, the matter was decided by two or three blows, the better prepared person had the advantage, and therefore both the ax and the sword in this regard were weapons of equal value.

Economic importance

But we should not forget about one more reason for the popularity of axes. The Viking ax (whose name is Brodax) also had a purely economic importance. Simply put, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to build a fortified camp with the same sword; they won’t be able to repair a combat longship, they won’t be able to make equipment, and, in the end, they won’t be able to chop wood either. Considering that most Throughout their lives, the Vikings went on campaigns, and at home they were engaged in completely peaceful affairs; the choice of the ax was more than justified because of its high practicality.

An ax as a weapon of noble warriors

Judging by the chronicles and finds of archaeologists, this type of weapon was very popular among Scandinavian warriors. Thus, the well-known king Olaf the Holy in his time was the owner battle ax with the expressive name "Hel". So, by the way, the ancient Scandinavians called Eirik, whose son had the respectful nickname “Bloody Axe,” which quite transparently hints at his preferences in the field of choosing weapons.

There are frequent references to “axes lined with silver” in written sources, and in last years Scientists have found many archaeological artifacts testifying to the truth of these words. Such, in particular, was the famous Mamennsky axe, on the surface of which amazing and beautiful patterns formed by hammered silver thread are visible. Naturally, such weapons had status and emphasized the high position of the owner in society.

The Sutton Hoo burial also shows great respect for battle axes, as many richly decorated axes were discovered there. Judging by the luxury of this burial ground, one of the outstanding military leaders of the Angles or Saxons was probably buried there. What is characteristic: the deceased himself was buried “embracing” an ax with practically no decorations on it. This is purely so that during his lifetime this man clearly preferred axes.

Sacred meaning

There is another circumstance that indicates the respect with which the northerners treated axes. Archaeological and written sources clearly indicate that the Viking “axe” tattoo was extremely common in the period from the 10th to the 15th centuries. This weapon, one way or another, appeared in almost all the combat patterns with which professional warriors decorated their bodies.

It is also worth noting that the Viking Ax amulet was no less common. Almost every second neck pendant included a miniature figurine of an axe. It was believed that such decoration bestows the strength, power and intelligence of a real warrior.

Self-production

If you are a professional reenactor, then the Viking ax (made by Kizlyar) may be the ideal choice. But such a “toy” is not very cheap, and therefore many fans medieval weapons there may be a thought about self-production this weapon. How realistic is this? Is it possible to make a Viking ax with your own hands?

Yes, it's quite possible. Base for ancient weapons An ordinary ax can serve, from which, with the help of a grinder, all excess is simply cut off. After which, using the same angle grinder, the entire surface is carefully ground, on which there should be no burrs or protruding pieces of metal.

Other notes

As you can see, making a Viking ax with your own hands is relatively easy, and it won’t require much expense. The disadvantage of this method is that the resulting tool will only have a decorative function, since it will no longer be able to perform household work.

To create an authentic sample, you will have to use the help of a professional blacksmith, since only forging will allow you to get a truly fully functional ax, an analogue of the axes that the Vikings once fought with. Here's how to make a Viking axe.

Ax - a weapon of the ancient Vikings

An ax is one of the oldest tools used by man. For centuries it served him well both on the farm and in war. Battle axes were used by the Egyptians, Hittites, Greeks, Chinese and warriors of many other ancient civilizations. During the era of Roman rule, the ax gained a stronger reputation as a weapon of “barbarians.” Indeed, among such enemies of the Empire as the Celts and Germans, this type of weapon was quite widespread. However, after the fall of Rome, the ax was essentially forgotten in the military affairs of Europe, and the fact that it was introduced into use in the 9th-10th centuries, especially in England and Ireland, was exclusively thanks to the Vikings, among whom its popularity never weakened. popularity.

In its development, the ax went from an economic and universal tool to a highly specialized weapon. Inherited from previous periods, types A (the entire typology is given according to J. Petersen) - with a symmetrical profile and a slightly curved type of blade, and B - with an asymmetrical profile, with a sharp bend in the lower part and the so-called “bearded” (i.e. with a drawn-out down) with the blade, they are modernizing, various versions of the “bearded” ax are being developed, examples are types C and D. It is the axes with the “beard” that some researchers perceive as specifically Scandinavian. The greatest variety of types occurs in the second half of the 9th century. The wide-bladed ax model is being improved. The K-asymmetrical type appears with a slight bend at the top and a long surface bend at the bottom. The L type emerges - with a blade shape curved downwards and inwards, allowing a more effective blow from above.

This search is the most effective forms ends at the end of the 10th century. a certain unification, expressed in the battle ax, the so-called broad ax (breiðøx) of the Icelandic sagas. Type M has developed - asymmetrical, with a long, gradual bend on the upper mustache and a short, gradual bend on the lower mustache. Perhaps the prevalence of this type of ax was a response to the increasing use of chain mail in warfare. There is a problem with the design of some axes. Scientists, in particular, have noticed that the main part of axes is much thicker than the edge of the blade, which was welded, in all likelihood, from a higher quality metal. The question of the use of combined weapons made on the basis of an ax by the Vikings remains unclear. It is likely that the Scandinavians used some kind of proto-halberds, which were ignored in funeral customs. And, perhaps, they are hidden under such difficult-to-translate terms as, for example, “atgeir”

The battle ax, as mentioned above, is often perceived as an auxiliary, secondary weapon in relation to the sword. This is the weapon of a farmer, not a professional warrior. A number of arguments are put forward in support: an ax is technologically easier to make than a sword, that is, it is relatively cheap, and therefore more accessible; secondly, a sword is a more effective and difficult weapon to use, and for good use of it you need long years workout. It is understood that the ordinary farmer has neither extra time nor extra funds, and the ax, thus, being, as mentioned above, a universal tool, became more preferable for a non-professional than, say, a sword. It is the sword in our minds that is a necessary attribute of a warrior, proof of his heroism and belonging to the military class. However, it seems to us that this point of view in relation to the period under consideration is largely stereotypical and was generally formed under the influence of materials from the classical Middle Ages.

Indeed, an ax was easier to make, and it was probably not as expensive as a good sword, but this fact alone could not serve as a reason for choosing one weapon over another. The only basis for choice was the effectiveness of the weapon and the warrior’s personal attachment to it. Among the disadvantages of the ax, the following was noted: since the battle ax had significant weight, the warrior who used it in battle must have had considerable physical strength. Thus, blows with an ax were quite straightforward, carried out with a wide swing, thereby giving a warrior with a lighter and more flexible sword significant advantages, which was the reason for the gradual displacement of the ax from widespread use. However, such statements do not apply to the entire Viking Age. To begin with, the weight of a battle ax, in fact, did not exceed the weight of a standard sword, which, in turn, was exclusively a cutting weapon throughout the era. And to carry out an effective blow with a sword, no less swing was required. It must be remembered that the fights of that time were by no means elegant fencing, the matter was decided by two or three blows, the better prepared person had the advantage, both the ax and the sword in this regard were weapons of equal value.

Judging by written and archaeological sources, this type of weapon was very popular among noble warriors. The Norwegian king Olaf the Saint was the owner of an ax with a very expressive name - “Hel” (the goddess of death of the ancient Scandinavians). Eirik, son of Harald Fairhair, bore the nickname "Bloody Axe", which probably reflects his preference in the choice of weapons. Frequent mentions in the sagas of axes “lined with silver” were confirmed in the finds of archaeologists. In particular, the famous Mamennsky ax can be named, the entire surface of which is skillfully decorated with silver threads forming intricate patterns. Such a decorated ax naturally emphasized the status of its owner and was in no way a communal tool for working with wood. It would not be amiss to remember the Sutton Hoo burial. Judging by the richness of this burial, the deceased was one of the major leaders of the Angles or Saxons who came from the continent. Against the backdrop of works of art accompanying the leader on last way, the ax, without any decorations, looks rather faded, however, it quite likely reflects the lifetime choice of this weapon by the deceased.

Among professional warriorsbattle axtook its rightful place. The peak of popularity, apparently, falls on the X-XI centuries. The creation of entire units, the distinctive sign of which was the battle ax, dates back to this period. These are the famous housecarls, immortalized on the carpet from Bayeux, and the no less famous ax-bearing guard of the Byzantine emperors. Their wide-bladed axes were by no means ceremonial weapons and were effectively used on the battlefield. Despite the relatively small20-25 cm., working surface, the blow due to the long shaft, held with two hands, turned out to be crushing. This blow, apparently, could not be restrained by any type of defensive weapon of that time; such an ax easily split shields, pierced helmets and tore chain mail. It is thanks to these properties that the ax is known to us under such kennings as “shield witch" or " Vedma chain mail». In general, judging by written and archaeological sources, decorated battle axes were not uncommon. The most typical was wrapping the handle with “...golden thread...”; richer and more noble individuals could decorate the ax with silver thread, as in the case of the Mamenn ax, or receive something similar as a gift from the king. Small hatchets, among other things, could also serve as a symbol of an elder or head of a house. In one of the sagas, probably one of its most peaceful characters, Njal, takes a small ax entwined with silver while visiting his friend. And this despite the fact that, due to his advanced age, he can no longer get off his horse without outside help. A small hatchet, according to the saga, was also in the hands of ten-year-old Olaf, son of Tryggvi, when, while walking through the Novgorod bazaar, he met his long-time offender and, without hesitation, used this hatchet in action, smashing the unfortunate man’s head.

It is also curious that Scandinavian epic and myth almost completely ignore the battle ax. And this despite the fact that the ax was a fairly common weapon and at a certain point no less prestigious than a sword. Moreover, the ax appears in literature in a rather dark light, being closely associated with the other world. This is confirmed by the kennings already given and the name of the ax of Saint Olaf - “Hel”. Another ax known to us has the no lighter nickname “Giantess of Battles.” And in general, according to the words of Snorri Sturluson, “people called axes after trolls.” At the same time, some examples of the so-called “Thor’s hammers,” an amulet widespread in Scandinavia, are closer in shape to an ax than to a hammer, which, in turn, was a symbol of the much revered god Thor. In this light, it can be assumed that the endowment of the battle ax with the above epithets is associated with the influence of the Christian worldview. In particular, we should not forget that the entire “Elder Edda”, the texts of numerous fairy tales, legends and sagas are known to us only in copies dating mainly to the 12th-13th centuries. It is quite possible that the scriptors carried out some revision of the texts, reduction and rethinking of the sacredness of some attributes of the pagan era. The fate of another weapon, the spear, also speaks in favor of this. In literature, the spear appears initially as a weapon of the gods, it is used by Odin among the Scandinavians and Lugh among the Irish, and at the same time, the spear turns out to be closely associated with black magic, illness and death.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that in the period of the 9th-11th centuries. V Northern Europe The battle ax was widely used in military affairs and was an equal rival of the sword, not only not inferior, but often superior to it in its fighting qualities. It was the Scandinavian battle axes that predetermined the widespread use of simple-style axes in the Middle Ages. The changes that occurred in military affairs in the 11th-12th centuries undoubtedly reduced the popularity of these weapons, but, in turn, set new goals and developed new forms. However, this is a topic for another discussion.

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