Axes were essential Viking weapons since they regularly raided and colonized new lands. The axe was a weapon that struck fear into the enemy, especially when used in close-range combat.
An axe can quickly hook an opponent’s leg, arm or neck to cause serious injury. This is why the sagas mention fights and feuds settled by one well-aimed blow from an axe.
Axe Head
The axe head was the main part of a Viking axe. It varied in size but was usually light enough to be wielded with one hand. Its razor sharp blade could slice, stab and chop with deadly force. It was often crafted to have a hook at the back, allowing it to grab onto a shield rim or limb. This could either pull the opponent off balance or be used to knock them into a weapon or enemy, leaving them vulnerable for another blow. The axe hammer, or the flat metal backside of the axe head was also used to strike lethal and non-lethal blows. It was sometimes even used to humiliate an opponent – for instance, Hrappr Orgumleidason chopped off the back of Asvardr in the saga Brennu-Njals (chapter 87).
The handle was made from wood and could be as long as five feet. It was usually sturdier and thicker than the axe head and would be protected by leather or nails on the sides. The axe haft was wrapped in metal on occasion, too, to reduce the likelihood that it would break when used to parry edged weapons like swords and spears. It was also often decorated with a variety of motifs and patterns, both Christian and pagan. One famous example is the Mammen axe, which was found in Denmark and is decorated with silver inlay featuring pagan and Christian motifs.
Axes were used both for battle and daily living by the Norsemen, who raided and colonized on a regular basis. They were also a crucial tool for farming and performing chores. The axe was ideal for hacking enemies at a distance, and it was also a good choice for chopping trees or other large timber to build buildings and to use as fuel.
In battle, the axe was often thrown in addition to being wielded. One saga tells the story of Sigurdr, who threw his axe and struck his enemy in the back of the head, killing him instantly. The axe was also frequently used to block an enemy’s attack or to catch them off guard, as shown in this video by viking expert and historian Brynjar Sveinbjörnsson.
Axe Handle
During the period of history we know as the Viking Age, Viking warriors earned a reputation for their combat prowess that rivaled that of any other warriors in the world. During this time, they were also renowned for their use of axes in battle.
Axes were essential to their daily lives, and men learned to wield them from childhood. They used them for cutting, building, hunting and combat. These Viking axes were a symbol of their power and fearlessness.
The axes head had to be very sharp and well balanced. They were typically forged as a single piece, which was called a “blade” in Old Norse, and had a curved lower portion called the “beard.” This beard provided the axe with a greater cutting surface while keeping the axe head light enough to carry and use in combat. It also allowed warriors to hook the axe into other body parts, such as the neck, causing them to fall backwards and open themselves for attack or to be stabbed. It could also be used to hook the edge of an opponent’s shield, pulling it away so the axe fighter or a friend could strike at them unprotected.
The blade was fitted into the haft, which was made of wood and could be as long as 1.5 m (60 in). It could be gripped with one hand or both. The handle was rounded to fit in the palm, and a piece of tanned leather was embedded into it for better grip. The tanned leather was often painted, with some being adorned with designs or inlays of precious metals such as silver and gold.
Some axe hafts were wrapped with iron or other metal to reduce the chance that they would break under stress, such as when used to parry edged weapons or in general combat. This was called a “vafinskepta.” One example of this is found in Brennu-Njals saga (chapter 87), where Hrappr Orgumleidason carried an axe with a vafinskepta.
In battle, a Viking axe could be thrown with great distance, but this was rarely done. Instead, the axe was generally used for close-range fighting.
Axe Shaft
The axe was a vital weapon in Viking combat. With a single blow, it could dismember armored limbs and break shields and helmets in two. It was also a handy tool for everyday life and work around the home, farm or boat.
Axes were forged from thin metal and incorporated a harder type of steel near the edge. This made them light, strong and sharp. They were a good choice for one-handed use, which meant they were quick to wield.
As with other weapons, the axe had to be attached securely to its shaft, known as the haft. Axe shafts were usually made from wood, although they might have been wrapped or covered in other materials such as leather or iron. This was to protect the shaft from damage and to improve its gripping power.
The head of the axe was attached to the haft by means of an eye, which is a hole in the axe head that fits over the eye on the haft. The axe head would then be glued or nailed to the haft using a strong adhesive. This ensured that the axe was not loose and might fly off in the heat of battle.
Often the axe heads were decorated. They might be painted, engraved or even etched with patterns. Some were carved with runes, or symbols that might have meaning for the viking warrior.
Another feature of a viking axe was that it was designed to be swung in a variety of ways, including with the curved edge facing forward or backward. This allowed axes to be used for cutting, throwing or cleaving in close combat. The curved shape also concentrated the force of the blow into a small area of the axe, allowing it to penetrate through mail or even helmets.
The vikings were also renowned for their close-combat skills and their ability to fight from within an enclosure. They often hid their axes behind their shields, but when the shield was beaten or destroyed they were ready to swing their axes at their opponents. The sagas frequently mention a viking cleaving an enemy in half with a single axe blow, proving just how devastating these weapons were in close-range combat.
Axe Horns
The axe was the weapon of choice for most Viking warriors. Even the poorest had to own a farm axe for cutting and splitting wood, so it was easy for a man to grab one from his sheath and throw it into a battle. However, the axes meant for combat had some key differences from farm axes (the photo on the left shows two reproduction viking battle axes based on 10th century finds).
The blade on a viking axe was single-edged and much thinner than a sword, making it a much faster weapon. The axes were also heavier so that the force of impact would be concentrated at the end of the blade. This helped in breaking apart the toughest of armour and causing serious wounds.
Axes were cheaper than swords and more affordable to most Vikings, so they were widely used. This made the axe a deadly and effective weapon, especially when it was combined with the shield (see the Viking shield: Why Round and Wooden?).
Unlike other Viking weapons, the axe horns were not attached to the head. This allowed for a more flexible grip and a variety of offensive techniques, such as hooking an enemy on the neck to pull them into an attack or disarm them (see Sturlu saga chapter 22). The axe could also be hooked over the edge of a shield, pulling it away to attack or to create a breach in the defence (see Thorskfirdinga saga chapter 10).
Another great feature of the axe was that it could be hidden behind a shield, a trick that was often used by Viking warriors. For example, Thorgeirr in Fostbraedra saga chapter 12 hid his axe in the corner of his shield while fighting Snorri. He then pulled out the axe and cut through Snorri’s spear shaft and into his head.
Although axes were not as elegant as swords, they were still beautiful and stylish objects of status. For example, the Mammen axe found in Denmark was an exquisite piece of art with a rich mix of Christian and pagan designs. It is a fitting symbol of the fearless Viking spirit.