AXE
One of the oldest tools and weapons known to Man, the axe has taken many forms throughout the ages, from small one-handed stone hatchets made by wedging a rock into a notched stick, to the massive four-foot Danish battle axes wielded by the Saxon army at Hastings in 1066.
At first, the same axe that was used to split logs for the evening fire on one day was often the same one used to hew arms and legs from enemy soldiers the next. The axe soon proved its effectiveness as a tool of war, however, and highly specialized forms began to emerge; some that were light and made for hurling into opposing ranks of soldiers, others with heavy blades and spikes made to split shield, helm and skull with a single blow. There were also numerous varieties that fell somewhere in between (see photos at right for examples).
The axe is essentially two parts; a handle of wood, bone, or metal ranging in length from 15 inches to as long as 4 feet; and a head, normally of metal, with a single half-moon type blade that can be balanced by a hammer, spike, another axe head* or nothing at all.
The axe remained a favorite weapon of knights up until the 16th century due to its excellent armor cracking powers. It also saw extensive use by levies and peasant armies since it was an accessible, effective tool both for work and in war.
* Despite what we see in many films and fanciful paintings, the double bladed axe favored by Conan and his kindred, was very rare amongst European warriors. They were, however, much more common in near-eastern cultures such as India and Persia.
One of the oldest tools and weapons known to Man, the axe has taken many forms throughout the ages, from small one-handed stone hatchets made by wedging a rock into a notched stick, to the massive four-foot Danish battle axes wielded by the Saxon army at Hastings in 1066.
At first, the same axe that was used to split logs for the evening fire on one day was often the same one used to hew arms and legs from enemy soldiers the next. The axe soon proved its effectiveness as a tool of war, however, and highly specialized forms began to emerge; some that were light and made for hurling into opposing ranks of soldiers, others with heavy blades and spikes made to split shield, helm and skull with a single blow. There were also numerous varieties that fell somewhere in between (see photos at right for examples).
The axe is essentially two parts; a handle of wood, bone, or metal ranging in length from 15 inches to as long as 4 feet; and a head, normally of metal, with a single half-moon type blade that can be balanced by a hammer, spike, another axe head* or nothing at all.
The axe remained a favorite weapon of knights up until the 16th century due to its excellent armor cracking powers. It also saw extensive use by levies and peasant armies since it was an accessible, effective tool both for work and in war.
* Despite what we see in many films and fanciful paintings, the double bladed axe favored by Conan and his kindred, was very rare amongst European warriors. They were, however, much more common in near-eastern cultures such as India and Persia.