Here are two modern reproduction of the Migration-era Frankish axe, the Francisca. Rather like a "Euro-Tomahawk". The one to your left is a James Townsend and Son "French Throwing Axe", the one on your right is from Therion Arms/A&A CZ:

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And here's the Therion Francisca, in it's glory:

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Ok guys... I have ZERO, read that, ZERO, throwing axe type experience.. dunno what I make of them... those are pretty but... umm..... if you throw it at something... is there some sort of trick/art/skill that helps make sure the sharp pointy bit goes into the target, rather than the rest of the head or shaft? I mean, I doubt it would feel GOOD to get bopped on the noggin with it at all, but I'm sure it'd be better to put the sharp part in something..

anyone? anyone?

I can just see myself buying one, throwing it against something for hours, only to have it hit wrong, and fall to the ground, over, and over and over... and go 'huh...duh... i dont get this...'

Hmm... ok... so what you're telling me is that it is in fact totally possible to learn to throw something like that and have a pretty reasonable chance of hitting with the pointy end? Cool.. I'd kind of figured that mistakes could be dangerous, reference rebounding.. I think I'll stick to swords (of course, i just made an unexpected sword purchase so no axe money is to be had anyway.... ) and I'll post something up when I get the sword in question.

thanks for answering the question though.

chris

The thing with throwing a knife or ax is that it takes PRACTICE and lots of it and you can never really stop. If you do pretty soon you aren't sticking them again. Also you have to practice from all distances or you will be bouncing them off your targets. However I have seen knife throwers that can do some truly remarkable things with a well balanced (or even badly balanced) knife.

Knife or hatchet, it is wise to do as Russ says and stay in practice. Otherwise you'll have to develop the feel for it again. Usually takes me a half dozen throws to do that after a long time off of throwing. I got pretty good with such stuff back when I pursued it. Was throwing 6 different shaped, sized, and weighted knives at a time and getting good results. Did some throwing of knitting needles (the aluminum kind). Even got some time in throwing regular nails. Those are almost required to be close range though, at least for me. The don't have enough weight to stick from very far away....

Anyway, throwing stuff and actually having it stick most of the time is possible and fun too... :)

Nice thing about the axe is that sharp end or no the recipient will know something hit them.

I've thrown some axes and with a fixed target I can generally get them sticking by just moving slightly up or back until the rotation is right. The trick is doing it when you're not sure on distance to target.