I found this photo on the internet describing it as an axe from Sutton Hoo. It does not look like any museum photos of the large "axe hammer" I have found elsewhere. Is anyone familiar with it?

I am interested in approximate dimensions and weight for purposes of forging a recreation.

---

 Attachment: 37.22 KB

Hmm I am not certain that this image is really of an axe found in Sutton Hoo burial... looks much later to me.

Hmmmm.... I do not know of that axe being related to the Sutton Hoo finds... The British Museum simply lists it as Anglo-Saxon.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highligh...ammer.aspx

This is the one I know of.
http://www.sheshen-eceni.co.uk/images/sutt%20hoo%20axe%20dn1.JPG

Either way the axe is not typical for the period, though it was clearly from the main ship burial there. It seems to be thought of as a ceremonial piece for the most part for nothing more than being unusual, which to my mind seems a bit of a cop-out for 'I do not know'. Having been able to get a good look at it I see no reason it is not a weapon used for war.

RPM

According to the BM web site its from Howletts

"Early Anglo-Saxon, early 6th century AD
From Grave 19, Howletts, Littlebourne, Kent"

Not sutton hoo.

However same time period, ish.

It mentions the sutton hoo hammer axe in the article.

THis however is not the sutton hoo axe.

But would look good if re-created.

As Rich has pointed out that axe hammer is from Kent. However, besides the famous axe hammer, another axe found at Sutton Ho, in Mound 3 and that was a very nice fransisca.

Paul

"...The Sutton Hoo axe-hammer has an iron haft with a swivel terminal with a loop for a leather strap..."
This sounds really interesting and more renaissance than migration period. Really fascinating.

So, it is not from Sutton Hoo, but is the right era? I liked the looks of it and thought the copper or brass simple inlay might be manageable. But, would need some dimensions to claim a reproduction was even loosely based on it. If it is too large, that becomes a problem for my limited heat treat oven. I had hoped it was about 2 to 3 lbs head weight.

Does anyone have a photo and basic stats for a Sutton Hoo Francisca?
I had found "an axe" of some sort for sale with some basic stats, but no weight. It looks to have possibly been somewhat functional as a hatchet (has a little bit of a flat heel for possible hammering), but is of the general shape of a francisca.

Provenance : Paris auction house
Period : V - VI c.A.D.
Dimensions : Length : 18 cm (about 7” length, thickness near 0.75” at the start of the taper, and the bit would be about 2.5” wide based on scaling. I would rough calculate weight to be about 1.5 lb / .66 kg, although no weight was given for it.)

---

 Attachment: 92.35 KB

Hey, So I'm actually writing a paper of Sutton Hoo for my college class currently. The Axe you have pictured there is probably not the one found in Burial Mound 1 (The really big one with the boat). BUT if you want some back ground info try finding the below article.

The King and his Cult: the axe-hammer from Sutton Hoo and its implications for the concept of sacral leadership in early medieval Europe by Andres Siegfried Dobat
Published in antiquity (80) 2006 pgs 880-893.

Dobat doesn't give a too good of a description of the axes weight due to the degradation of the artifact but he does talk about what it was used for.

Basically it's a sacrificial weapon, used for killing offerings and the like, not a weapon of war. If you want more information, or maybe just some help finding the paper send me a PM.