Question on a Medieval Axe Type -- myArmoury.com

Josh Wilson · Posted: Fri 30 Aug, 2013 11:17 am Post subject: Question on a Medieval Axe Type

What range of dates would this axe type fall into? What's the earliest we'd see it being used?

http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=6007...Archer+Axe

Thanks all!

Bjorn Hagstrom · Posted: Fri 30 Aug, 2013 11:37 am Post subject:

That does not look much like anything historical at all, really. Some elements are Ok, such as the long socket, but not with that hammer-shaped back, and socketed axes typically has narrow wedge-shaped heads without the beard shape. Granted, my knowledge is most focused on Scandinavian material so I might have missed something. But the description and price-point suggests that it is more of an "historically inspired" piece than an accurate enough representation that one can put a dating to.

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Fri 30 Aug, 2013 11:38 am Post subject:

I think the shape of that axe head is a little questionable as to its historical shaping. It just looks off, and the underside of the blade is convex, which I don't think is a common feature. Most axe typologies I'm familiar with have concave lines on the underside of the blade. With a little grinding you could probably shape it in to something more appropriate for whatever time period you're looking for.

Mikko Kuusirati · Posted: Fri 30 Aug, 2013 1:26 pm Post subject:

There actually are plenty of carpenter's axes with something like that head shape... I wouldn't think they were carried by Medieval archers, though.

Timo Nieminen · Posted: Fri 30 Aug, 2013 7:09 pm Post subject:

For a carpenter's axe, the nail-puller isn't very well designed. Apart from a nail puller needing to be cut so that it has a lip on one face (rather than a straight-sided cut), there's a reason why axes (with nail pullers) usually have the nail puller on the bottom of the head. In the middle of the head like this works very well with adzes, and such nail pullers are the most common I have seen on adzes.

Mikko Kuusirati · Posted: Sat 31 Aug, 2013 10:07 am Post subject:

I think it's probably intended as just a decorative cutout. Most carpenter's axes I've seen don't even have a nail puller (and the ones that do, it indeed doesn't look like this).

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Sat 31 Aug, 2013 10:09 am Post subject:

Josh, if you're looking for an inexpensive yet very historically shaped axe, the Arms and Armor Nordland axe is one of the best values on the market.

Josh Wilson · Posted: Sat 31 Aug, 2013 10:22 am Post subject:

Thanks for the help guys!

Ian, its funny you bring that up. I was looking at the nordland axe, and couldn't make up my mind between these two.

I need something that is historical, relatively inexpensive, and will stand up to splitting wood for campfires and hammering in tent stakes.

I think I'll go with the nordland.

Mikko Kuusirati · Posted: Sat 31 Aug, 2013 11:09 am Post subject:

If you can stomach the blackened finish, you could also have a look Paul Chen/Hanwei, they have a whole line of axes in that vein. Kult of Athena carries most of them, all at roughly the same price as the A&A Nordland Axe. (I recently acquired a slightly customized Hanwei Viking Bearded Axe. I wouldn't hesitate to chop firewood with it if I had to.)