Weights of Dane axe heads? -- myArmoury.com

Matt Easton · Posted: Fri 20 Mar, 2015 5:40 am Post subject: Weights of Dane axe heads?

Hi folks,
As I'm sure many of you know, there is a nice selection of Dane axes at the Museum of London, which all come from an associated site on the old riverbank probably relating to a Danish attack on London Bridge. As far as I know, this is the only related group of such axes and from a historically-identified event (there are also swords, spears and a grappling hook from that haul of items):

More pics in my album here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/115323771323194185835/albums/5752116723728043649?banner=pwa

What I would like to know is, are there any known published weights for these axe heads (yes I know they are badly corroded, but still useful), or indeed any known weights of any other surviving Dane axes (for example the one in the British Museum)?

Thanks,
Matt

Matt Easton · Posted: Fri 20 Mar, 2015 5:57 am Post subject:

Just found this for the British Museum example - only 966 grammes, and that's a big example:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collect...p;partId=1

Matt Easton · Posted: Fri 20 Mar, 2015 6:31 am Post subject:

Some data and images of the MoL examples:

http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/Onli...amp;rows=1

http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/Onli...amp;rows=1

http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/Onli...amp;rows=1

http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/Onli...amp;rows=1

http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/Onli...amp;rows=1

http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/Onli...amp;rows=1

Luka Borscak · Posted: Fri 20 Mar, 2015 7:17 am Post subject:

Bartek Strojek · Posted: Fri 20 Mar, 2015 10:52 am Post subject:

I've seen 1 axe recovered from Lednickie lake that fits the 'Dane' profile.

It's about 18cm long with 13.7 cm edge and weighs 292 g currently.

J. Nicolaysen · Posted: Fri 20 Mar, 2015 5:04 pm Post subject:

Great thread, great pics great info. Please keep it coming! I'm intrigued by the carving or design on what remains of this handle (first of Matt's MoL links)

Greg Ballantyne · Posted: Fri 20 Mar, 2015 7:30 pm Post subject:

I sure do like those Axe heads - you're whetting my appetite with that stuff. Of course I'm used to temptation.....

Jeffrey Faulk · Posted: Sat 21 Mar, 2015 7:04 am Post subject:

J Nicolaysen,

It appears to be a brass (or gold?) sleeve around the haft below the eye of the axe. A very interesting little touch worth investigating-- could be a good way to off-set what is otherwise a fairly plain weapon.

J. Nicolaysen · Posted: Sat 21 Mar, 2015 2:13 pm Post subject:

Ah yes Jeffrey, I think you are right. A very nice touch of class on a skull-destroying smiter. Beauty in that axe blade shape as well. I love them.

Matt Easton · Posted: Sun 22 Mar, 2015 1:16 am Post subject:

Yes, it's a brass sleeve that was somehow put around the top of the shaft before the iron head was mounted over it - 2 of the 7 London Bridge axes have them, so it was presumably not a completely unusual feature. It's difficult to say how long those brass sheaths were, but the decoration on them certainly makes for some nice replication possibilities. There are also surviving axes of this type which have decoration on the blade, in the form of silver or other metal inlay in the blade. These were expensive high-status weapons and to make an axe like this requires a lot of skill. Most modern replicas are too thick and heavy.