What makes a good battle axe? -- myArmoury.com

Deshler Davies · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject:

More detail, I can do that.
Heavy enough to go at an armored opponent but not ridiculous.
Yes I would like a piece that was maybe alternatively looking but it has to be functional.
I enjoy the looks of alot of fantasy axes but stainless steel is NOT battle ready
The nicest looking one i have seen was from kit rae i believe but it is not a functional piece
ive been thinking about a straight spring steel tang from blade to tip of handle to stop it from being cut in half *adds weight i know*

I have noticed through my research many axes follow a template. (very similar) I know that must be because of effectiveness but i think alot of it must be due to historical accuracy.
I am not looking for historical accuracy in this piece. something imposing balance like an axe should be (no one has told me that yet) can bust up mail and plate, hand and a half, modern materials.

History is wonderful and a wonderful tool.
In this case though i feel like i my selection for any axe alternative to a "viking axe" is extremely limited.
I see a million swords of styles and variations but about 5 kinds of axes with no flare or style. just the same thing it has been since the beginning of its use. Im guessing because it is not romanticized like the sword has been. I cannot find anyone that makes custom axes. No examples. Nothing.

No one has made any modern styles to my knowledge either. (please tell me I'm wrong and link me I cant find it)

so enough ranting and to the point,
weight distribution, (balance)
materials using modern methods, (best possible tool for the job)
where can i find a smith that has a skill with axes but not over 1.5k crazy
where can i find styles
and finally with much thought and effort put into figuring this out
how the heck do you carry a hand and a half axe without your hands (besides a strap on the handle) thats easy to pull out and use

-thank all of you for your time and patience.
you knowledge is much appreciated

Douglas S · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject:

The main problem with repro battcle axes is that few are made "AS IF" they are meant to be used.

That is, hafts made of pine, round section; heads made of pot metal and the like.

If you like fantasy double-bitted axes, you can't do worse than to get the Hanwei "Hero's Axe". It is indeed made as if Conan himself had ordered it up.

Scott Kowalski · Chris Landwehr 10/10/49-1/1/09 My Mom

Deshler,
I hope you do not take this the wrong way or feel that I am being an A-hole with this answer so here goes. I think the biggest problem with your question is that you are asking a group of people whose primary interest are weapons that are primarily historically documentable to help with a weapon that you do not want to be. I would suggest doing a search for Peterson's Axe typology.

I would also suggest trying the search function here to see what you can come up with. I will see if I can dig up any pictures of axes I have lying around.

Scott

Deshler Davies · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject:

I understand and i know your not being a jerk
i have used the search function i have also looked at every haft weapon in the gallery
I looked up what you suggested but there was no real link to an axe just alot of myspace things
I apologize for asking in here but there is no where else to go really. This is the best site to find anything weapon oriented that i have found and i cannot for the life or me find a modern melee weapon site unless its "tactical knives and tomahawks"
I dont not mean to be a bother.
Even with the difference between modern and historical weapons there are some common factors like weights and balance.
I know the average weight but how to distribute it is a mystery.
I also figured people so versed in weapons would most likely know there modern counterparts but assumption is a wild thing indeed so i meant no disrespect when i posted here

Josh Maxwell · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 5:36 pm Post subject:

You might want to take a look at Baltimore Knife and Sword. I think that they may have posted a whole page of axes over at sword buyers guide, and as far as I know they do custom orders as well. I haven't heard much on the quality of these axes though, so you might want to ask around.

Deshler Davies · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject:

I may have misspoke myself... sorry lol
I dont know what to call the back side of an axe, it is a blade but smaller than the front if you will
not a spike mind you but i guess double biter would be the right way to say it?

Ken Speed · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject:

Deschler,

Maybe we should attack this another way. HMMMM..........What are you planning on doing with this weapon when you find it?
If, for example, you don't much care what the axe looks like the Estwing axe with the 26" handle looks like an efficient weapon to me.

Deshler Davies · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject:

mostly practice
looks are a big issue with me. as sad as it is i do not like the idea of a woodsmen ax on my shoulder lol
but combat ready is what i want
balanced for fighting
and reliable
sadly this is the closet i could find
had to go to an art site *yes i know art is just that, art*
http://bra1n.deviantart.com/art/C4D-Hand-Axe-1881839

http://clovenhoof.deviantart.com/art/Battle-Axe-73955695

yes i know ridiculous but someone out there has got to have something
and the issue of balance and how it should feel are still up in the air
i know what i like in a sword but that does nothing to help an axe is a different animal altogether

Josh Maxwell · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject:

http://sbgswordforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?...hread=6809

Like I said you could always try these guys.

Deshler Davies · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject:

i went to their home site
it is under construction for everything cept stage combat
and i edited my last post

Scott Kowalski · Chris Landwehr 10/10/49-1/1/09 My Mom

Here is a question for you Deshler. Since you keep asking about the balance and weight distribution do you intend to make this axe yourself? The reason I ask is that for the most part when having a smith do a custom piece the best bet becomes to let them figure out the proper balance and proportions. It is what they do after all.

By the way, the axes you posted by clovenhoof look like axes you might find in the late 13th century and later. I would suggest going to the links page here and looking at Arms & Armors polearms. They have an axe that looks very similar to it.

Scott

Deshler Davies · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject:

well i ask about weight and balance to give the smith the exact idea of what i want easier for him
i dont suppose you could link me to something similar
sadly enough this is the best production i can find of the shape nice butter soft 420 rofl
http://www.heavenlyswords.com/product.php?productid=16668

Scott Kowalski · Chris Landwehr 10/10/49-1/1/09 My Mom

Here is the link to the A&A weapon. There is nothing really about balance but it is a start at least.

http://www.arms-n-armor.com/pole006.html

How many axes have you handled? The best bet is going to be actually handling some because you can only get so much information from pictures and measurements. I personally prefer to actually handle something to get an idea of what I want. I hope this helps some.

Scott

Peter Törlind · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject:

My vote would go to something a bit lighter.
A huge axe is cool, but then a large polearm would suit better then an very heavy axe.

Speed is your friend in a battle. So something like this axe: http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/produkter/re...dsyxa.html

Allen Foster · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject:

I think this is what you are looking for:

http://www.manningimperial.com/item.php?item_id=127

or you can take a picture of what you like to a good weapons maker like Arms and Armour or Eric McHugh and they can make it for you balanced and all. They can probably make something that will cut through armour like butter too.

Lucas LaVoy · Posted: Wed 07 Oct, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject:

Hi Deshler,

I thought I'd chime in; this is turning into a fun topic. This axe may be a little on the minimalist side for what you are going for, but I've always found it fascinating.

http://www.myArmoury.com/review_aa_hungarian.html

One of the things that strikes me about the Kit Rae axes is that they all have all feature numerous points to thrust with as well as to cut; ths A&A Hungarian Axe boils it down more and only has the one point, but the concept is the same. And it certainly looks ferocious (to me at least). Anyway, the end product is certainly unique looking, as well as being a battle tested and historically accurate design.

Deshler Davies · Posted: Thu 08 Oct, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject:

I have to agree with lucas
the edges and points really do it for me when it comes down two it and the purpose of not having a double blade is that on blade can be large rather than two smaller blades while keeping the same weight

John Gnaegy · Posted: Thu 08 Oct, 2009 4:31 pm Post subject:

Have you looked at Lutel's catalog? Notice these two:

http://www.lutel.eu/?p=productsMore&iProd...-axe-20011
http://www.lutel.eu/?p=productsMore&iProd...-axe-20013

Deshler Davies · Posted: Thu 08 Oct, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

the second one is breath taking but as i said before in one of my above post
i do not have 7 grand for a weapon.
I will be honest
It is steel and labor
I understand labor is costly but alot of the time you pay for a name. ex. sony vs. vizo
sony is a thousand more but they own vizo. same tv different name
6,000 is alot of money in labor because material couldnt be over a thousand

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin