Gotland Axe -- myArmoury.com

Robert Muse · Posted: Sat 02 Jul, 2011 11:53 am Post subject: Gotland Axe

Good Morning,

I just received my new axe from Craig over at Arms and Armour. As expected it is a great item that shows very good workmanship.

Basically the entire axe weighs about 3.3 pounds.
With haft it is 57 inches long.
Cutting edge is about 9.5 inches
Axe head is about 8.75 inches from back to edge.

As can be expected from the statistics, it is a very fast axe which would be usefully against lightly armored opponents, but I doubt it would serve well for chopping shields or wood.

All told Craig did a fantastic job following the photo I sent him.

Regards
Robert

David Clark · Posted: Sat 02 Jul, 2011 2:02 pm Post subject:

Beautiful! That is one of the prettiest Dane Axes I have ever seen. And the weight (or lack thereof) is incredible. It is certainly not a clunky, 10lbb Dnd style axe. Big Grin

Robert Muse · Posted: Sat 02 Jul, 2011 3:06 pm Post subject: Axe

Photo that it is based on

Robert

Bob Burns · Posted: Sat 02 Jul, 2011 3:16 pm Post subject:

Robert, yourGotland Axe is gorgeous and as soon as I saw it I was pretty darn sure Craig Johnson had made it., of which your post confirmed. We all damn near lost Craig a few years ago in that Minneapolis Bridge Collapse, as ne was vehicle number two or three from the "End of the Road" and within some 40 feet to the perilous plunge of certain death! All these years I had thought he was way, way back in traffic and just stuck in a very long parking lot. It was just a few weeks ago that I learned how damn near he came to getting killed! Learned from a couple of men at Arms and Armor, there are certain things that only Craig can do, not to overlook the genius of Chris Poor by the way who is also quite gifted! I learned from Craig at the Bristol Faire that he makes those curved guards on the rapiers free hand and not with the use of templates, now that's "Talent"! Craig is probably going to want to kill me for bragging on him but I thought it integral to the reality story of how close he came to his death that dreadful day in Minneapolis when so many were killed and critically injured. Just my philosophy, but with Craig being so talented in something wherein he is amongst a few gifted artisans like Peter Johnson and others. I believe that God or the Spiritual Powers that be, purposely saved him from his death. He was on the opposite side of the collapse where the school bus had plunged from the bridge. I think the afore mentioned powers maintained that Craig Johnson had much more medieval and renaissance history to restore to the present! Personally, I hope someday Craig authors a book! Well I know I am gonna get it from him for this post because he's by nature a quiet and low key humble guy and I just "Let the Cat Out of the Bag" on just how talented he is in all reality. However I could not stop myself especially recently learning he was 10th's of seconds from death that tragic day in Minneapolis!
Too bad Jimi Hendrix wasn't saved too!
Bob

Danny Grigg · Posted: Sat 02 Jul, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject:

Robert, awesome looking axe.

What's the date / time period of the axe?

Petersen's Viking Axe typology doesn't show any examples like this unless I'm mistaken?

Has this type of axehead or similar axeheads been discussed in any books?

I'm guessing the purpose of the cut-outs are to reduce weight whilst not compromising the power of the cuts / blows?

Do you have any further pics?

Danny

Kevin Winter · Posted: Sat 02 Jul, 2011 6:39 pm Post subject:

Congratulations. I've never seen anything like it.

Tim Lison · Posted: Sat 02 Jul, 2011 6:46 pm Post subject:

Nice one Robert! I really like it. I've not seen anything like it before. Thanks for posting a pic of the original, it's always nice to see inspiration.

Danny Grigg · Posted: Sat 02 Jul, 2011 7:18 pm Post subject:

I found the website that has the pic of the original:

http://www.frojel.com/

Click on "Gallery" then scroll about 3/4's of the way down and click on "Axes".

Unfortunately there's no information about the axehead.

Danny

Audun Refsahl · Posted: Sun 03 Jul, 2011 1:24 am Post subject:

I love it! the thickness is important in these axes, and this one looks right, if maybe a bit skinny compared to others of the kind. there are more than one, here are a couple more from the museum in copenhagen
http://www.vikverir.no/ressurser/natmus_copen...p;size=120
There are more pictures of these axes, but I dont know how to put them in the gallery, thats Nils' job, so if anyone wants more, post here, and then maybe he posts some when he can:)

I really really would like to test cut with one of those...

Jim Adelsen · Industry Professional

Great axe! I've never seen one like it either. Has anyone tried to date the original?

Jeff Pringle · Industry Professional

Nice axe, congrats! Cool

Peter Paulsen mentions these in “Axt und Kreuz,” they were about 18cm long with a 16cm edge length and he dates one of the Danish finds to the second half of the 10th century.

Robert Muse · Posted: Sun 03 Jul, 2011 9:26 am Post subject: Axe

Good Morning,
Thanks everyone for the comments, I’m sure that Craig is as proud of it as I am. To be honest, I knew very little about it. In fact, I found the photo in searching around on the forum, but with no additional information. Thanks especially for the information giving a rough date and the fact that there were others in this style.

Robert

Matt Corbin · Posted: Sun 03 Jul, 2011 6:49 pm Post subject:

That looks very nice (as to be expected from A&A). Is the head cast or forged?

Charles Richmond · Posted: Mon 04 Jul, 2011 6:11 am Post subject:

You have every right to be proud of that axe, as does Craig at A&A.

A wonderful rendition of a historical specimen, and a refreshing departure from what is perceived as the norm for a Dane axe.

I am suitably impressed, and yes, a bit envious.

Johan Gemvik · Posted: Mon 04 Jul, 2011 6:21 am Post subject:

Very nice!
I didn't know anyone made these, about time really. Wink

By the way, Bob, I'd buy that book.

Robert Muse · Posted: Mon 04 Jul, 2011 9:21 am Post subject: Axe

Hello Matt,

It is forged.

Robert

Bob Burns · Posted: Tue 05 Jul, 2011 4:24 pm Post subject:

Hi Robert, I am writing this for my wife Gayle, who took quite some time in examining your Gotland Axe, the photo and illustrations of the original. She asked me to please tell you that your axe is not only gorgeous but that it is absolutely Awesome! AsShe put it. "My God that is one beautiful axe in fact it's absolutely awesome"! So I promised to relay her message to you and by the way I had Craig Johnson on the phone when conversing with Gayle, who was so pronounced and vocal of her admiration that Craig heard every word she said. She too expressed she had never seen an axe like that!
Well, there is One woman who loves your axe and my neighbor thinks it's gorgeous too!
Nice investment Robert, Very Nice!
Bob