Let's see your original Skeggox -- myArmoury.com

Dave M. · Posted: Sun 14 Jun, 2020 8:24 am Post subject: Let's see your original Skeggox

Hey guys..I love Viking battle ax's. Specifically single handed versions. Lets see some of your originals Happy

Attached is an original from the 10th to 12th century. I bought from a private collection from the Ukraine. The condition is museum quality. Theres very little pitting which says this was not unearthed. This one was well taken care pf and passed down through the centuries. It still maintains mich of its edge in sharp form. Its really amazing. It begged to be rehafted so I obliged.

Zach Gordon · Posted: Mon 15 Jun, 2020 5:53 am Post subject:

That is not an original... it is a fake. It has nice lines, but nothing about it is indicative of a historical piece, and it was likely forged quite recently. That is a rough finished item, but not an archaeological piece (thankfully). You should be glad of this, as an original purchased from the Ukraine would have contravened the 1970 Unesco Convention, of which the US is a partner. You can read more about it here: https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/usa_implementing1970unescoconv_enorof.pdf

I would strongly advise against purchasing items like this from the Ukraine, or other parts of Eastern Europe. Any that were not in the USA prior to 1970 are illegal. So you are committing international trafficking if you purchase an item and have it shipped over to you. You can easily get in very serious trouble. The market is rampant with fraudulent items, and the vast majority you see on places like eBay are not real anyway.. that being said, authenticity is not super important when it comes to the law.. and you can still get in trouble.

Best case you get a fake, worst case you wind up in jail.

Ian Hutchison · Posted: Mon 15 Jun, 2020 5:14 pm Post subject:

Zach is right, it's almost certainly not original. The first red flag was the condition, which would be exceptional, the second red flag was 'Ukraine'.

Dave M. · Posted: Tue 16 Jun, 2020 5:46 am Post subject:

Thank you both for your replies. What an odd sense of releif and dissapointment. Thank you for informing me. I honestly had no idea about the legality of antiquities. As sad as I am this is fake, I am glad it ended with a bit of education.
That being said..I wont feel bad about reenactment with this piece. It looks the part at least.

Don Stanko · Posted: Tue 16 Jun, 2020 6:00 pm Post subject:

While I am not familiar with every facet of UNESCO, I do believe it’s main focus is on “stolen” cultural property. Otherwise, auction houses like Bonhams, Sotheby’s, Czerneys, and Herman Historica wouldn’t trade in antiquities. I know the U.K. allows some export governed by their Portable Antiquities Scheme.

However, I agree with the assessment of the axe head.

Zach Gordon · Posted: Wed 17 Jun, 2020 12:14 am Post subject:

David Martin · Posted: Sun 21 Jun, 2020 5:45 am Post subject:

Hello Dave,

Thank you for posting this and for providing the community an educational opportunity. I'm sorry this didn't pan out in your favor.

With the change in the status of this axe head, you may be tempted to give it a swing or two. If you find yourself so inclined, please take the time to re-haft it, as what you have in the photo is potentially dangerous.

Typically axe hafts are inserted though the top of the eye of the axe head and hammered down. If proper wood (the haft should be thicker at the top and taper down) and technique is used, it is virtually impossible for the axe head to come off.

On your axe the top of the haft is thinner above the eye than below, indicating that you hammered the axe head down onto the haft, the reverse of what should have been done. Over time, whether you use the axe or not, the wood is going to shrink and the axe head is going to loosen. Sooner or later, that axe head is coming off. Citing Murphy's law, it will likely be at a most inopportune moment.

There are a number of videos on YouTube that can demonstrate the process much better than I'm describing it.

Good luck and stay safe!