Hobbies And Interests
Tools
The axe is a common tool to almost all the peoples of the world. Since the stone age, men have been lashing sharpened stones to sticks to create a heavy and practical chopping and cutting tool. As technology and metallurgy developed, so did the quality of axes. Earlier axes were smaller in part because it was difficult to make larger blades that had a great deal of strength. As the axe blades grew larger, the practicality of the axe as a weapon grew.
Steel
Iron was not the most suitable method for creating a broad axe that functioned well as a weapon. However, as steel and steel-working technology improved, the Vikings were able to create sharpened steel blades that were stronger and capable of holding an edge better than their iron counterparts. Some broad axes were made by welding a sharpened edge onto an iron axe head.
Blade Size
The broad axe weapon, also called the Dane axe, developed out of smaller axes used for work. While not as much of a professional warrior's weapon as a sword, a broad axe was still more likely to be carried by an experienced warrior than a peasant. The blades were anywhere from 9 to 18 inches long along the edge. The blades were placed on hafts that could reach lengths of 5 feet.
Fighting Technique
The Dane axe was a weapon that depended on a great deal of strength to wield effectively. It was a two-handed weapon, which meant the soldier fighting with it did not fight with a shield. Fighters without shields relied on sheer power to overwhelm an opponent quickly before he had a chance to strike back. The two-handed axe offers defensive capabilities as well, but is best used to attack and end the conflict quickly.