Viking Swords and Axes

[Faheemkhatri4]

Swords were a prized weapon for Viking warriors. They were expensive to Viking axes make, indicating wealth and status. They could cut through helmets and armor with a single blow.

The axe was used to chop wood, but also as a weapon in battle. Often the head was shaped like a bird.
Dane Axe

The Dane Axe is a two-handed chop weapon that was the ancestor of the halberd and poleaxe. It has a light, thin axe head and a long handle. Its sharpened edge and curved shape make it deadly against enemies in armour. In fact, sagas mention that a single blow could cleave a helmet and mail. Men armed with the axe were often deployed as bodyguards and personal troops for kings or lords, because they were faster and more versatile than swords.

The axe head is not as wide as a sword blade and has sharp horns on each end that are used for stabbing. The curved shape of the head concentrates the force of the blow into a small area and creates vicious wounds. The axe head also has a pronounced, sharp heel. The lower corner of the axe head extends backwards and forwards, and this can be used as a point or to hook over an opponent’s shield in grappling.

Another feature of the axe head is the “beard” on the lower side, which can be used to scrape or shave wood. The axehead was decorated with silver or brass inlays. One axehead from the grave of a magnate at Mammen in Jutland was inlaid with silver decorations that may form an animal figure. Another axehead, from the cemetery at Langeid in Norway, was adorned with four cross-shaped projections in the lower part. These may form a bird figure, either the rooster Gullinkambi, who sits on Yggdrasil and crows every morning, or the Phoenix, a symbol of resurrection in Christianity.

There are several other axeheads with decorative inlays, including some that appear to be part of a pattern. A ring and a butt are not found on the axes, but a metal ferrule was located on the bottom part of the shaft.

Players can acquire the Dane Axe in the Einherjar pack or by completing the Snotinghamscire story arc. It is a powerful weapon that increases your stun chance on a heavy hit and has an additional perk to help you when you are low on health.
Bearded Axe

This axe is one of the best bearded weapons in Valhalla and is perfect for players who want to go up against tougher baddies like Cavalry or Zealots. It has a special attack in its secondary hand that lets Eivor do crazy chopping axe attacks. This is a great weapon for cleaving, and it can even stun enemies when it hits them. It also has a very high critical damage, making it ideal for players who want to go on the offensive. Its only downside is that it has mediocre speed.

This axe was used by Vikings as both a tool and as a weapon. This is the reason why it is characterized by its elongated blade that extends below the head of the axe. The beard of this axe is designed to protect the user’s hands during combat as it covers them entirely. It also serves as a hook that can be used to grab shields or weapons of enemies.

The axe blade is forged from a combination of mild steel and higher carbon, heat-treated to around a 56 to 57 on the Rockwell hardness scale. It features a hickory handle that is treated with linseed oil stain to develop a natural patina over time and a custom-made sheath sewn from vegetable tanned leather. The axe’s edge is etched, a mark of quality, which fades over time.

Like other axes, this axe can cut, chop, and split wood with ease. Its full tang haft is made of solid high-carbon steel and two panels of Rosewood are pinned to each side of the axe’s head, which improve grip and reduce vibration during use. This axe is able to take some serious punishment and has been polished to a mirror finish.

The sagas mention that Viking warriors would often carry the axe along with their swords and shields, a testament to the versatility of this weapon. Despite being an everyday tool, the axe was recognized as a fearsome weapon and Viking warriors often gave it colorful monikers such as “fiend of the shield” and “battle witch”. It’s no wonder that the axe is considered to be the most versatile and efficient viking weapon.
Seax

The seax was a versatile blade that could serve multiple purposes for Vikings. Its wide chopping head was perfect for chopping down trees or cutting food, while its single-edged blade tapers to a sharp point that is good for jabbing and stabbing. It was also easy for Vikings to use as a backup weapon on the battlefield in case their axe or sword broke.

It is a common belief that the seax was a people's sword, and it probably started off as a hunting knife or farm tool before becoming a combat weapon. These knives were relatively inexpensive to produce and did not require a high level of skill for blacksmiths to make, so most Vikings had access to them. Some of the blades excavated from Viking sites had decorative designs on them that carried significant spiritual meanings.

Seax knives varied in size, with some being the same length as a sword and meant for warfare while others were shorter and would have been used more like a dagger or sidearm. Vikings typically wore these weapons in sheaths suspended from their belts horizontally, with the edge of the blade facing upward.

Many surviving examples of the seax are decorated with geometric patterns hammered into the metal of the blade or engraved into its surface. The most famous example is the Seax of Beagnoth, displayed at the British Museum, which has a two-foot long blade and is intricately inlaid with silver, brass, and copper in patterns that are similar to runic symbols.

In the hands of a skilled warrior, the bearded axe was an effective close-range weapon. Its hook could be used to snag the weapons or shield of an enemy, disarming them and opening them up for a deadly blow. The axe's weight also allowed it to punch through heavy armor with enough force to kill an unarmored opponent.
Shield

The axe is arguably the most iconic of all Viking weapons. It’s a weapon that’s associated with Viking raiders, but it was also a vital tool for the average Viking warrior. Swords were expensive to produce and were generally reserved for those of high rank in Viking society, but axes could be purchased by anyone and quickly put into use, if necessary. They were also a symbol of wealth and status, so it’s no surprise that they often served as family heirlooms, handed down from father to son.

The Viking axe had two sharp, pointed “horns” at the end of the head (oxarhyrna). These were kept razor-sharp for offensive and defensive purposes. The axe horns could be used to cut through helmets, chain mail, and other armor. The axe could also be used to break shields and swords in half with a single blow. In addition, the axe haft was frequently wrapped in iron or other metals, to reduce the risk of breaking under stress. The axe was also an important weapon for the shieldwall, where it could be used to chop down enemy warriors and break their shields.

Axes were so popular in Viking culture that even the poorest people would have at least one for cutting and splitting wood. But, a battle axe was designed a bit differently than a farm axe and had a much more curved blade that was more effective in combat.

Most Viking people, contrary to popular belief, did not participate in raids, instead focusing on farming and performing domestic duties. They used the axe for felling trees, chopping wood to use for building materials, and as fuel for cooking and heating. This made it a vital tool in their daily lives, so it was no surprise that they were proficient with it.

However, a well-made axe was still an extremely effective offensive weapon and was often utilized by raiders to penetrate shield walls or kill unsuspecting opponents. It was a very useful tool to have, and it was not uncommon for Viking warriors to carry several axes and also have a sword in their scabbard for backup.