A battle ax can be very different: one-handed and two-handed, with one and even with two blades. With a relatively light warhead (not heavier than 0.5-0.8 kg) and a long (from 50 cm) ax handle, this weapon has impressive penetrating power - it's all about the small contact area cutting edge with the surface, as a result of which all the impact energy is concentrated at one point. Axes were often used against heavily armored infantry and cavalry: the narrow blade is perfectly wedged into the joints of the armor and, with a successful hit, can cut through all layers of protection, leaving a long bleeding cut on the body.

Combat mods axes have been widely used all over the world since ancient times: even before the metal era, people carved ax handles from stone - despite the fact that quartz stess is not inferior in sharpness to a scalpel! The evolution of the ax is diverse, and today we will consider the top five most impressive battle axes of all time:

Ax

Brodex - Scandinavian war ax

A distinctive feature of the ax is a crescent-shaped blade, the length of which can reach 30-35 cm. A heavy piece of sharpened metal on a long shaft made sweeping blows incredibly effective: it was often the only way at least somehow break through heavy armor. The wide blade of the ax could act as an impromptu harpoon pulling the rider from the saddle. Warhead tightly driven into the eye and fixed there with rivets or nails. Roughly speaking, the ax is common name for a number of subspecies of battle axes, some of which we will discuss below.

The most furious dispute that accompanies the ax from the moment Hollywood fell in love with this formidable weapon is, of course, the question of the existence of double-edged axes. Of course, on the screen, this miracle weapon looks very impressive and, coupled with a ridiculous helmet adorned with a pair of sharp horns, completes the look of a brutal Scandinavian. In practice, the “butterfly” blade is too massive, which creates a very large inertia upon impact. Often, a sharp spike was located on the back of the warhead of the ax; however, Greek axes-labrys with two wide blades are also known - weapons for the most part ceremonial, but still at the very least suitable for real combat.

Valashka


Valashka - both a staff and a military weapon

National hatchet of the highlanders who inhabited the Carpathians. A narrow wedge-shaped knob protruding strongly forward, the butt of which often represented a forged muzzle of an animal or was simply decorated with carved ornaments. Valashka, thanks to the long handle, is a staff, a cleaver, and a battle axe. Such a tool was practically indispensable in the mountains and was a status sign of a sexually mature married man, head of the family.

The name of the ax comes from Wallachia - a historical region in the south of modern Romania, the patrimony of the legendary Vlad III Tepes. It migrated to Central Europe in the XIV-XVII centuries and became an invariable shepherd's attribute. Starting from the 17th century, the valashka gained popularity at the behest of popular uprisings and received the status of a full-fledged military weapon.

Berdysh


Berdysh is distinguished by a wide, moon-shaped blade with a sharp top

The berdysh is distinguished from other axes by a very wide blade shaped like an elongated crescent. At the lower end of a long shaft (the so-called ratovishcha) an iron tip (inflow) was fixed - with it the weapon rested on the ground at the parade and during the siege. In Rus', the berdysh in the 15th century played the same role as the Western European halberd. The long shaft made it possible to keep a great distance between the opponents, and the blow of the sharp half-moon blade was truly terrible. Unlike many other axes, the berdysh was effective not only as a chopping weapon: the sharp end could stab, and the wide blade repelled blows well, so the shield was unnecessary for the skilled owner of the berdysh.

The berdysh was also used in equestrian combat. The berdysh of equestrian archers and dragoons were smaller in comparison with infantry samples, and on the shaft of such a berdysh there were two iron rings so that the weapon could be hung on a belt.

Polex


Poleks with protective splints and a butt in the form of a hammer - a weapon for all occasions

Polex appeared in Europe around XV-XVI centuries and was intended for foot combat. According to a scattered historical source, there were many variants of this weapon. A distinctive feature has always been a long spike at the top and often at the lower end of the weapon, but the shape of the warhead varied: here is a heavy ax blade, and a hammer with a counterweight spike, and much more.

Metal flats can be seen on the shaft of the poleax. These are the so-called langets, which provide the shaft with additional protection against cutting. Sometimes you can also find rondels - special discs that protect the hands. Polex is not only a combat weapon, but also a tournament weapon, and therefore additional protection, even reducing combat effectiveness seems to be justified. It is worth noting that, unlike the halberd, the pommel of the poleaxe was not one-piece forged, but its parts were attached to each other with bolts or pins.

Bearded Ax


"Beard" gave the ax additional cutting properties

The "classic", "grandfather's" ax came to us from the north of Europe. The name itself is most likely of Scandinavian origin: the Norwegian word Skeggox consists of two words: skegg(beard) and ox(axe) - Now you can show off your knowledge of Old Norse on occasion! A characteristic feature of the ax is the straight upper edge of the warhead and the blade pulled down. This form gave the weapon not only chopping, but also cutting properties; in addition, the "beard" allowed to take weapons with a double grip, in which one hand was protected by the blade itself. In addition, the notch reduced the weight of the ax - and, given the short handle, the fighters with this weapon did not rely on strength, but on speed.

Such an ax, like its numerous relatives, is a tool for both domestic work and combat. For the Norwegians, whose light boats did not allow them to take excess luggage with them (after all, there was still room for the loot!), Such versatility played a very important role.

By the beginning of the 12th century, the battle ax had firmly taken its place in the arsenal of truly knightly weapons, along with a spear and, of course, a sword. Although the Vikings had already died out by that time, two-handed axes served warriors throughout Europe for several centuries.

The axes became lighter, but practically did not change in size. Gunsmiths began to pay more attention to the butt - in some cases it became a pronounced combat element.

This handsome man was found in England, in the river flowing through Northumberland, along with the skeleton of the last owner. The date of the ax is the middle of the 13th century.

History has preserved many cases when it was battle axes that played an important role in the battle. So, on February 2, 1141, the English king Stephen, having broken his sword at the Battle of Lincoln, held the defense with a large Danish ax. And only when his shaft broke, the enemy managed to capture the king.

Two centuries later, in the summer of 1314, the battle ax of a man named .
This is the same Robert the Bruce, who became one of the heroes of the film "Braveheart", and who went down in history as the Scottish King Robert I.

Angus Macfadyen as Robert the Bruce. Shot from the film "Braveheart"

Remember the fight that ends the movie? It was the legendary battle of Bannockburn, at the very beginning of which the next episode happened.

The enemy of the Scots, the English king Edward II, began to gather forces to the battlefield in advance. And on June 23, the advance detachment of the British, consisting of young and ardent knights, stumbled upon the Scots, who were conducting reconnaissance of the area.

One of the pieces of the Battle of Bannockburn chess set by Anne Carlton

Sir Humphry de Bohun, who led the horsemen, recognized one of the Scots as their king and, intercepting the spear in the “to fight” position, rushed at him.

That day, Robert the Bruce left his spear in the camp, confining himself to a short-handled battle axe. And when he saw that the enemy was rushing at him, he made the only right decision in such a situation.

Giving the horse a command to leave the line of attack, Bruce met the knight with a powerful blow to the head.

In the 16th century, pollaxes fell out of use after plate armor. However, the idea of ​​a reinforced shaft will find its continuation in steel tubular handles for axes and maces.

But all this will come later. And in the 14th century, the most effective weapon of the knights was the pollax, which easily killed even an armored enemy.

The weapon turned out to be so dangerous that even in the 21st century, its blunt model is prohibited from use on many historical festivals in Russia. The surviving textbooks perfectly show the troubles that this weapon could do.

The technique of working with pollax, restored on the basis of these textbooks, can be viewed on the video.

The models of pollaxes used by combatants are not made on the basis of an ax, but war hammer. I will talk about this variety in the article “War Hammer”, which has not yet been written))). However, the video is quite revealing, and, which is a rarity, of good quality.

Weapons of the knights and the "star" of tournaments

From the very beginning, the battle ax was part of the obligatory program of knighthood. And everyone was aware of its danger, including the knights themselves. So, the French king Francis I refused to fight on pollaxes with his English colleague Henry VIII due to the fact that " there are no mittens that can adequately protect the hand«.
And these are the words of the almighty king!

However, not everyone paid attention to such a trifle as injuries. A great lover of cross battle axes was the French knight Jacques de Lalen, who lived in the middle of the 15th century. Here is a chronicle of just a few of his fights.

1445, Antwerp, battle with the Italian knight Jean de Boniface. While it came to pollaxes, the fighters managed to break six spears and continued the fight. When the turn of the pollaxes finally came, Jacques struck de Bonifas with such a blow that he nearly twisted him!

1447 Castilla, fight against Diego de Guzman. When Jacques and Diego fought on pollaxes, their blows were so violent that sparks flew from the armor.

1447, Flanders, battle with the English squire Thomas Kew. During the battle, Thomas hit Jacques de Lalen with the spike of his pollax in the hand. The point penetrated under the glove and went through, "cutting the nerves and veins, as the thorn of the Englishman's ax was surprisingly large and sharp."
Seeing that things were not going well, Jacques threw back his pollax and threw Thomas Q to the ground, thus winning the fight. Fortunately for the winner, the wound he received did not make him crippled.

On graves and coats of arms

In addition to war and tournaments, pollex was also used during the "God's Judgment" - a duel in which all charges were dropped from the winner. And one rule is connected with this kind of battles, which the tombstone makers knew very well.)))

So, if the justified winner did die from wounds received during God's judgment, then on the grave monument he was depicted wearing exactly the armor in which he cleared his name of accusations. The statue was supposed to hold a sword and an ax in crossed hands.
The one who was killed in a duel was depicted fully armored and also with crossed arms. However, all of his offensive weapons were depicted next to him.

Among other things, battle axes were an honorary armorial figure. They can be seen on the coats of arms of France, on the historical coat of arms of the King of Iceland and on the modern coat of arms of the Swiss canton of Saint-Gall.

Summarizing

Around the battle axes in knightly Europe they did not add such a halo as around the sword, which resembled a cross in its shape. However, the ax was a weapon no less important than the sword, and often the ability to handle it brought people fame, and hence immortality.

Literature

  • Maciejowski Bible
  • Ewart Oakeshott The archeology of weapons. From the Bronze Age to the Renaissance
  • D. Aleksinsky, K. Zhukov, A. Butyagin, D. Korovkin “Riders of War. Cavalry of Europe"
  • J.J. Rua "History of chivalry"
  • K. Koltman “Knight's Tournament. Tournament etiquette, armor and weapons»
  • R. Lovett "What is pollex"
  • Count Michael De Lacy "Pollax: Description and Techniques"
  • "Kings of England against Wales and Scotland 1250-1400" (almanac from the New Soldier series)


The ax is a universal tool. They cut wood or ... enemies. In ancient times, it was difficult to imagine a warrior without a battle axe. Largely because of its convenience: with a relatively small weight, he had an impressive impact force. Therefore, the battle ax was equally effective against both infantry and cavalry. In our review of the top 5 most formidable and popular battle axes of the past.

1. Ax



The ax for a long time occupied a dominant position in the armament of a warrior among other types of battle axes. She was especially fond of the warriors of Scandinavia - the Vikings. The Slavs also had a fairly common weapon.



The ax is distinguished by a special blade shape - in the form of a crescent moon up to 35 centimeters long. And the long shaft in addition made the blows incredibly productive. The special design made it possible to use the ax as a kind of harpoon to pull the enemy off the horse.



The ax was popular until the late Middle Ages, when the era of knights gradually receded into the past, and they were replaced by lightly armed warriors. Swords and sabers were able to cut through thinner mail, and heavy battle axes were no longer needed.

Interesting fact: The “revival” of the ax happened not so long ago and, oddly enough, in Hollywood. Directors and directors are very fond of these axes with two blades. And although they are considered one of the most inconvenient modifications of this weapon, their imposing appearance attracted cinema.

2. Berdysh



In a sense, the berdysh can be called a kind of ax. It also has a moon-shaped blade, however it is more elongated and has a sharp top. One more distinctive feature of this type of ax was the presence at the end of a long shaft (ratovishka) of the so-called inflow - a special metal tip. It was installed in order to be able to put the weapon vertically, resting it on the ground.



Berdysh was very handy in close combat. The long shaft helped keep the enemy at some distance, and the rounded blade helped deliver crushing blows. The sharp end also allowed the ax to perform a piercing function. And also a rather wide blade was able to reflect enemy blows, and the warrior could even do without a shield.



Cavalry troops had their own modification of this weapon. Such a reed was lighter and smaller in size. He had one more distinguishing feature: along the entire length of the blade, metal rings were threaded into it. Berdysh gradually came out of mass use warriors around the same period as the ax itself.

3. Bearded ax



Today, this weapon is also called the "grandfather's ax", which indicates its traditional and massive use. His homeland is Northern Europe, presumably on the territory of modern Norway. This ax has a row characteristic features that distinguish it from other "relatives". The blade has a clearly horizontal upper edge, but the lower part, on the contrary, is elongated.

Such an unusual design made it possible to perform several functions at once: both as a chopping and as a cutting weapon. The elongated part itself, the so-called. The "beard" made it possible for a double grip, with one hand being protected by the actual blade. And the handle of a small length made the ax lighter, and the warrior could use not only the force of impact, but also speed.



Due to its characteristics, the beard-shaped ax was quite versatile: it was used both in everyday life and during the battle. This made him very fond of the Scandinavian warriors: as you know, the Vikings had fairly light boats, so they clearly could not afford heavy, bulky luggage.

4. Valashka



Valashka is a battle ax that has a clear localization of its distribution. It can be called the "national" weapon of the Carpathian highlanders. It is worth saying that this ax is popular among the Romanians, and among the Hutsuls, and among the Lemkos, but it has different names: bartka, balta, topirets. Actually, the gun received the name "Valashka" from the Romanian historical region of Wallachia, where the legendary Vlad Tepes came from.



Valashka is a narrow wedge-shaped knob on a long handle. The ax butt was often made in the form of a forged head of an animal or simply decorated with carved ornaments. This design allowed the ax to be universal in use. It was used both as a weapon and as a staff while moving in the mountains.

Valashka was so fond of the Carpathian highlanders that it became, among other things, part of their national costume. The ax was also used as a ritual object - they even danced with it. Valashka was a kind of sign of the status of a married man, the head of the family.

5. Polex



The Polex was a very popular polearm for foot combat among European warriors of the 14th and 15th centuries. He was especially fond of the participants of padarms - knightly tournaments with theatrical elements. According to information, the polex had many varieties and modifications that differed in size, weight, or additional equipment.

The main distinguishing characteristics of the poleaxe were a long spike at the top of the gun, and at its lower end. The shape of the blade varied: heavy, wide, or in the form of a hammer with a counterweight spike. Separate parts of the ax head were attached to one another with pins or bolts.



Polex, being a tournament weapon, assumed the presence of additional protective elements, even if they reduced its combat capability. So, for example, on the shaft of an ax sometimes there were langets - special metal strips that protected it from cutting. In some cases, special disks were also used to protect the hands during the battle, the so-called rondels.

The most dangerous weapon of the Middle Ages is the steel axe. The word "axe" comes from the ancient Slavic "sokir", which translates as an ax. Most axes of this species have similar features, but some, such as the reed or halberd, differ significantly from traditional weapons of this kind.

Unlike an ax, a forged ax is a typical combat weapon. The blade of the ax is semi-circular, which makes it inconvenient for chores.

general information

The first samples of weapons that have come down to our times were found at the excavations of ancient Greek cities. The ancient ax - labrys was very popular in Greece. This weapon was considered sacred; only rulers and legendary heroes of those times owned it. Labrys is a two-handed ax with two blades. Such weapons were common among the Greeks and Asian peoples, as well as among the ancient Romans.

Slavic axes are not so popular and came to Rus' from the Vikings, for whom they were familiar weapons. This weapon spread after Russian soldiers clashed with armored German knights. Often, Russian axes had a forged spike on the reverse side, with which it was possible to break through the strongest armor.

After some time, Russian battle axes evolved into reeds, which had a completely different balance. With this weapon, which had a very formidable appearance, it was possible not only to chop, but also to stab, like with a spear. Skillful ax warriors have always preferred axes, as they are much faster than the classic axe.

As a rule, axes were forged in the following ways:

  • High-quality weapons are forged from scratch, while taking into account all the wishes of the future owner. Such weapons were quite expensive;
  • More simple weapons were reforged from ordinary battle axes. At the same time, the blade was pulled back, it was given the shape of a crescent;
  • The lowest-grade weapons were made from ordinary peasant axes. The quality of this weapon was very low, although its appearance could be the same as in the second case.

In any case, the ax was intended only for combat, so cutting down a tree, for example, was problematic.

Characteristics of axes

Forged axes consist of the following parts:

  • Shaft;
  • blades;
  • Butt, in the form of which a spike, hammer or second blade could often act;
  • A special counterweight on the opposite side of the shaft.

Such specific types of axes as halberds or reeds were up to 2.5 meters long and were used only by infantry. Horse axes often had a spike on reverse side, and their length was about 70-80 cm. The most long view similar weapons were boarding halberds, which were up to three meters long.

The blade of most types of such axes did not move far from the shaft, otherwise the balance would be lost, which negatively affected the speed of possession of the weapon. Most models of this weapon had a two-handed grip and a long shaft, although in China there were very popular paired axes with a short shaft.

Very interesting view battle ax - executioner's axe. This weapon had atypical features for its class:

  • The executioner's forged weapon had a huge weight - from 5 kg, which made it unsuitable for combat use;
  • The steel used for the executioner's ax was more high quality, since the job had to be done in one hit.

In addition, the executioners had to have huge force, since some noble criminals were supposed to be executed with a sword, with which it was much more difficult to cut off their heads.

The most famous axes in our time are the two-handed axes of the Vikings. Thanks to the films, many imagine that the Vikings all owned just such a weapon. In fact, the most popular Scandinavian weapons were spears and one-handed axes weighing about 700 grams. The heavy forged ax was wielded only by the strongest fighters. Often these were berserkers who relied only on strength in battle, completely rejecting protection.

The versatility of the ax

The appearance of axes, especially such as halberds, made it possible to significantly change the course of the war. Since this weapon could act as an ax and a spear at the same time. In a one-on-one fight, subject to the same experience, the warrior with the halberd won. They were especially effective small units with axes of this type.

The ax could be used as follows:

  • It was possible to pull riders off their horses or cut off the legs of animals. Everything depended on the variety of battle axes;
  • An ax with a point on top could be used as a spear in order to keep the enemy out of range;
  • Thanks to the balance, warriors could easily change battle tactics by turning their improvised spears into axes.

Since in different countries the axes could differ significantly in both the shape of the blade and the size, it is necessary to consider the most popular models separately.

Features of the halberd

The halberd is a long ax with an elongated blade and a spear point. The length of the tip could reach a meter. In Europe, this weapon spread in the 13th century. It was first demonstrated by Swiss mercenaries, who, like the ancient Vikings, were hired into the troops of the rulers of Europe. The knightly cavalry, having encountered the Swiss in battle, felt the power of two-handed axes on themselves.

The classic halberd was about 2.5 meters long, and its weight reached 5.5 kg. It was the balance of the weapon that allowed the soldiers to wield it throughout the battle. Until the 15th century, the shape of the halberd changed. There were models that looked almost the same as simple axes. In the 15th century, the shape of the halberd was brought to a single pattern, which proved to be the best in battle.

There was no such armor that a two-handed halberd could not penetrate. Its tip easily entered even the best Milanese armor. The blade inflicted terrible chopped wounds, and with the help of the butt it was possible to stun the enemy. If the butt had a hook, then with its help it was possible to pull riders to the ground.

Scandinavian and Slavic axes

The ancient Vikings became famous precisely for their two-handed battle axes, with which they terrified the whole of medieval Europe. Unlike one-handed hatchets, which were used in tandem with a shield, a two-handed ax had a very wide blade. To lighten the weight, the thickness did not exceed 2 mm. Only the strongest Scandinavians worked with axes, of which there were many among the Vikings. For the average European warrior, such a weapon was beyond the power.

Having come from the Vikings to the Slavs, this ax was not widely used, since the local warriors did not need heavy weapons in the fight against the light steppe cavalry. Although the Scandinavian squads with huge axes were a formidable force, after several skirmishes with the steppes, they abandoned their favorite weapon, which was not suitable for such battles.

The parameters of the Scandinavian ax were as follows:

  • The weight of the weapon was about a kilogram;
  • The blade had a length of 30-40 cm;
  • Blade thickness was about 2 mm;
  • The shaft was up to two meters.

The Scandinavian or Danish ax required great strength, endurance and skill from its owner, as this weapon was very difficult to use for defense. However, its length and speed in skillful hands created a deadly zone around the fighter, into which only spears or arrows could penetrate.

In the future, the Scandinavian ax began to evolve, turning into a Swiss halberd in Europe and a reed in Rus'. Already in the 15th century, traditional Danish axes were ousted from the battlefield, but in Ireland and Scotland they were massively used until the 17th century.

Russian berdysh and its features

The first berdysh appeared in Rus' at the end of the 16th century, in the so-called "Time of Troubles". Where did the name of this popular weapon come from, the researchers still have not figured it out. Some believe that from the French "bardiche", while others draw a parallel with the Polish word "berdysz". If we take into account the fact that Moscow at that time was at war with Poland, then most likely these weapons came from there.

Russian soldiers quickly appreciated this ax at its true worth. Simplicity of design and low price combined with the incredible power of this weapon. Since the Russian militia was well versed with axes, it was very easy for them to master the reeds. This ax has the following design features:

  • The blade is long, crescent-shaped;
  • The shaft or "ratovishche" had a length of about 180 cm;
  • The berdysh was put on the ax in the same way as an ordinary ax.

A feature of the berdysh was a pigtail - the edge of the blade pulled down, which was grafted with nails to the shaft, after which it was additionally wrapped with a leather strap.

There were attempts to equip mounted archers with reeds, however, due to the size of the weapon, this attempt was unsuccessful. Although the weapons of the mounted archers were much shorter, it was extremely difficult for them to operate with one hand. But the foot archers were very fond of the berdysh, which they used not only as a weapon, but also as a specific stand for firing from squeakers and muskets.

Although it is believed that all berdysh were the same, they had a wide variety of forms. Researchers distinguish four main groups, each of which has many subspecies:

  • Axe-shaped berdysh. This weapon is the closest relative of the Danish two-handed axes. Appeared this species the very first;
  • With a long, crescent-shaped blade. The upper edge of the blade was horn-shaped and served for stabbing;
  • This form is similar to the previous one, except that the blade was forged into two points;
  • With a pointed type blade, the lower part of which was forged into two points.

In addition, in Rus' there were special ceremonial berdysh, which were often decorated with gold and velvet. Such axes were called golden axes.

Polex ax features

One of the most interesting varieties of the battle ax was the polex. It can be attributed both to the varieties of the war hammer and to the axes. Although outwardly it looks more like a hybrid from three types weapons:

  • Battle ax;
  • Spears;
  • War hammer.

These weapons became popular in the 15th and 16th centuries and were vastly superior to halberds in both functionality and speed. Infantrymen, armed with polex, could cut, chop and crush. The long shaft of the weapon in the upper part had iron strips that served to protect against cutting.

There were also modifications with rondels (hand protection). But most main feature the polex was its special design, which was prefabricated. Thanks to this, any damaged part of the ax could be detached and replaced with a new one. If a damaged halberd had to be completely redone, then the polex had a significant advantage in this regard.

Ancient Slavic ax of Perun

The fact that the Slavs honored the ax is evidenced by the amulet "Perun's ax" that has come down to us. From time immemorial, the ax amulet was worn by warriors of Slavic origin. The ax of Perun is considered a talisman of warriors, which gives them courage and stamina in battle. Currently, you can purchase this amulet, made of both steel and precious metals. Although in modern drawings the ax of Perun is depicted as an ancient Greek labrys, in fact it has the form of a traditional battle ax that was popular among Scandinavian and Slavic warriors. For those who are interested in the history of the ancient Slavs, Perun's ax can be a wonderful gift.

Battle axes have accompanied mankind for many centuries. At first, this weapon symbolized strength and power. With the development of metallurgy in the Middle Ages, the ax passed into the category of an ordinary weapon, which was loved by the Vikings and knights. Even with the advent firearms, axes, along with peaks, were still used on the battlefields for a long time.

Passed long haul through the millennia, together with man, and still remains a very popular tool. Battle axes were practically revived after the Vietnam War (1964-1975) and are currently experiencing a new wave of popularity. The main secret ax lies in its versatility, although chopping trees with a battle ax is not very convenient.

Battle Ax Options

After watching movies in which horned Vikings brandish huge axes, many are left with the impression that a battle ax is something huge, terrifying in its very appearance. But real battle axes differed from workers just in their small size and increased shaft length. The battle ax weighed, as a rule, from 150 to 600 grams, and the length of the handle was about 80 centimeters. With such weapons it was possible to fight for hours without getting tired. The exception was a two-handed ax, the shape and size of which correspond to the impressive "cine" specimens.

Types of battle axes

By types and forms, battle axes can be divided into:

  • One-handed;
  • two-handed;
  • Single-edged;
  • Double-edged.

In addition, axes are divided into:

  • Actually axes;
  • Axes;
  • Coins;

Each of these species has many subspecies and variations, however, the main division looks exactly like this.

ancient battle ax

The history of the ax began in the Stone Age. As you know, the first tools for man were a stick and a stone. The stick evolved into a club or club, a stone into a sharp axe, which is the progenitor of the ax. A chopper could cut prey or cut a branch. Even then, the progenitor of the ax was used in inter-tribal skirmishes, as evidenced by the findings of broken skulls.

A turning point in the history of the ax was the invention of a method for connecting a stick with a handaxe. Such a simple design increased the impact power several times. At first, the stone was tied to the handle with vines or animal veins, which made the connection extremely unreliable, although the ax was enough for several blows. The shape of the stone ax already then resembled the modern one. Combat skirmishes required reliable weapons, and gradually axes began to be ground and attached to the handle through a hole drilled in stone. Making a high-quality ax required long and painstaking work, so skillfully made axes were used mainly in skirmishes with enemies. Already in that era, a division into battle and working axes appeared.

Axes of the Bronze Age

The heyday of the era of bronze axes occurred in ancient greece. At first, the battle ax of the Hellenes was made of stone, but with the development of metallurgy, battle axes began to be made of bronze. Along with bronze axes, stone axes were also used for a long time. Greek axes were first made double-edged. The most famous Greek ax with two blades is the labrys.

Images of labrys are often found on ancient Greek vases, it is held in the hands supreme god Greek pantheon Zeus. Findings of huge labris in the excavations of Cretan palaces testify to the cult and symbolic use of these axes. Labryses were divided into two groups:

  • Cult and ceremonial;
  • Combat labrys.

Everything is clear with the cult ones: because of their huge size, they simply could not be used in skirmishes. The combat labrys copied the size of an ordinary battle ax (a small ax with a long handle), only the blades were located on both sides. We can say that these are two axes combined into one. The complexity of manufacturing made such an ax an attribute of leaders and great warriors. Most likely, this served as the further ritualization of the labrys. To use it in battle, a warrior had to have considerable strength and dexterity. The labrys could be used as a two-handed weapon, because the two blades made it possible to strike without turning the shaft. In this case, the warrior had to dodge enemy blows, and any hit from the Labrys was usually fatal.

The use of a labrys paired with a shield required great skill and strength in the hands (although the labrys for this were made individually and were smaller). Such a warrior was practically invincible and in the eyes of others was the embodiment of a hero or god.

Axes of the barbarians of the era of ancient Rome

During the reign ancient rome The main weapon of the barbarian tribes was also an ax. Among the barbarian tribes of Europe there was no rigid division into classes, each man was a warrior, hunter and farmer. Axes were used both in everyday life and in war. However, in those days there was a very specific ax - Francis, which was used only for combat.

First encountered on the battlefield with the barbarians armed by the Francis, the invincible legionnaires at first suffered defeat after defeat (however, the Roman military school quickly developed new methods of protection). The barbarians hurled their axes at the legionnaires with great force, and when they were at close range, they cut them with great speed. As it turned out, the barbarian Francis were of two types:

  • Throwing, with a shorter handle, to which they often tied long rope, which allows you to pull the weapon back;
  • Francis for close combat, which was used as a two-handed or one-handed weapon.

This division was not rigid and, if necessary, the “ordinary” Francis could be thrown no worse than the “special” one.

The very name "Francisca" recalls that this battle ax was used by the Germanic tribe of the Franks. Each warrior had several axes, and the Francis for close combat was a carefully kept weapon and the pride of its owner. Numerous excavations of the burial places of rich warriors testify to the high importance of this weapon for the owner.

Viking battle ax

The ancient battle axes of the Vikings were a terrible weapon of that era and were associated specifically with sea robbers. One-handed axes had many forms that did not differ much from each other, but the two-handed Brodex ax was remembered for a long time by the enemies of the Vikings. The main difference between Brodex is a wide blade. With such a width, it is difficult to talk about the versatility of the ax, but he chopped off limbs with one blow. In that era, the armor was leather or chain mail, and a wide blade cut through them perfectly.

There were also one-handed brodexes, but the so-called "Danish ax" was exactly two-handed and was the best fit for foot and tall Scandinavian pirates. Why did the ax become the symbol of the Vikings? The Scandinavians went to the "Vikings" for prey not at all because of the incredible steepness, they were forced to do so by harsh natural conditions and barren lands. Where do poor farmers get money for swords? But everyone had an ax in the household. After reforging the blade, it was only necessary to plant the ax on a long, strong handle, and the terrible Viking was ready to go. After successful campaigns, the warriors acquired good armor and weapons (including swords), but the ax remained the favorite weapon of many fighters, especially since they masterfully owned it.

Battle axes of the Slavs

The shape of the battle axes of ancient Rus' practically did not differ from the one-handed axes of Scandinavia. Since Rus' had close ties with Scandinavia, the Russian battle ax was the twin brother of the Scandinavian. Foot Russian squads and especially the militia used battle axes as the main weapon.

Rus' also maintained close ties with the East, from where a specific battle hatchet came from - coinage. It looks like a hatchet-slander. You can often find information that a chasing and a pick are one weapon - but despite the external similarity, these are completely different axes. The hammer has a narrow blade that cuts through the target, while the pick has a beak-like shape and pierces the target. If for the manufacture of a kletz it is possible to use metal not best quality, then the narrow blade of the coinage must withstand significant loads. The combat coinage of the Russians was the weapon of the riders who adopted this weapon from the equestrian steppes. Often, the coinage was richly decorated with precious inlay and served as a distinction of the military elite.

The battle ax in Rus' in later times served as the main weapon of robber gangs and was a symbol of peasant riots (along with military scythes).

The ax is the main competitor of the sword

For many centuries, the battle ax was not inferior to such specialized weapons as the sword. The development of metallurgy made it possible to mass-produce swords designed exclusively for combat functions. Despite this, the axes did not lose ground, and judging by the excavations, they even took the lead. Consider why the ax as a universal tool could compete on equal terms with the sword:

  • The high cost of the sword compared to the ax;
  • The ax was available in any household and was suitable for battle after a slight alteration;
  • For an ax, it is optional to use high-quality metal.

Currently, many firms make so-called "tactical" tomahawks or battle axes. SOG products with their flagship model M48 are especially advertised. Axes have a very spectacular "predatory" appearance and various options butt (hammer, pick or second blade). These devices are more intended for military operations than for economic use. Because of the plastic handle, throwing such tomahawks is not recommended: they fall apart after a few hits against a tree. In the hand, this device is also not very comfortable and constantly tries to turn around, because of which the blow can turn out to be sliding or even flat. It is better to make a battle ax yourself or with the help of a blacksmith. Such a product will be reliable and made according to your hand.

Making a battle ax

In order to make a battle ax, you will need an ordinary household ax (preferably made in the USSR during Stalin's time), a template and a grinder with a sharpener. We cut the blade according to the template and give the desired shape to the ax. After that, the ax is mounted on a long handle. Everything, the battle ax is ready!

If you want to get a high-quality battle ax, you can forge it yourself or order it from a blacksmith. In this case, you can choose a steel grade and be completely confident in the quality of the finished product.

The history of battle axes has more than a dozen millennia, and although in modern world there are few models left specifically for combat use, many have an ordinary ax stored at home or in the country, which can be special efforts turn into combat.

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I am fond of martial arts with weapons, historical fencing. I write about weapons military equipment because it is interesting and familiar to me. I often learn a lot of new things and want to share these facts with people who are not indifferent to military topics.