A peaceful axe with a martial shape ... for perusal

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Lee

Here is Ibrahiim's link to an enjoyable animated version of the Bayeux tapestry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDaB-NNyM8o

I really like these Portuguese cork harvesting axes (and, of course, I also like Viking axes). I first became aware of them from a magazine article about the threat to this ancient industry by screw caps and plastic stoppers. A picture of a harvester with one of these axes intrigued me.

Having greatly troubled a fellow forum member in the region to try and find one for my collection, I am now most grateful and appreciative to have a few examples, and I can attest that these axes do indeed have a very comparable profile, size and weight with a most classical form of Viking battle axe. The similarity continues with the straight haft.

As Fernando has said above, these are intended to be stained with sap and not blood, and only injure the tree if incompetently used. However, if one were to fall through a wormhole back to Viking times...

Salaams Lee , Thanks for the correction on the Bayeux Tappestry website which was nicely presented. The Vikings traded with the Romans in the 6th Century in the Med and it is not beyond reasoning that they picked up or transferred the technology for these axes to Portugal where they probably called in for a tipple of Port no? Regards Ibrahiim.