16th-17th Battle Axes From German and Swiss Armories

Matchlock · 27th January 2014, 04:27 PM

The hafts of most samples I have seen were of ash wood, just as is the case with long spears (pikes), but some were made of oak. By the 16th c., the blades mostly have sturdy spikes to them, often pointing to the rear.

The first complete axe attached, from the Late Gothic period, 14th-15th c., I found on the internet; it is believed to be in a Russian museum.

The second axe used to be in my own collection; it could be dated to ca. 1500, the blade and figured ashwood haft both retaining a congruent and stable old patina. The blade was deeply struck three times with a Gothic traditional blacksmith's mark, a cross with four pellets, the haft was incised with was either a letter N (for Nuremberg?) or Z (for Zürich?):
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=foot+combat
Overall length 119.7 cm, the blade 27.4 x 22.0 cm.

Best,
Michael

27th January 2014, 04:27 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	15th to 17th C. Battle Axes From German and Swiss Armories The hafts of most samples I have seen were of ash wood, just as is the case with long spears (pikes), but some were made of oak. By the 16th c., the blades mostly have sturdy spikes to them, often pointing to the rear. The first complete axe attached, from the Late Gothic period, 14th-15th c., I found on the internet; it is believed to be in a Russian museum. The second axe used to be in my own collection; it could be dated to ca. 1500, the blade and figured ashwood haft both retaining a congruent and stable old patina. The blade was deeply struck three times with a Gothic traditional blacksmith's mark, a cross with four pellets, the haft was incised with was either a letter N (for Nuremberg?) or Z (for Zürich?): http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=foot+combat Overall length 119.7 cm, the blade 27.4 x 22.0 cm. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 27th January 2014 at 11:01 PM.