Viking/Norman small axe?

CutlassCollector · 24th October 2013, 12:34 PM

Hi Kronckew
That's a good way to fix an axe head - no splitting of wood and not much chance of it flying off. The turned down spike is unusual - I thought belt hook at first but its too sharp and not in a good place for hooking on a person. CC.

kronckew · 24th October 2013, 01:26 PM

i have a dane axe made by paul binn. it has a considerably larger head on a 5 foot haft and is similarly tapered fat end up by the head. 'cold steel' tomahawks are also made this way. the more modern top down with a split end tightened by a wood or steel wedge is used on many wood axes, but to me is an inferior way to do it, as the head can indeed fly off if it is not done correctly and gets a bit loose...

the 'spike' lays flush against the wood, it's designed to take the torque (vertical twisting force) when the head hits something. the apparent gap is a lighting artifact. it can't 'hook' anything

here's a similar re-enforcing 'spike' both above and below centre on a repro russian axe:

broadaxe · 24th October 2013, 04:44 PM

Relatively modern Afghan axe. Script is Arabic.

kronckew · 24th October 2013, 09:00 PM

good, paid next to nothing for it.

thanks for the info.

trenchwarfare · 25th October 2013, 01:15 AM

Modern or not, it's a nice piece. Several years ago, a returning GI offered two of these with replaced metal handles on ebay. (Wish I'd have bought them) He said they kept them in their Hummer. If the residents wouldn't cooperate while doing a house search, all he had to do, was go outside, and return with an axe in hand. Being a blade oriented society, the axe commanded much more respect, than the M4. Cooperation was immediately achieved. And no, I'm not trying to glorify what goes on in Afghanistan. Just relaying an interesting story.

kronckew · 25th October 2013, 08:01 AM

i remember seeing (and bidding on) them. had some brass inlays if i recall. i did not win them either.

i heard a similar story from an american. the locals didn't take them serious until the command to 'fix bayonets'. he mentioned taking out a large bowie to clean his fingernails always made the locals more cooperative.

..and last century, the sultan of brunei went away on holiday, the local marxists decided it was a good time to be more revolting than usual, so they started their normal method of polite democratic persuasion - rioting, arson, murder, looting, rape, etc.

the sultan called his guard, two helicopters of gurkhas arrived, a few hours later. revolution over. the gurkhas had lined up if front of the rioters, drew their khukuris, and most of the commies suddenly decided they were really loyal subjects of his majesty the sultan and had other appointments to attend. those few remaining hard core soon got the point tho - or maybe the edge.

there was, of course, more to it than that, and a bit more combat in other places, but it was all over in short order.

...and the bean counters say that edged weapons have no place in modern combat. they, of course, have never been somewhere you needed one.

kronckew · 25th October 2013, 08:04 PM

just had a reply from an email i sent the vendor suggesting the axe was likely afghani. he has replied that that may be correct, he got the batch from south asia.

p.s. - he had a sort of bearded/goose wing poll axe also for sale that i bid on and also got for the minimum price.

will see if it too has a cartouche when it gets here. this one has a more western haft with the blade set to the top & secured with a wedge.

24th October 2013, 01:26 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	i have a dane axe made by paul binn. it has a considerably larger head on a 5 foot haft and is similarly tapered fat end up by the head. 'cold steel' tomahawks are also made this way. the more modern top down with a split end tightened by a wood or steel wedge is used on many wood axes, but to me is an inferior way to do it, as the head can indeed fly off if it is not done correctly and gets a bit loose... the 'spike' lays flush against the wood, it's designed to take the torque (vertical twisting force) when the head hits something. the apparent gap is a lighting artifact. it can't 'hook' anything here's a similar re-enforcing 'spike' both above and below centre on a repro russian axe: Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 24th October 2013 at 01:39 PM.

25th October 2013, 08:01 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	i remember seeing (and bidding on) them. had some brass inlays if i recall. i did not win them either. i heard a similar story from an american. the locals didn't take them serious until the command to 'fix bayonets'. he mentioned taking out a large bowie to clean his fingernails always made the locals more cooperative. ..and last century, the sultan of brunei went away on holiday, the local marxists decided it was a good time to be more revolting than usual, so they started their normal method of polite democratic persuasion - rioting, arson, murder, looting, rape, etc. the sultan called his guard, two helicopters of gurkhas arrived, a few hours later. revolution over. the gurkhas had lined up if front of the rioters, drew their khukuris, and most of the commies suddenly decided they were really loyal subjects of his majesty the sultan and had other appointments to attend. those few remaining hard core soon got the point tho - or maybe the edge. there was, of course, more to it than that, and a bit more combat in other places, but it was all over in short order. ...and the bean counters say that edged weapons have no place in modern combat. they, of course, have never been somewhere you needed one. Last edited by kronckew; 25th October 2013 at 08:14 AM.

25th October 2013, 08:04 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	just had a reply from an email i sent the vendor suggesting the axe was likely afghani. he has replied that that may be correct, he got the batch from south asia. p.s. - he had a sort of bearded/goose wing poll axe also for sale that i bid on and also got for the minimum price. will see if it too has a cartouche when it gets here. this one has a more western haft with the blade set to the top & secured with a wedge. Attached Images

24th October 2013, 12:34 PM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 343	Hi Kronckew That's a good way to fix an axe head - no splitting of wood and not much chance of it flying off. The turned down spike is unusual - I thought belt hook at first but its too sharp and not in a good place for hooking on a person. CC.

24th October 2013, 04:44 PM	#3
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	Relatively modern Afghan axe. Script is Arabic.

24th October 2013, 09:00 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	good, paid next to nothing for it. thanks for the info.

25th October 2013, 01:15 AM	#5
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Modern or not, it's a nice piece. Several years ago, a returning GI offered two of these with replaced metal handles on ebay. (Wish I'd have bought them) He said they kept them in their Hummer. If the residents wouldn't cooperate while doing a house search, all he had to do, was go outside, and return with an axe in hand. Being a blade oriented society, the axe commanded much more respect, than the M4. Cooperation was immediately achieved. And no, I'm not trying to glorify what goes on in Afghanistan. Just relaying an interesting story.