MEDIEVAL WEAPONS
Ty Tucker
3/29/01
2nd
Medieval Axes
Welcome to my report on medieval axes. My report is about different types of axes. It is very hard to define the axe as a weapon with a simple picture or description. Axes are in a category of themselves, such a swords, clubs, and polearms. What I am trying to do am to explain is what types are common in Europe.
Axes have been used since the beginning of time. The first axes were made of a carved bone, metal, or stone chipped for an edge. As time went on, metal halved and metal-headed axes became more common. In combat, single-handed axes were used with single or double headed. There was no two handed axe, because you need a lot of skill and strength to wield such a big weapon in battle. They were rare except for logging. Soldiers on horseback used axes along with foot soldiers, although the axes they used had longer handles and lighter heads. Then axes became very popular during the middle ages as polearm weapons. The advantage of using an axe is that axes can slash and chop far better that a club or a sword. The axe has proven to be one of the most damaging and deadly weapons in history in the hands of a skilled warrior. Even today axes are still a dangerous weapon. "Even in recent times, axes are still a daunting weapon: we hear very little of sword-murderers, club-murderers, and so on, but ax-murderer conjures a definite image in most peoples’ minds." Dargolyt@aol.com
The battle-axe is a name for a fighting axe, especially a European fighting axe. Battle axes are larger versions of regular axes and are usually two handed and double headed. The term battle-axe applies only axes used in a war. The weight and blade size of the battle-axe made it even more effective for slashing, chopping, and crushing armor than the simple axe. However, more skill and strength were needed to use a battle-axe effectively and it was not a common weapon. Most medieval battle-axes had broad, socketed heads, and used reinforcement bands along the haft to prevent the haft from snapping during battle.
The Jeddart Axe is a Lochaber Axe. The Lochaber Axe was a Scottish version of the halberd design, first used around 1600. A good fighting weapon, this axe had a hook to the reverse side of the blade, which is used when climbing walls. "Care had to be taken not to fall on the tip of the axe once the climber reached the top of the wall." (The Forge) The sharp point at the top can be used for pushing while the long, blade provided an great slashing edge. Later, the hook could be used to pull enemies off balance, or as a disarming tool. "For reference, the blade head on the weapon to the left is approximately 18 inches long." (The Forge)
The hand axe is a type of the axe, which probably found its first use as a hatchet or a woodsman's tool. "Normally carried as a secondary weapon, the hand axe was a good, fast fighting weapon, which required no great skill or strength to employ." The Forge. Being light, it was not as powerful against an armored opponent as a great axe is, but it was a very versatile weapon.
The term war axe is not one weapon, but rather type of an axe made specially for use in combat. War axes are generally all metal and occasionally double-headed. The axe heads were often longer and broader than a woodsman’s axe was. The war axe was intended to "kill, maim and dismember." (webmaster) It was an extremely efficient close range weapon. It was used in horse-to-horse, horse-to-ground and ground-to-ground in battles. It could be thrown at an enemy, with a risk of losing it. The war axe was useful also as a camp tool for chopping wood, pounding, and to kill animals.
Knights sometimes wielded two small-handed axes. The short ax is easier to use no horseback then other axes were. "Many tribes in Europe fought on foot." (knight, page 7, 18-19) As time went on, so did the evolutions of axes. Unlike most medieval weapon, it is still used today.
The End!
References:
Dargolyt@aol.com, owner of the forge. (It is case sensitive)
http://members.aol.com/dargolyt/TheForge/THEFORGE.HTM
2. webmaster@skowheganms.sad54.k12.me.us
http://www.msad54.k12.me.us/MSAD54pages/Curriculum%20Resources/medieval.htm
Gravett, Christopher Eyewitness Book Knight
Dorling Kindersley limited, London 1993