There are many different types of viking axes available on the market. They can be used for historical reenactment or as decorative pieces. Some even feature runes.

 

Some Viking axe for sale axes are better for throwing or wood cutting purposes than others. Some have wooden handles, while others are made of metal or reinforced plastic.

Type A

 

Axes were used for heavy work such as wood-cutting and splitting. They also had a pointed “horn” at each end which could be used offensively to stab and inflict serious wounds. These were called oxarhyrna. The horns on the axe head would widen to a much wider point than a spear or sword point, and were a key feature of Viking warfare.

 

Petersen developed the typology of axes in 1919, which remains the standard tool for studying them. It is based on the same lettering as his sword typology and can be simplified into two main categories. The bearded axe has a downward-curving “beard” on its lower edge that made it easier to hook opponents and disarm them in combat. The other side of the axe, like the historic one from Mammen, shows a bird motif. It could be either the rooster Gullinkambi, which like Yggdrasil belongs to Norse mythology, or the Phoenix, a symbol of Christian rebirth.

Type B

 

This type of axe is mid-sized and between that of a hatchet and a full-sized felling axe. It was used for wood-cutting and splitting, as well as fighting. This weapon was found in hundreds of Viking graves and mentioned in many Norse sagas.

 

It has pointed but low-profile spurs and a curved blade. This design allowed a larger blade surface and was more effective for hooking an opponent’s leg or shield. It was in use from about 600 to 840 AD.

 

Some axe heads were heavily bearded, which was useful for a variety of purposes in battle, such as hooking an opponent over the head (likely to cause a humiliating but not lethal blow) or pulling their shield away for an attack or disarm. The Mammen axe is an example of this. This type of axe shows evidence that it was made as one piece, with the eye for the haft punched out with a drift.

Type C

 

This Viking axe is a powerful weapon for big swings or fine slicing. It is a bearded axe, which means it has a downward-curving beard on the lower edge of the head that is designed to hook and disarm opponents in combat. This axe is a replica of one that was buried with the grave-robber Ragnar Lothbrok. The other side of the axe head displays a bird motif, which can be interpreted as either the rooster Gullinkambi or the Phoenix, symbol of rebirth that belongs to Christian mythology.

 

Viking axes often had a shorter haft than swords, which allowed them to be concealed behind a shield, as was the case in Thorgeirr's fight with Snorri in chapter 12 of the Fostbraedra Saga. The haft was typically created by riving, which involved wrapping the wood around what would later become the eye of the axe.

Type D

 

Petersen categorized this type of axe by its head shape, intended use and time period. He also created a typology for Viking swords based on their hilt designs.

 

This axe has pointed "horns" on both ends of the blade (oxarhyrna). These can be hooked over other body parts, such as the neck, to compel someone to move in a direction they don't want to go. It can also be used to hook the edge of a shield, pulling it away for an attack or disarm. This technique is mentioned in chapter 22 of Sturlu saga.

 

One side of the Mammen axe displays a bird motif that can be interpreted as either the rooster Gullinkambi or the Phoenix. Both of these animals are incorporated into Norse mythology, and the rooster represents pagan fertility rituals while the Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth and Christianity.

Type E

 

Our axe is a fully hand-forged, Viking age weapon that is ideal for combat and decoration/display. It is not suitable for reenactment due to its fragile construction, but it is an excellent prop for making your costume look authentic.

 

The axe blade is very thin, so it is light and extremely sharp. This type of axe was often used as a fighting weapon, and historical examples show that they were used to cut the heads off of opponents.

 

These axes were also used to eviscerate people by hooking them over other body parts, like the neck (right) to drag an opponent around or a shield to disarm them. This is described in the sagas, such as Sturlu saga chapter 22. The axe head is shaped with a lower spur that extends downwards, like a beard. It is also less steep than Type D.

Type F

 

Axes were common weapons and tools in the Viking Age. They were used for everything from chopping wood to fighting off enemies in battle. These axes were also very sharp, making them deadly in close combat.

 

The haft of these axes was often decorated. It was considered a status symbol to own an axe that had been decorated with gold or silver. It was even more impressive to own a decorated axe that had been gifted by the king.

 

Generally, the axes had a long tang. The axehead was made of iron and the shaft was wood. The axehead was usually oval and symmetrical, but sometimes had a curved blade. Petersen’s typology divides axe heads into twelve types, but only five of these are found in Scandinavia. These axes are known as Type F. They have long, yet low spurs and a slightly bearded blade.

Type G

 

Petersen’s Type G axe has pointed yet low-profile spurs and a neck with a subtle bearded shape. These features distinguished this weapon from similar axes and allowed Viking warriors to hook opponents’ ankles or shields.

 

The blade’s symmetrical shape with little curvature is also unique to this type of axe. This was a useful feature for reducing the overall weight of the weapon, making it easier to use for long periods of time.

 

This type of axe was largely used by leaders and warriors in their entourage. It is not unusual to see warriors in the Bayeux Tapestry with two axes in their hands, but such a tactic was mainly effective on defensive battlefields. Axe heads made of this type were found in 19 Scandinavian graves along with spearheads, a second axe, weapon knife, and riding equipment.

Type H

 

One of the first scholars to create a typology of Viking weapons, Jan Petersen categorized swords by their hilt designs and axes by their head shapes. He also grouped them by their intended use and time period.

 

Axes of this type are distinguished by their curved, bearded shape that was useful in hooking an opponent’s ankle or shield and could be used to deliver a humiliating but not lethal blow. They were used between 600 and 840 AD.

 

The axe’s shaft was often made of wood species such as maple (6 examples: Barshalder, Sonder Onsild, and Lough Corrib), birch (4 examples: Oseberg, Vesterrk, and Langeid), hornbeam (1 example: Nordensvold), linden (2 examples: Bergshalder and Vorma), and cherry (1 example: Laundaks). A metal ferrule or ring was placed on the bottom part of the handle to secure the head.

Type I

 

Few weapons were more common among the Vikings than the axe, which served as both a weapon and a tool. They were used in battle, on raids and for woodcutting. The axe was also known as Skeggox, which translates to bearded axe.

 

The axe haft was often wrapped to minimize the possibility of it breaking when parrying edged weapons or during stress. According to the sagas, a wrap was especially important for those who fought on foot.

 

This historical axe from Mammen is inlaid with silver and displays a motif that can be interpreted as either pagan or Christian. One side features a tree, which could be Yggdrasil, the Viking god of fate, or a Phoenix, a symbol of resurrection. It dates to about AD 840. This type of axe is distinguished by its curved beard and thinner blade.

Type J

 

The axe head of this type displays a bird motif. The bird could either be the rooster Gullinkambi that, like the tree Yggdrasil, belongs to pagan Norse mythology or the Phoenix which symbolises rebirth and is part of Christian religion. It is likely that this axe was used as a throwing weapon.

 

This axe was used until about 840 AD and is distinguished by its long spurs, thick neck, and a subtle bearded blade. It is also unique in that its haft has a bend near the head. This allows the axe to be held by one hand and maximizes the transfer of power from the arm, shoulder, and upper body to the edge of the blade. The axe horns were kept sharp so they could be used to stab as well as slash. These weapons were often used in clever tactics, such as hooking an opponent’s leg or catching their shield to render them defenseless.