1. Francis and their successors
In the early European Middle Ages, the most popular were the Francis. These light hatchets gradually began to be used not only in close combat, but also for throwing. They stopped using them even before the time of the Vikings came.
During the post-Frankish era, the axes became somewhat different. They had a shaft of 50 to 60 centimeters. Hatchets had a number of positive properties. They were lightweight, perfectly balanced. They were used to cut down in battle in a fight face to face, and fenced. Initially, the cutting surface was up to ten centimeters. Gradually it became wider.
2. Scandinavian or Danish Viking ax
Its shaft was up to 1.5 meters, and the cutting surface was narrow at the base, and closer to the blade it expanded. Such indicators allowed to reduce weight and improve the speed of use and overall penetrating power.
It was no coincidence that the shape was rounded. Thanks to this, the Viking had the opportunity to pull the enemy's shield towards himself, and with a sharp part to strike an accurate blow to the head. The two-handed Scandinavian ax, unlike all available swords, gave a long range. But it was slower than the blade. However, there were more positive aspects. Thanks to him, the Vikings successfully repulsed the attacks of the horsemen. They were applied in practice by the troops of many states.
3. Why did the Scandinavians prefer hatchets?
At that time, swords were very expensive and high-status. They were owned by high-ranking vigilantes. It could have been with a jarl or a king, but ordinary people who were still farming yesterday could not afford a sword. He could get it only after many campaigns, and successful ones. But the simple peasant had other preferences, for example, to acquire a house, a farm, and to get married.
An ax for battle could be made by his own master, since he did not need a lot of metal for it, and the ax handle could always be changed. Every Scandinavian knew how to handle such a weapon, so there were no problems here.
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The ax was also a versatile weapon. An enemy with a sword could hardly come close to the Viking. Combat tactics, a wall of shields, and long weapons gave the Vikings significant advantages.
Continuing the topic read, why Viking shields were actually fragile and easily broken.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/210321/58271/
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