Knives of the North – Viking Throwing AxesKnives of the North – Viking Throwing Axes
Knives of the North carries quality Viking throwing axes, designed for both competitive fun and work. They also carry a variety of axe sheaths to keep your fingers safe and make carrying them easy.
Axes with shorter hafts can be hooked over other body parts, like the neck (left). This trick is described in chapter 12 of Fostbraedra saga.
Origins
Axe throwing is a popular group activity that is regaining popularity as a social gathering, team building event or even a bachelor or bachelorette party. The axe was a Viking weapon that required skill and precision. In addition to being a deadly weapon, the axe was also a versatile tool that could be used for cutting wood and other tasks. This is why the axe was such an important part of the Viking culture.
During the Viking Age, axes were the primary weapons for most men. They were used to attack enemies and to cut wood for housing, food and firewood. While most people had axes for work on their farms, a man’s wealth and status were often judged by the type of axe he owned.
There were many types of axes, but the one associated with the Vikings is the seax. This is a greenstone axe with an oval or rounded profile, polished only on the edge and finely hammered on the butt. It was a common axe in Central Sweden and the lower parts of Norway during the Early Stone Age. It was also found in parts of Denmark, Germany and the eastern fjords of Norway during the Late Stone Age.
The axe head was usually attached to the shaft with a shouldered tang. The haft was made of wood or bone, with evidence for eagle feather flights. Some arrowheads were also cast in bronze.
The Viking axe was a powerful weapon, but not without its faults. The sagas mention instances where the axe head shattered or fell off its haft during use. In one battle described in Hardar saga og Holmverja (chapter 38), the warrior Hordur was able to kill six opponents until his axe head came off its haft.
Axes intended for use on farms were designed differently from those meant for battle. The heads of battle axes were often much smaller and had less curvature than the farm axes. They also had wider butts and sharper edges. The axe heads of the later Viking period were transitional between types A and H.
Design
Axes were an important part of the everyday lives of Vikings and could be used for both work and battle. Even the poorest man would have one to chop wood and build his house or cart. For this reason, Viking axes were designed to be light and fast so that they could be thrown and used in a quick attack. Battle axes, on the other hand, were larger and designed to be used for cutting. These axes often had pointed “horns” at each end, which could be used to attack foes or stab at them. The horns could also be hooked over other body parts, like the neck (right) to compel a person to move in a direction they didn’t want to go. For example, in chapter 22 of Sturlu saga Thorsteinn hooks his opponent’s neck with an axe to drag him over to where he can be stabbed.
The axe heads were usually made from iron, with a single edge. The head was attached to the haft, which sagas say was sometimes wrapped with other metals. This reduced the chance that the haft would break when it was used to parry edged weapons, or under stress. The sagas also mention that the axe horns were sharp, which allowed them to be used in the same way as a spear point or sword point.
These axes are similar to the axes that were found in Birka and other Scandinavian archaeological sites. The axes were found in pairs, which suggests that they were intended to be used together. This is supported by a number of sagas, including Brennu-Njals saga, in which Hrappr Orgumleidason uses his axe to cut a man’s backbone in half.
This small viking axe throwing game features a sack filled with three small yet very sharp Viking style throwing axes and a target made from a round wooden section of a tree with a bull’s eye in the middle. It’s just like darts, except you’re hurling miniature axes that land with much more of a “thunk.” It’s a great way to test your strength and precision!
Materials
Almost all Viking age weapons were made of iron. Even the cheapest farming axes had an iron head, but axes meant for use in battle were built a little differently. The haft, or handle, had a distinctive shape that helped maximize the transfer of power from arm and shoulder to the point where the edge met its target. A reproduction of a Viking axe head and a historic axe, both on display to the left, are shown, with the axe haft’s bend clearly visible.
It’s important to remember that Vikings were not only warriors but also farmers and tradesmen. They worked with a wide range of materials, including wood and metals. Some axes were made with steel that was welded onto an iron head to improve the strength of the blade. This type of weapon was more affordable than a sword, although the smiths who made them still demanded high standards of craftsmanship.
Axe hafts were generally constructed from oak, which is hard and dense, but also flexible. Axe handles were usually carved or bent, and some had decorative carvings. The Fostbraedra saga describes a special axe, made by Bjarni for Thormodr, that was hammered all the way to the edge without obstructions, which created an exceptionally sharp blade.
The axe was primarily used as a throwing weapon. It could be thrown with a forward or backward swing, depending on the circumstances and distance to the target. It could be used to penetrate shields and armor, as well. In addition to its primary use, it could be hooked over other body parts to compel foes to move in a direction they did not want to go. For example, chapter 22 of the Sturlu saga recounts how Thorsteinn hooked one of his opponents and dragged him over to where he could be stabbed.
Axes were also described as being used in combination with a polearm known as the atgeir. This weapon was a bit like a glaive, but no polearms matching the description in the sagas have been found in graves. It is possible that such weapons were rare, and were added to the sagas as poetic embellishments.
Rules
Axe throwing is one of the oldest forms of competition that requires skill and accuracy. It was a popular pastime among Vikings and is now played in many countries around the world. This exciting sport is not only fun to play with friends and family, but it also tests your hand-eye coordination. It is important to keep in mind that the axes are very sharp, and you should not throw them unless you’re prepared for a possible injury.
To ensure that the axe hits the target, it must land in the center of the bullseye. To do this, you should hold the axe in your dominant hand with the blade facing the target before throwing it. If the axe does not land in the center of the target, it is considered a miss and will not count. Additionally, the axes must make only one rotation for the throw to count.
In addition to throwing the axe at the target, there are other rules that must be followed during the competition. Firstly, the competition referee must approve the competitors and assign them to their respective classes. The classes are senior men and women, and juniors. Juniors are men and women under 18 years of age. Competition referees must decide whether a competitor is a junior on a case-by-case basis.
Another rule is that the axe must not touch any other part of the lane, equipment, or building. It should also not make contact with the back of the target. This will disqualify the axe from the competition. The axes must also be kept in their sheaths until given clearance by the referee.
The curved head of the axe concentrates the force of a blow into a small area, making it a formidable weapon. In the sagas, the axe was often used to hook an opponent’s arm or neck in order to stop him from attacking or to pull away his shield. The axe can also be used to break an enemy’s helmet or mail.
The Small Viking Axe Game EXCLUSIVE-BOX-SET comes with a sack filled with three small, but very sharp Viking axes and a round wooden target printed with rings for point scoring. It includes a booklet of rules and tips on axe throwing technique, and it is recommended for players 16 years of age and older. It also comes with nine replacement axe handles in case any are broken.