The Battle Axe: From the Dane Axe to the Knight's Poleaxe
The sword gets the glory, but for most of history the axe did more of the work. It was cheaper, easier to make, deadlier against armor, and already in every farmer's hands. From the throwing axes of the Franks to the two-handed Dane axe of the Viking shield wall and the poleaxe of the armored knight, the battle axe evolved for a thousand years and never went out of service. Here are the main types, how each was used, and what separates a true battle axe from a woodcutter's tool.
What Makes an Axe a Battle Axe
A war axe is built differently from a felling axe. A wood axe has a thick, wedge-shaped head — often 3 to 6 pounds — designed to split fibers. A battle axe has a thin, broad, sharply beveled blade on a head that usually weighs only 1 to 2 pounds, because a fighter needs speed and a long cutting edge more than splitting mass. The haft is also longer in proportion, which multiplies the force at the edge. The result is a weapon that is faster than it looks and far lighter than the movies suggest: a one-handed Viking axe weighed about the same as a sword, and a two-handed Dane axe less than 4 pounds.
The Francisca: The Frankish Throwing Axe
The francisca is the short, curved-headed axe of the Franks in the 5th and 6th centuries, named for the people who made it famous. It was thrown in volleys before a charge — Roman and Byzantine writers describe the axes shattering shields and breaking enemy lines — and then used in the hand. The distinctive arched head, with its edge flaring upward, is the ancestor of the later bearded axe.
The Bearded Axe: The Viking Classic
The bearded axe (skeggox) is the signature Viking weapon: the lower edge of the blade extends down below the socket, like a beard, giving a long cutting edge on a light head. The "beard" has practical uses — it lets the hand slide up behind the blade for close work and carving, and it hooks an opponent's shield rim or ankle. One-handed bearded axes with hafts of 24 to 36 inches were the most common Viking weapon of all, paired with a round shield. Our guide covers the best Viking axes in detail.
The Dane Axe: The Two-Handed Killer
The Dane axe (or long axe) is the great two-handed axe of the late Viking Age and Anglo-Saxon England. Its broad, thin, crescent-shaped blade of 8 to 12 inches sat on a haft of 4 to 6 feet, and it was the weapon of elite infantry — the huscarls of Harold Godwinson at Hastings and the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine emperors. The Bayeux Tapestry shows a Dane axe cutting a horse's head clean off, and it was probably exaggerating only slightly. The Dane axe influenced later weapons as far afield as the Scottish sparth axe and the Irish gallowglass axe.
The Medieval Battle Axe and Poleaxe
As plate armor spread in the 14th and 15th centuries, the sword lost effectiveness and the axe gained it. Knights carried one-handed horseman's axes, often with a hammer or spike on the back of the head to punch through plate. On foot they fought with the poleaxe: a 5- to 6-foot haft topped with an axe blade, a hammer head, and a top spike. The poleaxe was the knightly weapon of choice for armored combat and judicial duels, and the fencing masters of the period wrote entire treatises on it. Our poleaxe vs. halberd guide compares it with the infantry polearm it resembles.
The Labrys and the Double-Bit Axe
The double-headed axe, or labrys, is the oldest of them all — a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete around 2000 BC and a weapon of the Amazons in Greek myth. Historically it was rare on the battlefield, because a second blade adds weight without adding reach, but it remains one of the most striking axe forms for display.
Owning a Battle Axe Today
A battle axe is the most affordable way into hand-forged historical weapons, and one of the most usable: a bearded axe chops kindling as well as it hangs on a wall. Ours are hand-forged in 1095 high-carbon and Damascus steel on hardwood hafts, sharpened, with sheaths included. Browse the axe collection, see the 34-inch Scandinavian bearded axe, the Damascus Viking battle axe, or the double-bit labrys.
Battle Axe FAQ
What is a battle axe?
An axe designed for combat rather than woodcutting, with a thin, broad, sharply beveled blade on a light head and a proportionally long haft. Types include the francisca, bearded axe, Dane axe, horseman's axe, and poleaxe.
How much does a battle axe weigh?
Far less than people expect. One-handed battle axes weighed 2 to 3 pounds total; two-handed Dane axes about 3 to 4 pounds. Heavy fantasy axes are fiction.
What is a bearded axe?
A Viking-style axe whose blade extends downward below the socket, giving a long edge on a light head and letting the user grip behind the blade.
What is a Dane axe?
The two-handed long axe of the late Viking Age, with a broad crescent blade on a 4- to 6-foot haft, used by elite infantry such as the Anglo-Saxon huscarls and the Varangian Guard.
Is a battle axe better than a sword?
Against armor, often yes: an axe concentrates force on a small edge and can be backed with a hammer or spike. A sword is faster, better at thrusting, and better at defense. Most warriors who could afford both carried both.
What is the difference between a battle axe and a tomahawk?
A tomahawk is a light North American hand axe with a small head and a straight haft, built for throwing and utility. A battle axe is the broader European category, generally with a larger blade.
