Axe
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
It is nearly impossible to define the axe as a weapon with a single description or picture. Axes are a category of weapons all by themselves, much as swords, clubs, and polearms are. What we’ve tried to do here is explain a bit about what axes are in general and what types of axes were common in combat in medieval Europe.
Axes are another example of weapons that have been in use since the beginning of time, both for domestic/agricultural use and for combative use. Early axes were almost always wood hafted weapons, the heads of which were made of carved bone, metal, or stone chipped to an edge. As time and technology progressed, metal-hafted and metal-headed axes became more commonplace. In combat, one handed axes were most common and were generally single or double headed. Two handed axes were not unheard of, but because of the skill and sheer strength required to successfully wield such a weapon in combat, two handed axes were rare outside of logging. Cavalry soldiers (soldiers on horseback) used axes as well as foot soldiers, although cavalry axes tended to have longer handles and lighter heads. Axe heads mounted on poles became extremely popular during the middle ages as polearm weapons, the most famous of which are the halberd and pole-axe. The advantage of using an axe, rather than simply a sword or mace weapon, is that axes can slash and chop far better than a club type weapon, thrust, and are far more effective at crushing armor than swords. The axe has proven itself to be one of the most versatile and deadly weapons in history in the hands of a skilled wielder.
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Types of Axes
Hand Axe
- The hand axe was a variation of the axe which probably found its first use as a hatchet or similar 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. Being light, it wasn't as effective against an armored opponent as an axe or great axe were, but it was nonetheless a very versatile weapon.
War Axe
- The term waraxe is not a particular weapon but rather descriptive of an axe designed specifically for use in combat. Waraxes were generally all metal construction and occasionally double-headed. Their axe heads were often longer and broader than a common woodsman’s axe was.
Great Axe/Battle Axe
- Battle axe is a generic term for a fighting axe, especially a European fighting axe. Battle axes are essentially larger versions of simple axes and are usually two-handed and double-headed. The term battle axe applies only to axes of war. The increased weight and blade size of the battle axe made it even more effective for slashing, chopping, and crushing armor than the simple axe; however, greater skill and strength were required to use a battle axe effectively and thus it was not a common weapon. Most medieval European battle axes had broad, socketed heads (meaning the axe head and the haft fit together, rather than were lashed together), and used reinforcement bands along the haft to prevent the haft from snapping during battle.
