I've always been really interested in axes and decided that I should learn about them now. What sort of insight and good articles do you guys have on them, particularly on how and why they were used, techniques and strategies of any kind used with them, and why I have heard some people regard them as shitty weapons? Thanks in advance for whatever you can tell me.
>>346953
Hey if anyone tells u an axe is a shitty wepon they're probably too pussy to use one
>>346953
First know that an axe used for war is not the same thing as an axe used for utility purposes. The blade has a much thinner profile and will break if used to chop wood.
The reason the axe was the signature weapon of vikings/raiders was due to the nature of their fighting style. The hit and run tactics used by barbarians do not favor a weapon such as the spear because it isn't as handy and formations weren't utilized in these raids. Swords weren't utilized because they were generally too costly due to the amount of metal they required.
Pros
>easy to use
>cheap
>good penetration
>handle can be repaired in the field
Cons
>unbalanced when compared to a sword
>handle has chance to break
>generally shorter than a sword
tldr
Great for raiding against peasants/unsuspecting militia, cheap.
>>346953
Why didn't Asians use axes.
>>348774
Asia =/= Japs. Git lerned.
country:
what's the point of these?
>>347457
>The blade has a much thinner profile and will break if used to chop wood.
Bullshit, don't be retarded. They're not designed for woodcutting sure, but it is designed to smash armour, helmets, and wooden shields.
>>348786
Two axeheads are better than one in the woods.
Loggers used to camp out there for days.
>>348797
why not two axes instead?
>>348808
You want to carry two axes?
>>348810
you want to carry a bigger axe all of the time rather than two smaller ones some of the time?
>>348832
1 axe with 2 heads is smaller than 2 axes.
>>348832
Yes? because woodsmans axes are big and the haft weighs a lot too?
>>347457
>The reason the axe was the signature weapon of vikings/raiders was due to the nature of their fighting style. The hit and run tactics used by barbarians do not favor a weapon such as the spear because it isn't as handy and formations weren't utilized in these raids
viking axe is actually meant exatly for tight formations and it's used as hook to grasp enemy's shield so your mates can stab him with something else, like a cnuckleduster by grasping it near the blade or just hack peoples heads open from upwards.
>>348832
one-bladed axe would be just as large and heavy since it still needs weight and momentum. instead of backup blade it would just have some blunt mass of metal.
>>348950
You dense motherfucker.
>Be woodsman
>Go to forest
>Hey we got to chop up these things for days we'll be out here for quite a while
>Be far from smiths, whet stones, and other axe repair tools
>Double up on axeheads then so when one dulls, the other can be put to service
>No need to carry another axe/more axes.
Woodsman's axe =/= Battle axes
>>348950
Because those are wood cutting axes and the Vikings weren't going out to chop wood?
Have you read the thread?
>>348950
Are you trolling or just really really dumb.
>>348781
>VANGUARD BATTALION COMMANDER'S LONG HANDED AXE
>>347457
Actually the thinner axes were used for shaving wood by norse people
>>346953
You got woodworking axes and fighting axes, they're of a different design.
You got splitting axes, side axes, hatchets, felling axes, normal axes and Shepard axes.
On the fighting side you got Poleaxes, one handed axes, bardiches, Dane axes and a load of other axes.
Woodcutting axes are poor for fighting and fighting axes are poor for woodcutting. The vikings had a preference for axes in the early middle ages and after that when armor became more widespread the use of the axe become more widespread.
>>349121
can Halberd be called an axe? It is pretty much a spear-axe hybrid.
>>348786
Double axes are for lumber. Generally, they are used for felling axes, which is the type used to cut trees down (As opposed to splitting trees that are already down). There are 3 advantages.
1. As already stated by several posters, a double axe is light than carrying 2 axes, and gives you an extra blade if one chips and you are far from a smith or a grinding wheel.
2. Double axe heads are pretty well balanced compared to primitive poll-less axes, or poorly made polled axes. This helds prevent wobbles so it is easier to strike true.
3. You can grind each head differently. It was once common for American lumbermen to keep one side sharp for "clean" cuts and have a more obtuse grind for cutting into knots, or when the blade was likely to strike into dirt. IN mixed forests, one blade might b optimized for softwoods (more acute grind) and another for hardwoods (more obtuse grind).
>>349213
Well I'd say it depends, the early halberds didn't look like axes but more like meat cleavers with a spike on top.
Maybe we're just overthinking it really, contemporaries just saw a polearm and called it a halberd, bill or battle-axe/pollaxe to them categorizing wasn't of utmost importance.
>>347457
>handle has a chance to break
sword blade had a chance to break as well
>>347457
also vikings used spears you fucking imbecile
>>349226
>>349213
Origin of HALBERD
Middle English, from Middle French hallebarde, from Middle High German helmbarte, from helm handle + barte ax
First Known Use: 15th century
Yes. According to Merriam Webster, the name basically means handled Axe
>>349234
Fucking ugly 1/10 would not kill with.
>>349239
8/10 imho
Any images of braces of throwing axes/franciscas.
Interested in the prevelance of javelins/axes over bows in Germanic circles. Would they have cost less/taken less skill to make?
>>349228
It's not nearly as likely. Metal > Wood. This is why renaissance axes and pollweapons had metal hafts and langettes.
>>349340
Idk about less skill to make. Less time/skill to train to proficiency though.
>>346953
Irish/Scottish axes a best
>>349222
>Double axes are for lumber. Generally, they are used for felling axes
At this I pictured a guy with a double axe chopping down, or felling, a giant tree-sized axe.
>>350338
Since when do those beat glorious Saxon and English Axes?
