The axe
or ax is an implement that has been used for Millennia to shape, split and cut
wood, harvest timber, as a weapon and a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. The axe
has many forms and specialized uses but generally consists of an axe head with
a handle, or helve. It is considered a simple machine.
Early stone tools like the hand axe were probably not hafted. The
first true hafted axes are known from the Mesolithic period (ca. 6000 BC). Axes
made from ground stone are known since the Neolithic. Few wooden hafts have
been found from this period, but it seems that the axe was normally hafted by
wedging. Birch-tar and raw-hide lashings were used to fix the blade. Sometimes
antler sleeves were used. This prevented both the splitting of the haft and
softened the impact on the stone blade itself. The distribution of stone axes
is an important indication of prehistoric trade. Thin sectioning is used to
determine the provenance of the stone blades. In Europe, Neolithic 'axe factories',
where thousands of ground stone axes were roughed out are known from many places,
such as: Great Langdale, Great Britain (tuff) Rathlin Island, Ireland (porcellanite)
Krzemionki, Poland (flint) Plancher-les-Mines, France (pelite) Val de'Aoste,
Italy (omphacite). Stone axes are still produced and in use today in parts of
Irian Jaya, New Guinea. The Mount Hagen area was an important production centre.
From the late Neolithic/Chalcolithic onwards, axes were made of copper or copper
mixed with arsenic. These axes were flat and hafted much like their stone predecessors.
Axes continued to be made in this manner with the introduction of Bronze metallurgy.
Eventually the hafting method changed and the flat axe developed into the ‘flanged
axe,’ then palstaves, and later winged and socketed axes.
Throwing axes were used by both Dark Age and Medieval Armies. The most famous
were Frankish infantry using the heavy shield-breaking Francisca. These were
hurled in a volley or two before closing for hand to hand combat.
Later, throwing axes were used as a close range missile weapon by
the Vikings, complementing the more popular light throwing spear.
They are recorded as being a very effective weapon, inflicting
substantial wounds due to their weight. During the battle of Hastings in 1066,
an eyewitness, William of Poitiers, described the exchange of missiles during
the battle: "The valiant resistance of the English and the death-dealing
weight of their projectiles, which included spears, javelins, axes, and stones
fastened to pieces of wood-the Saxon weapons found easy passage through the
Norman shields and armour, beating down those at close quarters and wounding
those who were shooting from a distance."
Today, people all over the world consider axe throwing a highly
competitive sport. 888 Knives R Us offers several brands of axes for chopping
wood or for the sport of throwing. If you are looking for a particular brand
or product that you do not see on our webstore, please don't hesitate to contact
us and we will do our best to find it for you.
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