Warrior with two axes. What is a poleaxe: a battle ax and its types. Wide-bladed and narrow-bladed universal tools

Good day everyone! By writing this article, I am opening a new section on my resource - chopping bladed weapons. There are many types of battle axes and it is simply impossible to consider them all in one article. And therefore, this article will be introductory - a kind of introduction to all subsequent ones, and at the same time - a table of contents for the section. I have already used this practice earlier in the section on “ daggers».

Now let's get straight to the point. We all imagine appearance ax, and this is not surprising - the ax is such a useful, convenient and practical thing for creative work, known to everyone, that it is simply impossible not to know about it. We will touch on a more interesting component of the axe’s incarnation – its combat use and varieties.

A multifunctional striking-cutting edged weapon, a type of ax designed to defeat enemy personnel. A distinctive feature of the battle ax is the light weight of the blade (about half a kilogram) and the long ax handle (from fifty centimeters). Battle axes were one-handed and two-handed, one-sided and two-sided. The battle ax was used both for close combat and for throwing.

According to the generally accepted classification, the ax occupies an intermediate place between the usual impact weapon and bladed melee weapons. This is a group of cutting bladed weapons or, as it is also called - slashing bladed weapon.

A little about the origin of the ax...

First, let's define when does the history of the ax begin? An ax similar to the classical form, having a handle and a striking part, appeared approximately six thousand years BC, during the Mesolithic era. The ax was used mainly as a tool and was intended for cutting down trees, building houses, rafts and other things. The striking part was stone and roughly hewn. It was only in the later stages of the Stone Age that the ax began to take on a more “human” appearance. Ground and drilled stone axes began to appear, which were no longer used only as entrenching tools, but also as weapons in close combat or hunting.

The ax is generally the clearest example as economic tool can be reborn and become a melee weapon. This mainly explains its widespread distribution among almost all peoples. And before the advent of other purely combat weapons, such as the sword, the ax was a kind of monopolist in the field of effective edged weapons. After the appearance of the sword, they became the main rivals for primacy in the field of combat edged weapons, this is especially clearly seen in the example of the West.

Why did the ax never lose the fight with the sword?

The answer to this question lies on the surface. True, there are quite a few reasons. Let's look at them. I will not consider the positive qualities of the sword, since the article is still about axes.

So, here we go:

• The ax is much easier to make.
• The ax is more versatile.
• At close and short distances, the ax can be used as a throwing weapon.
• Much great strength impact, due to the large mass and short blade.
• Almost the entire design of the ax works in combat. The corners of the blade can be used to strike or catch the enemy, and the prepared butt was often used as a striking or piercing weapon.
• Grip versatility. The battle ax can be used with one or two hands.
• Highly effective against enemy armor. The armor can actually be broken, causing severe injuries to the enemy.
• Possibility of delivering stunning, but not fatal blows.

As can be seen from the above material, positive qualities a battle ax is no big deal, and that’s not all. Overall, the battle ax is a pretty formidable and effective weapon.

General classification of a battle axe.

Let's now look at the main categories into which we can classify battle axes, there are two of them:

1. Handle length.
2. The shape of the blade of the ax itself.

The length of the handle, as the main criterion, could be of three main sizes.

Short handle was up to thirty centimeters long, and in general, equal to the length of the forearm. Axes of this size received another name - hand ax. Such axes could be used in pairs, striking with both hands. In addition, the small size of such an ax made it easy and accurate to throw, as well as to be used as a secondary weapon or a weapon for the left hand. It was convenient to hold such an ax under the blade and deliver a kind of “knuckle blow.” The handle itself usually had a slight thickening at the end, or a special stop that prevented the hand from slipping.

Second handle option - medium sized handle. Other name - two-handed ax . This variety had a handle up to one meter in size and was intended for a wide two-handed grip. This type of battle ax is convenient for blocking blows and counterattacking. A metal ball, pike or hook was usually attached to the butt of the handle, which made it possible to deliver additional blows. In addition, with this grip, one hand is protected by the blade, like a guard. This ax is convenient for use from a horse and in tight passages and rooms.

Third type- This long handle. In general, the handle

such a battle ax is longer than that of two-handed ax, but less than that of the pike. Such weapons are designed mainly for combat against enemy cavalry.

Blade shape the classification is somewhat more complex. In earlier types of battle axes, there was a main emphasis on chopping blows and, accordingly, such axes had an elongated shape from the butt to the blade. The length of the blade was often half the width of the ax.

The presence of a semicircular blade with a length greater than its width indicates that it is ax. This blade shape increases the possibility of piercing blows, as well as chopping blows with outflow. At the same time, the penetrating power of the weapon as a whole is somewhat reduced.

If the upper end of the ax is sharply extended forward, giving an even greater opportunity to deliver piercing and cutting blows, then we have berdysh. Wherein classic berdysh additionally provides full protection for the second hand by connecting the lower part of the blade to the handle. True, this variety is found only in Poland and Russia.

An ax that has a blade tapering towards the end and having a triangular or dagger shape is called klevets. In general, klevets is very similar to coined, but due to the presence of a blade, it has the ability to apply cutting blows. This type adequately copes with enemy armor and shields, without getting stuck in them.

Battle axes can be like one-sided, so bilateral. On one-sided axes, on the side opposite the blade, called the butt, a hook or spike was usually placed to deliver additional blows. Double-sided axes, on the contrary, had blades on both sides of the handle, usually of a symmetrical shape. With such axes it is convenient to strike in both directions.

Since the article turns out to be cumbersome, for convenience it was decided to divide it into two parts. In the second part we will look in more detail at the characteristics of each species separately, as well as their historical changes.

Considering the historical process in its forward movement, we will see that man constantly fought: he fought for cattle and women, land and money, faith and the Fatherland. It is war that is the constant companion of progress.

Since with the development of civilization the equipment of warriors also developed, weapons, accordingly, also changed quickly and became more and more advanced and dangerous. Today we will talk about the ax - a weapon of medieval warriors, which has not lost its relevance to this day.

Where does the ax come from?

Ax - one of the types of battle axes is distinguished by a special blade in the shape of a crescent. Such weapons were common back in the 1st millennium in Ancient Greece, but from the Iberian Peninsula they quickly spread throughout the continent and became known not only in Europe, but also in Asia.

At that time, the ax had two blades located along the handle like a butterfly. Such a double-sided ax was capable of much in the hands of an experienced warrior; the long handle ended with a point, so it could both chop and stab.

The two-handed ax was very popular among infantry; it was intended for attacking horsemen and tearing metal armor.

Like a battle axe, the ax is a destructive weapon of enormous power, but it is lighter and, due to its long handle, has better balance, which gives the warrior the opportunity to maneuver during battle.

And although in our time there are different types of weapons mass destruction, but the popularity of battle axes has once again risen due to their versatility, size and ability to be used in extreme conditions.

Distant ancestor of the battle ax

The ancestor of the battle ax was the two-edged labrys, which originated in Ancient Greece and is a symbol of divine power. The functions of these weapons were combat, religious, and ceremonial. Since it was very difficult to make such weapons, they were available only to kings and priests.

An ax with two blades arranged in a butterfly pattern on either side of the shaft required enormous strength and dexterity to use in battle. A warrior armed with a labrys and covered with a shield was invincible and, in the eyes of those around him, was endowed with divine strength and power.

Description of the ax

The ax is a bladed weapon from the family of battle axes, common in the Middle Ages. Its main difference from an ax is the shape of the blade in the shape of a crescent. In addition, the ax had a longer shaft, which made it possible to balance in battle and not allow the enemy to come close to you.

In addition, the ax could not only chop, but also stab.

Therefore, it can be argued that the ax is an ax and a sword and a spear at the same time.
The first axes consisted of a shaft, a blade and a counterweight. Sometimes the shaft was strengthened, and its length varied depending on its functions:

• for infantry it was made from two to two and a half meters;
• for boarders - sea pirates who attack ships, it was more than three meters long and large hooks were also welded to the ax for ease of use;
• for cavalry - the shaft was prepared less than a meter.

The length of the ax blade also varied from a few centimeters to a meter, and the lower part of the blade had protrusions for more reliable attachment to the shaft.

Such weapons were universal: they were used for attack and defense, and for pushing warriors off their horses, and for robbing rich merchant ships.

Many European armies had special units, armed with these axes to protect the flanks.

Legendary Viking weapons

Normans, Vikings, Varangians - words that terrified all the peoples inhabiting Europe, since the world did not know more bloodthirsty and powerful warriors at that time.

Armed with Scandinavian axes, otherwise called Danish or heavy battle axes, the Vikings did not know defeat in battle and always took rich booty and took away captive slaves.

The main difference between this weapon was its wide, heavy blade, which could instantly cut off a person’s head or limbs.
Mighty warriors masterfully wielded axes for battle, work, and tournaments.

In Kievan Rus, which had close trade ties, Viking axes looked like siblings. For the Russian foot army, axes and axes were the main type of weapons.

The most popular axes

Since the ax was a fairly common weapon in the Middle Ages, its appearance was varied depending on the functions that it had to perform.

Starting from the 110th century, Scandinavian axes, well known on the Scandinavian Peninsula and northern Europe, became widespread, but at the same time their appearance also changed.

Because the Scandinavian ax heavy, and not every warrior will be able to maneuver in battle with an ax that weighed so much that it was not easy for a weak person to lift it, it was replaced by halberds and reeds.

And the brodex turned into an executioner's ax, since its wide, heavy blade made it possible to quickly separate the head from the body.

The one-sided ax became a tool of labor; with its help, lumberjacks felled hundred-year-old trees and cut off huge branches. With such a tool it was easy to turn a log of any size into timber.

In the 14th-15th centuries in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, foot soldiers used halberds - edged weapons with a long, up to 3 meters, shaft, which ended with a sharp pike and a small light blade in the shape of a crescent.

With such weapons, the mercenaries easily dealt with mounted knights, pulling them off their horses using hooks specially attached to their weapons, and finished the job with axes and swords.

Some halberds look like axes, others like hammers, and sometimes resemble a cross between a spear and.

Berdysh – special kind an ax mounted on a long shaft, up to two meters, and a curved blade resembling an elongated crescent in appearance.

The reeds used by mounted warriors were somewhat smaller and lighter, and small holes were made in them along the entire length of the blade into which rings were threaded.

When the armor of knights became lighter in the 16th century, the berdysh also fell out of use, since sabers and swords made of hardened metal easily pierced light chain mail.

The Wallachian battle hatchet was called Wallachka, after the name of the area from where it came to us. Having a long shaft and a relatively small blade, strongly protruding forward, the valashka was both a weapon, a staff, and a tool.

This weapon gained enormous popularity among ordinary people during the time of Vlad the Impaler, and in the 14th and 15th centuries this hatchet was chosen by shepherds and hunters.

In the 17th century, it was this hunter’s ax that became a symbol of the Serbian people’s struggle for independence from the Turkish yoke. At the same time, the battle hatchet (the sibling of the hammered ax) became a symbol of peasant uprisings in Rus'.

The history of the development of cold development in the world goes back thousands of years, each country can present its favorite models, but even today in almost every home there is a simple hatchet that, if necessary, can be turned into a terrible military weapon.

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IN big family As a melee weapon, the battle ax occupies a special niche. Unlike most other models, the ax is a universal weapon. It dates back to the beginning of time, and has managed to maintain its popularity to this day.

There are many myths and legends associated with it, although the ax itself is often not some kind of special sacred weapon, like, for example, a sword. It is rather the workhorse of war, something without which it was impossible to conduct battles or organize a decent camp.

The emergence of weapons

The first examples of battle axes appear since people learned to make axes from stone and tie them to sticks with tendons. At that time, a battle ax was no different from a working one.

At a later time, people learned to make polished battle axes from smooth cobblestones. Several months of careful sanding resulted in an attractive and terrifying weapon.

It was already difficult to use it for cutting down trees, but it broke through heads unprotected by helmets excellently.

The archaeological culture of battle axes passed from Altai to the Baltic, leaving along its path the burials of men and women armed with these weapons.

Man's mastery of metal made it possible to create more advanced examples of battle axes. The most famous models are celts and labryses. The celt was an ax with a socket instead of a butt.

The handle of such a weapon was either cranked or straight. Researchers believe that the celt was a universal tool, equally suitable for both work and battle.

Labrys, on the contrary, was a weapon of warriors or a ceremonial object of priests.

Under Greek word Labrys is a double-edged axe, widely used during the birth of ancient Greek civilization.

Only a physically strong, dexterous and skilled warrior could cope with similar weapons. An inexperienced warrior with a labrys was more dangerous to himself, since the second blade could hit him on the head when swinging.

In skillful hands, the heavy bronze blade delivered terrible blows, from which not every cuirass or shell could protect.

Axes in antiquity and the Middle Ages

Sources describing the opponents of the Roman legionaries highlight Germanic tribes armed with Francis. The name of this type of battle ax came from the Frankish tribe, although this weapon was common among all Germanic tribes. Francis were distinguished by a small impact surface, and therefore great penetrating force.

Axes differed in purpose, as well as in the length of the handles.

Francis with short handles threw into the enemy's formation, long ones were used for cutting with the enemy.

During the decline of the Roman Empire and during the era early Middle Ages new lovers of battle axes appeared, striking fear throughout continental Europe. Northern warriors, Vikings or Normans happily used these weapons.

The use of axes was associated with the poverty of the northerners. The metal for swords was very expensive, and the production itself was complex and labor-intensive, and every man had an axe, without which one could not live in the north.

After the campaigns, having become rich, the warriors acquired swords and many other weapons, but the ax continued to play a leading role. Bruenor the battleaxe would have approved of the choice of the northern brothers. Even the Varangian guard of the Byzantine emperor was armed with large axes.

The famous Viking weapon was the Brodex.

A two-handed battle ax mounted on a long handle dealt extra strength terrible injuries. Armor made of leather or fabric was not an obstacle at all for the Brodex, and the metal of this weapon was often crushed and turned into worthless pieces of iron.

In total, the gun in question came from the following types of combined weapons:

• halberd, hatchet mounted on a pike;
• berdysh, a wide ax blade on a long handle;
• chased, with a narrow blade for maximum effective penetration of armor;
• a poleaxe, a reed-like weapon on a long handle with a wide blade;
• valashka, a small hatchet on a staff handle;
• Polex, a combined universal foot combat weapon with a tip and a butt-hammer.

The increasing complexity of military affairs required new types of battle axes. To protect against cavalry, the ax was crossed with a pike to form a halberd, which made it possible for the infantryman to pull the rider off the saddle.

Among the Russians, this idea resulted in the creation of a berdysh, a battle ax capable of stabbing a horse and rider due to its narrow pointed toe. In mountainous areas, dangerous both by nature and population, small Wallachians appear, universal specimens, with the help of which you can both prepare firewood and knock the spirit out of attackers.

The pinnacle of development was the creation in the 16th century of the polex, the distinguishing feature of which was the spike at the top.

Polex could be of different shapes, but it was always distinguished by complex design pommel and versatility, since it could be used both as a piercing and as a crushing weapon.

Battle ax in Rus'

Slavic tribes began to use battle axes long before the invention of writing. Since the neighbors of the places where the Slavs lived were not inclined towards a peaceful life, every man had to have a weapon.

According to legends, ax blades were sharpened so that you could shave your head with them. And the Slavs learned to use an ax in construction or protecting their farms from childhood.

Data archaeological excavations indicate the influence of Slavic axes on Scandinavian ones, or vice versa, depending on which sources you believe. In any case, the Russian battle ax had much in common with the weapons of the Scandinavians.

A right angle, a downward bevel of the blade, a small area of ​​the cutting part itself, features of both weapons. From a military point of view this is justified. It was almost useless to hit a body wrapped in furs, and even with chain mail, with a wide blade.

The narrow blade of the warrior's battle ax penetrated almost any defense.

A cleaver was used effectively for the same reason. The dull blade did not need to penetrate the armor; it crushed the bones under the armor.

Many folk legends tell about lumberjacks who were chopping wood and were caught by enemies and robbers, and it was the cleaver who helped them fight off.

In the north of Rus', battle axes were used as the main weapon for a long time. The warriors of Novgorod the Great armed themselves with them “according to the behests” of their fathers and grandfathers. In the northeast, these weapons were also widely used.

Archaeologists excavating battle sites find several axes for each sword.

These are mainly models of “beard-shaped” axes, with an extended heel and lower part of the blade.

After the beginning of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, the ax remained perhaps the only means of protection from both wild animals and robbers. Southerners enriched the arsenal of these weapons with coinage. This sample had a small blade, elongated and balanced by an equally elongated butt.

Axes in modern times and in modern times

After distribution firearms The age of the ax is by no means over. These weapons are used not only by Rodion Raskolnikov, but also by such elite units as sappers of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard, boarding teams of all countries during hand-to-hand combat, and even soldiers of the Red Army during Patriotic War.

The driver Ovcharenko, who was transporting ammunition to the front line, surrounded by a sabotage group of about 50 Germans, got his bearings and, not having any other weapons at that time, grabbed an ordinary carpenter's ax from the cart, cut off the head of a Wehrmacht officer, throwing his soldiers into shock. A pair of grenades completed the defeat of the enemy, the soldier received the Star of the Hero of the USSR for this feat.

Modernity makes its own adjustments to the conduct of combat.

Today, new models of battle axes are becoming widespread. Made from steel grades latest generation, different forms and sizes. They are lightweight and very durable.

Such axes have proven themselves quite well as universal tool in raids. It can be successfully used in hand-to-hand combat, as well as, and of course, you can simply chop firewood at a rest stop. Excellent specialized axes are now being produced for tourists, rock climbers, etc.

Ax in popular culture

Not a single self-respecting work of the fantasy genre, be it a game or a book, can do without the hero of the article. They arm gnomes, frantic and strong fighters, with axes.

At the same time, many developers forget that short fighters cannot fully take advantage of the effectiveness of the weapon in question.

The dwarf can deliver a crushing blow from top to bottom with a heavy ax into the protected chest of an enemy of average height. But for the authors this convention has no meaning, and they still create numerous, similar friends at each other, stern dwarves with huge axes.

The weapons themselves act as valuable artifacts in the world of online games.

For example, the battle ax of the unfortunate is considered a valuable artifact, which can be obtained by completing a chain of quests.

The ax did not find much response in historical literature. The bulk of the stories are related to swords, swords or sabers. At the same time, axes remain in the background, but their significance as a mass and effective weapon does not suffer from this.

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It has come a long way through millennia with man and still remains a very popular instrument. Battle axes were virtually revived after the Vietnam War (1964-1975) and are currently experiencing a new wave of popularity. Main secret The advantage of the ax lies in its versatility, although cutting down trees with a battle ax is not very convenient.

Battle ax parameters

After watching films in which horned Vikings swing huge axes, many are left with the impression that a battle ax is something huge, terrifying just by its appearance. But real battle axes differed from working axes precisely in their small size and increased shaft length. The battle ax usually weighed from 150 to 600 grams, and the length of the handle was about 80 centimeters. With such weapons one could fight for hours without getting tired. The exception was the two-handed axe, the shape and size of which correspond to the impressive “film” specimens.

Types of battle axes

According to types and shapes, battle axes can be divided into:

• One-handed;
• Two-handed;
• Single blade;
• Double-edged.

In addition, axes are divided into:

• Actually axes;
• Axes;
• Mints;

Each of these species has many subspecies and variations, however, the main division looks exactly like this.

Ancient battle ax

The history of the ax began back in the Stone Age. As you know, the first tools for man were a stick and a stone. The stick evolved into a club or club, the stone into a sharp axe, which is the ancestor of the axe. A chopper could be used to cut up prey or cut a branch. Even then, the ancestor of the ax was used in intertribal skirmishes, as evidenced by the finds of broken skulls.

A turning point in the history of the ax was the invention of a method for connecting a stick with an ax. This simple design increased the impact power several times. At first, the stone was tied to the handle with vines or animal sinews, which made an extremely unreliable connection, although it was enough for several blows of the ax. The shape of the stone ax even then resembled the modern one. Combat skirmishes required reliable weapons, and gradually axes began to be polished and attached to the handle through a hole drilled in the stone. Making a high-quality ax required long and painstaking work, so skillfully made axes were used mainly in skirmishes with enemies. Already in that era, a division into combat and working axes appeared.

Bronze Age axes

The era of bronze axes flourished in ancient Greece. At first, the Hellenic battle ax was made of stone, but with the development of metallurgy, battle axes began to be made of bronze. Along with bronze axes, stone axes were also used for a long time. For the first time, Greek axes began to be made double-edged. The most famous Greek double-bladed ax is the labrys.

Images of labrys are often found on ancient Greek vases, it is held in hands supreme god Greek pantheon Zeus. Finds of huge labryses in excavations of Cretan palaces indicate the cultic and symbolic use of these axes. Labryses were divided into two groups:

• Cult and ceremonial;
• Battle Labryses.

With the cult ones, everything is clear: due to their enormous size, they simply could not be used in skirmishes. The battle labrys was the same size as a regular battle ax (a small ax on a long handle), only the blades were located on both sides. We can say that these are two axes combined into one. The complexity of manufacturing made such an ax an attribute of leaders and great warriors. Most likely, this served as the basis for the further ritualization of labrys. To use it in battle, a warrior had to have considerable strength and dexterity. Labrys could be used as a two-handed weapon, because two blades made it possible to strike without turning the shaft. In this case, the warrior had to dodge enemy blows, and any hit from the labrys was usually fatal.

Using a labrys in tandem with a shield required enormous skill and strength in the hands (although labrys for this purpose were made individually and were smaller). Such a warrior was practically invincible and in the eyes of others was the embodiment of a hero or god.

Barbarian axes from the era of ancient Rome

During the reign of ancient Rome, the main weapon of barbarian tribes was also an ax. Among the barbarian tribes of Europe there was no strict division into classes; every man was a warrior, hunter and farmer. Axes were used both in everyday life and in war. However, in those days there was a very specific ax - the Francis, which was used only for combat.

Having first encountered barbarians armed with Francis on the battlefield, the invincible legionnaires initially suffered defeat after defeat (however, the Roman military school quickly developed new methods of protection). Barbarians with enormous power They threw their axes at the legionnaires, and when they were at close range, they chopped them with great speed. As it turned out, the barbarians had two types of Francis:

• Throwing, with a shorter handle, to which a long rope was often tied, allowing the weapon to be pulled back;
• Francis for close combat, which was used as a two-handed or one-handed weapon.

This division was not rigid and, if necessary, a “regular” Francis could be thrown no worse than a “special” one.

The very name “Francis” reminds us that this battle ax was used by the Germanic tribe of the Franks. Each warrior had several axes, and the francisca for close combat was a carefully stored weapon and the pride of its owner. Numerous excavations of the burials of rich warriors indicate the high importance of these weapons for the owner.

Viking battle ax

Ancient Viking battle axes were terrible weapons of that era and were associated specifically with sea robbers. One-handed axes had many forms, not very different from each other, but the two-handed broadaxe was remembered for a long time by the enemies of the Vikings. The main difference between Brodex is its wide blade. With such a width it is difficult to talk about the versatility of the ax, but it cut off limbs with one blow. In that era, armor was leather or chain mail, and a wide blade cut through it perfectly.

There were also one-handed broadaxes, but the so-called “Danish axe” was two-handed and was perfectly suited to the tall and on foot Scandinavian pirates. Why did the ax become a symbol of the Vikings? The Scandinavians did not go to the “Vikings” for booty because of the incredible steepness, they were forced to do so by the harsh natural conditions and infertile lands. Where do poor farmers get the money to buy swords? But everyone had an ax on their household. After reforging the blade, all that was needed was to place the ax on a long, strong handle, and the terrible Viking was ready to go. After successful campaigns, the warriors acquired good armor and weapons (including swords), but the ax remained the favorite weapon of many fighters, especially since they wielded it masterfully.

Slavic battle axes

Shape of battle axes ancient Rus' practically no different from the one-handed axes of Scandinavia. Since Rus' had close ties with Scandinavia, the Russian battle ax was the twin brother of the Scandinavian one. Russian foot squads and especially the militia used battle axes as their main weapon.

Rus' also maintained close ties with the East, where the specific battle hatchet came from - the coin. The hatchet-hatchet is similar to it. You can often come across information that a mint and a klevets are the same weapon - but despite their external similarity, these are completely different axes. The mint has a narrow blade that cuts through the target, while the klevet is shaped like a beak and pierces the target. If you can use metal that is not the same to make a claw best quality, then the narrow blade of the coin must withstand significant loads. The Russian military coinage was the weapon of horsemen who adopted this weapon from the horse-dwellers of the steppe. The coinage was often richly decorated with precious inlay and served as a badge of honor for the military elite.

Battle ax in Rus' in more late times served as the main weapon of bandit gangs and was a symbol of peasant revolts (along with battle scythes).

The ax is the main competitor of the sword

For many centuries, the battle ax was not inferior to such specialized weapons as the sword. The development of metallurgy made it possible to mass-produce swords intended exclusively for combat functions. Despite this, the axes did not give up positions, and judging by the excavations, they were even in the lead. Let's consider why the ax, as a universal tool, could compete on equal terms with the sword:

• The high cost of a sword compared to an ax;
• The ax was available in any household and was suitable for battle after minor modifications;
• For an ax it is not necessary to use high-quality metal.

Currently, many companies manufacture so-called “tactical” tomahawks or battle axes. The products of the SOG company with their flagship model M48 are especially advertised. The axes have a very impressive “predatory” appearance and various options butt (hammer, pliers or second blade). These devices are more intended for combat operations than for economic use. Because of the plastic handle, it is not recommended to throw such tomahawks: they fall apart after several hits against a tree. This device is also not very comfortable in the hand and constantly tries to turn, which is why the blow can turn out to be a sliding one or even a flat one. It is better to make a battle ax yourself or with the help of a blacksmith. Such a product will be reliable and made according to your hand.

Making a battle ax

In order to make a battle axe, you will need an ordinary household ax (preferably made in the USSR during the time of Stalin), a template and a grinder with a sharpener. Using the template, we cut the blade and give the ax the desired shape. After this, the ax is mounted on a long handle. That's it, the battle ax is ready!

If you want to get a high-quality battle axe, you can forge it yourself or order it from a blacksmith. In this case, you can choose the grade of steel and be completely confident in the quality of the finished product.

The history of battle axes goes back tens of thousands of years, and although modern world There are few models left just for combat use, many people keep an ordinary ax at home or in the country, which can be turned into a combat ax without much effort.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

I am interested in martial arts with weapons and historical fencing. I am writing about weapons and military equipment, because it is interesting and familiar to me. I often learn a lot of new things and want to share these facts with people who are interested in military topics.

The battle ax can be very different: one-handed and two-handed, with one and even two blades. With a relatively light warhead (no heavier than 0.5-0.8 kg) and a long (from 50 cm) axe, this weapon has impressive penetrating power - it’s all about the small area of ​​​​contact of the cutting edge with the surface, as a result of which all the impact energy concentrated at one point. Axes were often used against heavily armored infantry and cavalry: the narrow blade wedges perfectly into the joints of armor and, with a successful hit, can cut through all layers of protection, leaving a long bleeding cut on the body.

Combat modifications of axes have been widely used all over the world since ancient times: even before the metal era, people carved axes out of stone - despite the fact that quartz stone is as sharp as a scalpel! The evolution of the ax is diverse, and today we will look at the five most impressive battle axes of all time:

Ax

Brodex - Scandinavian battle ax

A distinctive feature of the ax is its crescent-shaped blade, the length of which can reach 30-35 cm. A heavy piece of sharpened metal on a long shaft made sweeping blows incredibly effective: often this was the only way to somehow penetrate heavy armor. The wide blade of the ax could act as an improvised harpoon, pulling the rider from the saddle. Warhead was driven tightly into the eye and secured there with rivets or nails. Roughly speaking, an ax is common name for a number of subspecies of battle axes, some of which we will discuss below.

The most furious controversy that has accompanied the ax since Hollywood fell in love with this formidable weapon is, of course, the question of the existence of double-edged axes. Of course, on the screen this miracle weapon looks very impressive and, coupled with an absurd helmet decorated with a pair of sharp horns, completes the look of a brutal Scandinavian. In practice, the butterfly blade is too massive, which creates very high inertia upon impact. Often there was a sharp spike on the back of the ax head; However, Greek labrys axes with two wide blades are also known - a weapon that is mostly ceremonial, but still at least suitable for real combat.

Valashka

Valashka - both staff and military weapon

National hatchet of the mountaineers who inhabited the Carpathians. A narrow wedge-shaped knob, strongly protruding forward, the butt of which often represented a forged muzzle of an animal or was simply decorated with carved ornaments. The Valashka, thanks to its long handle, is a staff, a cleaver, and a battle axe. Such a tool was practically indispensable in the mountains and was a status sign of a sexually mature married man, head of the family.

The name of the ax comes from Wallachia, a historical region in the south of modern Romania, the patrimony of the legendary Vlad III the Impaler. It migrated to Central Europe in the 14th-17th centuries and became an invariable shepherd’s attribute. Starting from the 17th century, the wallachka gained popularity due to popular uprisings and received the status of a full-fledged military weapon.

Berdysh

Berdysh is distinguished by a wide, moon-shaped blade with a sharp top

What distinguishes the berdysh from other axes is its very wide blade, shaped like an elongated crescent. At the lower end of the long shaft (the so-called ratovishcha) an iron tip (podtok) was attached - they used it to rest the weapon on the ground during the parade and during the siege. In Rus', the berdysh in the 15th century played the same role as the Western European halberd. The long shaft made it possible to keep a greater distance between opponents, and the blow of the sharp crescent blade was truly terrible. Unlike many other axes, the reed was effective not only as a chopping weapon: the sharp end could stab, and the wide blade reflected blows well, so the skilled owner of the reed did not need a shield.

The berdysh was also used in horse combat. The reeds of mounted archers and dragoons were smaller in size compared to infantry models, and the shaft of such a reed had two iron rings so that the weapon could be hung on a belt.

Polex

Polex with protective splints and a hammer-shaped butt - a weapon for all occasions

Polex appeared in Europe around the 15th-16th centuries and was intended for foot combat. According to scattered historical source, there were many variants of this weapon. A distinctive feature always remained a long spike at the top and often at the lower end of the weapon, but the shape of the warhead varied: there was a heavy ax blade, a hammer with a counterweight spike, and much more.

On the shaft of the polex you can see metal plates. These are the so-called splints, which provide the shaft with additional protection from cutting. Sometimes you can also find rondels - special wheels, protecting the hands. Polex is not only a combat weapon, but also a tournament weapon, and therefore additional protection, even reducing combat effectiveness, seems justified. It is worth noting that, unlike the halberd, the pommel of the polex was not solidly forged, and its parts were attached to each other using bolts or pins.

Bearded Ax

The “beard” gave the ax additional cutting properties

The “classic”, “grandfather’s” ax came to us from the north of Europe. The name itself is most likely of Scandinavian origin: a Norwegian word Skeggox consists of two words: skegg(beard) and ox(axe) - now you can show off your knowledge of Old Norse on occasion! Characteristic feature The ax is a straight upper edge of the warhead and a downward drawn blade. This shape gave the weapon not only chopping, but also cutting properties; In addition, the “beard” made it possible to take the weapon with a double grip, in which one hand was protected by the blade itself. In addition, the notch reduced the weight of the ax - and, given the short handle, fighters with this weapon relied not on strength, but on speed.

This ax, like its many relatives, is a tool for both household work and combat. For the Norwegians, whose light canoes did not allow them to take with them excess luggage (after all, they still had to leave room for looted goods!), such versatility played a very important role.