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Description
The Dane axe, the viking axe we all know and love. Now admittedly I'm not a big fan of axes. Swords, from medieval times onward, were weapons balanced in a way that required training that developed real skill. By comparison an axe works in the same way as club, the weight of the metal head at the end of the handle creates a large amount of momentum. It's very easy to pick up and learn, which is probably my problem with it: It's too easy.
The reason I made this was from a realization of an axe's utility based on it's history. See the reason why, in fantasy settings, the cavalry rides in with swords slashing, is because in early medieval times, when knights still wore chainmail, the average infantry had only leather armor. It was rather easy slash through with only a sword at speed from a horse. But with the advent of plate armor, swords were suddenly useless in the charge. The only thing that could get through plate, besides a lance, was the heavy momentum of the of an axe or mace.
Which is why I made this weapon. I when ever a lance breaks in the clash, a cavalryman would switch to his secondary. Now as I'm always making these things to visualize the story i'm writing, the axe comes about when Nurhachi figures he can improve his striking ability after he's lost his lance. He still won't have much experience with it, so he'll relegate it only to cavalry charges.
As for why the viking design? Well between the History Channel's Viking series [link] , and the Ulfberht sword [link] , I've been rather interested in this part my history. (The spike might not be historically accurate to the Dane axe design, but it looks good.)
The reason I made this was from a realization of an axe's utility based on it's history. See the reason why, in fantasy settings, the cavalry rides in with swords slashing, is because in early medieval times, when knights still wore chainmail, the average infantry had only leather armor. It was rather easy slash through with only a sword at speed from a horse. But with the advent of plate armor, swords were suddenly useless in the charge. The only thing that could get through plate, besides a lance, was the heavy momentum of the of an axe or mace.
Which is why I made this weapon. I when ever a lance breaks in the clash, a cavalryman would switch to his secondary. Now as I'm always making these things to visualize the story i'm writing, the axe comes about when Nurhachi figures he can improve his striking ability after he's lost his lance. He still won't have much experience with it, so he'll relegate it only to cavalry charges.
As for why the viking design? Well between the History Channel's Viking series [link] , and the Ulfberht sword [link] , I've been rather interested in this part my history. (The spike might not be historically accurate to the Dane axe design, but it looks good.)
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© 2013 - 2024 AlanSteenhouwer
Comments6
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Well, if you like swords, but need something that was used against heavy armor, there's always the falchion. Granted, it wouldn't have the same penetration ability as an axe or a pick, nor would it have the concussive power as a mace or hammer, but it could certainly be used against armor. And if I recall correctly, while it was used as early as the 11th century, it really rose in popularity during the 14th and 15th century, around the time that plate armor came to be more widespread.
I'm not sure if it was ever used as a secondary weapon by cavalry though, as I believe you're correct in that they would more probably use maces. The mace did indeed become one of the weapons of choice for cavalry.
As for a sword cutting through leather, I think you might have underestimated how effective good leather armor can be. Well-made lamellar armor of boiled leather could certainly turn aside a sword strike. On the other hand, you've mentioned average infantry, and yeah, they wouldn't have been able to afford good armor.
All in all, I rather like your design. If I may ask, what program was this made in? Illustrator? Maybe Photoshop?
I'm not sure if it was ever used as a secondary weapon by cavalry though, as I believe you're correct in that they would more probably use maces. The mace did indeed become one of the weapons of choice for cavalry.
As for a sword cutting through leather, I think you might have underestimated how effective good leather armor can be. Well-made lamellar armor of boiled leather could certainly turn aside a sword strike. On the other hand, you've mentioned average infantry, and yeah, they wouldn't have been able to afford good armor.
All in all, I rather like your design. If I may ask, what program was this made in? Illustrator? Maybe Photoshop?