Throughout history the axe has been used for many purposes, of course used to chop wood, but later used as a weapon in battle. The most recognizable battle axe is the Viking battle axe. Battle axes have been popularized in movies and television shows often times with a doubled sided head, and fancy engravings on the head.
Vikings were primarily farmers or laborers, they had some livestock, crops, they chopped wood, so the axe was a common tool to be found in any Viking village. Often times when they would have to fight they would grab the closest implement that would be useful in battle i.e. an axe. As to be expected in the beginning of the axe being used, it was just your plain wood chopping axe. Over time as the axe became designed more for battle.
A common design for the Viking battle axe was to have a hooked head. Having a head with a hook was used to "hook" on to the enemy, whether that was moving the shield out of the way or pulling them off their feet. Some archeologist have found axes that have much fancier designs in the blade, and these were believed to have been more for decoration or for ceremonial purposes. The axe was a useful weapon in battle, not only because of the hook design but it was made lightweight to favor repeated blows, but it was also made to be able to be thrown which would give some advantage at a distance.
source: http://www.vikings-history.com/viking-battle-axes/
http://www.history.com/shows/forged-in-fire/season-1/episode-3
Vikings were primarily farmers or laborers, they had some livestock, crops, they chopped wood, so the axe was a common tool to be found in any Viking village. Often times when they would have to fight they would grab the closest implement that would be useful in battle i.e. an axe. As to be expected in the beginning of the axe being used, it was just your plain wood chopping axe. Over time as the axe became designed more for battle.
A common design for the Viking battle axe was to have a hooked head. Having a head with a hook was used to "hook" on to the enemy, whether that was moving the shield out of the way or pulling them off their feet. Some archeologist have found axes that have much fancier designs in the blade, and these were believed to have been more for decoration or for ceremonial purposes. The axe was a useful weapon in battle, not only because of the hook design but it was made lightweight to favor repeated blows, but it was also made to be able to be thrown which would give some advantage at a distance.
source: http://www.vikings-history.com/viking-battle-axes/
http://www.history.com/shows/forged-in-fire/season-1/episode-3
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