A stout two-handed axe is an exceptional weapon wether today or in the medieval period. Our Hungarian Axe is a great example of this type of weapon. Its length provides excellent reach in a fight, against bandits or a predator in the wild. This type of axe was often carried by Shepards and foot soldiers.
Welding this axe in two hands provides a strong attack and defense in close quarters combat. Against another polearm or a sword, this axe has a good chance when used by a practiced combatant.
The haft length makes for a handy hiking staff when on campaign, herding pigs or camping. Our replica has a hardened cutting edge and is finished with a traditional sharp edge.
The original weapon this is based on is from the mid 1500s and resides in the Muzeum Wojska Polskiego, Polish Army Museum. We use a haft made off ash with an ovid cross section. It is stained a medium brown color. Axes made an important impact on the culture of Eastern Europe with several folk heroes of the day being armed with such an axe. So if you'r a hero on the way up this might be the piece for you.
Check out the video below were we discuss the hardened edge and how it holds up to a bit of use.
Axes of this style are sometimes referred to as Sparth Axe or Bardiche. The use of these axe is seen throughout the medieval period, but we also see some regions where it was a particular choice of certain professions and became ingrained in the stories and traditions of the culture. The swineherd of medieval Europe are one such. They are oft described as roving robin hood like characters able to kill a wolf with a thrown axe from some distance.
KIlling a pig with a blow from the back of the axe.
These axes were popular from the far north to the Balkans. The western steppe axes were almost certainly influences on these hafted weapons. They were carried well into the 17th C with the lighter headed and long hafted axes of this area such as the Valska or Fokos.
Soldiers of the period could use these axes to great affect, as illustrated in this unfortunate knights ending.
The use of the axe is illustrated in some of the period manuals though usually in the context of knightly judicial combat. The use by lower status levels of society is more anecdotal in nature.
The principle foundations of effective personal combat do not change. We are able to build on these with the use of the axe and see that it could hold its own with any of the other weapons a medieval warrior may choose. After working with one of these axes, Christian Tobler, commented that he thought it was an excellent weapon and dubbed it a "pocket pole axe".
Nathan Clough, Ph.D. is Vice President of Arms and Armor and a member of the governing board of The Oakeshott Institute. He is a historical martial artist and a former university professor of cultural geography. He has given presentations on historical arms at events including Longpoint and Combatcon, and presented scholarly papers at, among others, The International Congress on Medieval Studies.
Craig Johnson is the Production Manager of Arms and Armor and Secretary of The Oakeshott Institute. He has taught and published on the history of arms, armor and western martial arts for over 30 years. He has lectured at several schools and Universities, WMAW, HEMAC, 4W, and ICMS at Kalamazoo. His experiences include iron smelting, jousting, theatrical combat instruction and choreography, historical research, European martial arts and crafting weapons and armor since 1985