"Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense".
                -- Winston Churchill
« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Axes....  (Read 12101 times)

Dragonlover

  • Guest
Axes....
« on: 2008-07-13, 00:35:04 »
The History channel has just run an episode of "Modern Marvels" that dealt with axes. I'm a sword afficianado, but this was a very informative and awesome program!!!!!! ;D
Logged

Sir Griff

  • New Forum Member
  • *
  • Posts: 47
Re: Axes....
« Reply #1 on: 2008-07-13, 13:52:07 »
Axes are more practical for the average grunt, you know? After a battle, you're not really going to cut your firewood with a sword, are you? But an axe on the other hand can double as both an efficient tool and a fierce weapon.
Logged

Sir Wolf

  • He Who is Not to be Named
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 5,389
  • i have too many hats
    • man e faces
Re: Axes....
« Reply #2 on: 2008-07-16, 16:22:06 »
i dont believe that. there are a lot of historical axes that are way too detail oriented for some grunt to own one.  now there is a historical text i beleive in the paston letters about dont give then men swods, they'll jsut use them to cut wood etc.  but this is dealing with supplying your army etc when you already had to give them a helmet, jack and a bow.

pole weapons (often pole axes in later medieval years) were the first line of defence for a knight or man at arms.  swords then daggers were usually the last 2 weapons used against armoured foes.
Logged

Sir Brian

  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 4,735
  • Felix uxor beatam vitam - Happy Wife Happy Life
    • Order of the Marshal
Re: Axes....
« Reply #3 on: 2008-07-16, 18:23:45 »
Quote from: Dragonlover on 2008-07-13, 00:35:04
The History channel has just run an episode of "Modern Marvels" that dealt with axes. I'm a sword afficianado, but this was a very informative and awesome program!!!!!! ;D

Rats, I missed it! - Well not again! I finally signed up for e-mail notifications of the history channel's schedules...at my work computer of course!  ;)
Logged
"Chivalry our Strength, Brotherhood our sword"
Vert, on a Chief wavy Argent a Rose Sable,
a Gryphon Segreant Or
[img width=100 height=100]
<a href="http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Tah908/media/LP_Medals_zpsq7zzdvve.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i221.photobucket.

Sir Wolf

  • He Who is Not to be Named
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 5,389
  • i have too many hats
    • man e faces
Re: Axes....
« Reply #4 on: 2008-07-16, 19:52:27 »
hmmm i was not awaire you could do that. very cool. thanks for the heads up!
Logged

Sir Griff

  • New Forum Member
  • *
  • Posts: 47
Re: Axes....
« Reply #5 on: 2008-07-23, 14:35:09 »
Speaking from a quantity viewpoint, I'm sure axes outnumbered swords since swords were pretty exclusive weapons. Yes, pollaxes and various other polearms were the main weapon for your average soldier, but as a side-arm, daggers, axes and knives were much more common than swords.
Logged

Dragonlover

  • Guest
Re: Axes....
« Reply #6 on: 2008-08-06, 23:55:30 »
Actually, war-hammers were used quite extensively in the period era of full plate.
Several battles during the War of the Roses were documented as victims having their
skulls staved in. No finesse, just wade in swinging, I suppose...... :o
Logged

Sir Wolf

  • He Who is Not to be Named
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 5,389
  • i have too many hats
    • man e faces
Re: Axes....
« Reply #7 on: 2008-08-07, 16:04:12 »
i still doubt it on the axes. there arent that many finds to support it. i would say spear heads and then the bows/arrows
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »