Bearded axe

A bearded axe, or Skeggøx (from Old Norse Skegg, "beard", and øx, "axe") refers to various axes, used as a tool and weapon, as early as the 6th century AD. It is most commonly associated with Viking Age Scandinavians. The hook or "beard", i. e. the lower portion of the axe bit extending the cutting edge below the width of the butt, provides a wide cutting surface while keeping the overall weight of the axe low.

Modern Japanese bearded axe, demonstrating the grip for shaving wood
Iron Age bearded axe head from Gotland.

This design allows the user to grip the haft directly behind the head for planing or shaving wood and variations of this design are still in use by modern woodworkers and some foresters. The "beard" of the axe would also have been useful in battle, for example to pull a weapon or shield out of a defender's grasp.

There are a number of variants in its design.[1]

See also

References
  1. Jan Petersen, "De Norske Vikingesverd", Internet Archive Org Page 38, 1919
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