Types of Viking Axes — The Complete Guide
Introduction
The Vikings were not a one-axe people.
Norse warriors, farmers, shipbuilders, and hunters each carried a different type of axe — purpose-built for their trade, their combat style, and their status in society. The bearded axe used by a ship’s carpenter was a fundamentally different tool from the Dane Axe swung by an elite huscarl warrior. A Viking throwing axe launched before a shield wall clash was nothing like the short hand axe tucked into a farmer’s belt.
Understanding the different types of Viking axes is understanding the Norse world itself — a civilisation that built an entire material culture around the blade.
In this complete guide we cover every major type of Viking axe: what it looked like, how it was used, who carried it, and what to look for if you want to own one today.
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A Quick History: Why Did Vikings Use Axes?
Before diving into the types, it helps to understand why the axe — not the sword — was the defining weapon of the Viking Age.
Swords were expensive. Producing a high-quality iron sword required a skilled swordsmith, large quantities of refined iron, and weeks of labour. Only wealthy warriors and noblemen could afford them. The axe, by contrast, could be forged by any competent blacksmith, required far less iron, and served a double purpose as both weapon and everyday tool.
For the average Norse raider, farmer, or mercenary, the axe was the most practical, affordable, and deadly option available. And over three centuries of raiding, trading, and conquest, Norse blacksmiths refined the axe into some of the most sophisticated edged weapon designs the early medieval world ever produced.
1. The Bearded Axe (Skeggøx)
The bearded axe is the most iconic and recognisable of all Viking axe types — and the one most associated with Norse identity in popular culture.
What Makes It a Bearded Axe?
The defining feature is the extended lower cutting edge — the beard — which curves downward below the handle line. This creates a longer cutting edge without adding unnecessary weight at the top of the head. The Old Norse name skeggøx translates directly as “beard axe.”
Dimensions and Weight
- Blade width: 15–22cm cutting edge
- Head weight: 600–900g
- Haft length: 60–80cm (one-handed)
How It Was Used
The bearded axe was a one-handed weapon, typically paired with a round shield. Its long cutting edge delivered powerful slashing blows, while the lower hook of the beard could be used to catch an opponent’s shield rim and pull it downward — exposing the body for a follow-up strike.
Outside of combat, the bearded axe was the tool of choice for Norse shipbuilders and carpenters. The beard shape allowed precise cuts along the grain of timber, making it ideal for shaping hull planks on Viking longships.
Who Carried It?
Warriors at all levels of Norse society — from jarls to everyday raiders. The bearded axe was the most common combat axe of the Viking Age and appears in the largest number of archaeological finds across Scandinavia, Britain, and Russia.
Notable Example
The Mammen Axe (found in a 10th-century Danish burial) is one of the finest surviving bearded axes — decorated with intricate silver inlay and buried alongside a high-status warrior.
2. The Dane Axe
If the bearded axe was the weapon of the common warrior, the Dane Axe was the weapon of the elite.
What Makes It a Dane Axe?
The Dane Axe is characterised by its enormous swept blade — wide, thin, and extending dramatically on both the upper and lower edges from the handle line. Mounted on a long haft of 1.2–1.5 metres, it was a purpose-built two-handed battlefield weapon. Also called the English long axe or hafted war axe in some historical sources.
Dimensions and Weight
- Blade width: 20–30cm cutting edge
- Head weight: 1–2kg
- Haft length: 100–150cm (two-handed)
How It Was Used
The Dane Axe was a weapon of overwhelming force. Wielded two-handed in open field battle, it could split a wooden shield in a single blow, shear through chain mail, and deliver strikes powerful enough to knock mounted knights from their horses.
It required open space to use effectively — not ideal for ship-boarding or cramped siege fighting — making it predominantly a battlefield weapon used in large engagements and shield wall combat.
Who Carried It?
Elite infantry — the huscarls of Scandinavian kings and earls. These were professional, full-time warriors who served as a king’s household guard and fought at the front of Viking battle formations.
Notable Example
The Bayeux Tapestry (1070s) depicts both Viking and Anglo-Saxon huscarl warriors wielding Dane Axes at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 — the most detailed historical visual record of the weapon in action.
3. The Viking Battle Axe
The Viking battle axe sits between the bearded axe and the Dane Axe — broader and heavier than a bearded axe but shorter and more manageable than a full Dane Axe.
What Makes It a Battle Axe?
A heavier, wider blade with a more pronounced upper lug (the horn-shaped projection at the top of the blade). The cutting edge is wider than a bearded axe but without the extreme swept geometry of the Dane Axe. Often usable either one- or two-handed depending on the specific design.
Dimensions and Weight
- Blade width: 15–25cm cutting edge
- Head weight: 900g–1.5kg
- Haft length: 70–100cm
How It Was Used
The Viking battle axe was a versatile combat weapon — powerful enough to split shields and deal heavy blows, but compact enough to use in tighter formations than the Dane Axe. Warriors who could afford a heavier weapon but needed more mobility than a Dane Axe allowed often carried this style.
Who Carried It?
Mid-ranking Norse warriors — free men who could afford quality iron but were not full-time huscarls. Also widely used by berserkers, who favoured heavier axes for their psychological impact in battle.
4. The Viking Throwing Axe (Hand Axe / Francisca-Style)
Not all Viking axes were designed to stay in the warrior’s hand.
What Makes It a Throwing Axe?
Smaller, lighter, and more symmetrically balanced than a combat axe. The blade is compact and the weight distribution allows the axe to rotate predictably in flight. Some Norse throwing axes closely resemble the Francisca — a throwing axe used by Frankish warriors and traded throughout early medieval Northern Europe.
Dimensions and Weight
- Blade width: 8–14cm cutting edge
- Head weight: 300–500g
- Haft length: 35–55cm
How It Was Used
Viking skirmishers would hurl throwing axes at enemy formations in the opening moments of a battle — before the shield walls clashed — to disrupt formations, create openings, and demoralise opponents. A volley of throwing axes launched at close range could force an enemy shield wall to flinch, lose formation, or raise shields at the wrong moment.
Several Norse sagas describe specific warriors renowned for axe throwing. Accounts from the raids on Britain and France mention projectile axes being used during both naval and land engagements.
Today the throwing axe has experienced a major cultural revival — axe-throwing bars, competitive leagues, and outdoor sport throwing have made this the fastest-growing segment of the Viking axe market.
Who Carried It?
Light infantry and skirmishers. Also carried as a backup weapon by most warriors — small enough to hang from a belt alongside a primary weapon.
5. The Norse Hand Axe (Viking Hatchet)
The most common axe in the entire Norse world — not on the battlefield, but everywhere else.
What Makes It a Hand Axe?
A compact, single-handed axe with a relatively small head and a short haft. Functionally closer to a modern hatchet than a war axe. The Norse hand axe was primarily a tool, though it doubled as a close-quarters weapon when needed.
Dimensions and Weight
- Blade width: 8–12cm cutting edge
- Head weight: 400–700g
- Haft length: 40–60cm
How It Was Used
Every Norse household had at least one hand axe. It was the daily-use tool for splitting kindling, rough woodwork, butchering, camp tasks, and general labour. For the typical Norse farmer or fisherman who was not a full-time warrior, the hand axe was their only axe.
In combat, it served as a secondary weapon — drawn when a primary weapon was lost, in close-quarters ship-boarding actions, or as a thrown weapon in a pinch.
Who Carried It?
Virtually everyone. Farmers, hunters, merchants, sailors, and warriors all carried a hand axe as standard equipment. It was the Norse equivalent of a multi-tool.
6. The Viking Combat Axe
The term viking combat axe refers broadly to axes designed specifically and exclusively for fighting — as opposed to dual-purpose tool-weapons like the bearded axe or hand axe.
What Sets It Apart?
A combat axe prioritises aggression over utility. The blade geometry is optimised for cutting into flesh and armour rather than wood. Weight is concentrated toward the cutting edge for maximum impact momentum. The haft is often reinforced with iron strapping to resist being cut through by an opponent’s blade.
How It Was Used
Pure battlefield use — raids, open field combat, and siege warfare. Not carried as a tool. Warriors who expected heavy combat carried dedicated combat axes as a primary weapon alongside a knife or short sword as backup.
Who Carried It?
Professional warriors, Viking raiders on major campaigns, and mercenaries serving in Byzantine and European armies. The Varangian Guard — Norse mercenaries who served the Byzantine Emperors in Constantinople — were famous for their large combat axes and were depicted carrying them in Byzantine artwork.
Comparison: All Viking Axe Types at a Glance
| Axe Type | Edge Width | Head Weight | Haft Length | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearded Axe | 15–22cm | 600–900g | 60–80cm | Combat + tool, one-handed |
| Dane Axe | 20–30cm | 1–2kg | 100–150cm | Battlefield, two-handed |
| Battle Axe | 15–25cm | 900g–1.5kg | 70–100cm | Combat, one or two-handed |
| Throwing Axe | 8–14cm | 300–500g | 35–55cm | Ranged + backup |
| Hand Axe / Hatchet | 8–12cm | 400–700g | 40–60cm | Tool + close-quarters |
| Combat Axe | 15–25cm | 800g–1.4kg | 65–90cm | Dedicated battlefield weapon |
Which Type of Viking Axe Should You Buy?
Buy a bearded axe if: you want the most historically authentic, versatile, and visually iconic Viking axe. Best first purchase.
Buy a Dane Axe if: you want a statement collector’s piece or you practise two-handed HEMA combat with a focus on Viking Age techniques.
Buy a battle axe if: you want power and presence — a heavier axe that looks and feels like a serious weapon.
Buy a throwing axe if: you are into sport axe throwing, want a lightweight entry point, or are buying as a gift for someone active and outdoorsy.
Buy a hand axe / hatchet if: you want a functional camp tool that also carries genuine Norse heritage, or you want an affordable, practical first Viking axe.
Buy a combat axe if: you are a serious HEMA practitioner or collector who wants a purpose-built fighting weapon with no compromise.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common type of Viking axe? The bearded axe (skeggøx) was the most widely used Viking axe type — found in the greatest number of archaeological sites across the Norse world and used by warriors at all levels of society.
What is a Dane Axe? The Dane Axe is a large, two-handed Viking war axe with a wide swept blade and a long haft (100–150cm). It was used by elite huscarl warriors in open battlefield combat and is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry at the Battle of Hastings.
Did Vikings actually throw axes? Yes. Lighter throwing axes were used by Viking skirmishers to disrupt enemy formations before shield wall combat. Several Norse sagas reference named warriors with exceptional axe-throwing skill.
What is a norse hand axe? A Norse hand axe is a compact, single-handed axe used primarily as an everyday tool by the general Norse population. It doubled as a close-quarters backup weapon. Functionally similar to a modern hatchet.
What is the difference between a viking axe and a battle axe? A “battle axe” is a broad category covering any axe designed for combat. Viking axes are a specific subset — Norse-designed axes from the Viking Age (793–1066 AD) with distinctive blade shapes and construction methods. All Viking combat axes are battle axes, but not all battle axes are Viking axes.
What type of steel were Viking axes made from? Norse blacksmiths worked with high carbon iron and early steel alloys. Modern authentic reproductions use 1075 or 1080 high carbon steel — the closest equivalent to original Norse blade material.
Conclusion
From the nimble throwing axe to the devastating Dane Axe, the Vikings developed a complete family of axe designs — each purpose-built, each historically significant, and each one a testament to Norse ingenuity in metalwork and warfare.
Whether you are drawn to the elegance of the bearded axe, the power of the battle axe, or the prestige of the Dane Axe, owning one of these weapons means owning a connection to one of history’s most formidable warrior cultures.
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Related Reading:
Viking Axe Buyer’s Guide — How to Choose the Right One
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