A Squared Armory Blog

What’s the coolest medieval weapon, other than a trebuchet?  You got it…battle axes!  What more versatile medieval weapon is there?  Other than small daggers, axes were used for many different things in the Middle Ages.  Other than in battle, these multitasking weapons were perfect for mundane daily activities.  From cutting wood for a fire to hunting, medieval axes served as your typical knight or squires’ right hand.

There are so many different styles of battle axes that it is hard to fathom why people often forget about their importance, both as a weapon and as a tool.  Longer handled axes provided a reach advantage in battles and in melee style fighting.  You can see how different the long handled axe looks in comparison to a shorter axe.  This German gothic axe has a longer handle, which not only provides an advantage in battle, but in everyday situations as well.  The longer fulcrum length allows for a greater windup, and therefore, a more powerful blow.  This axe would come in handy on the hunt, especially for larger beasts.  The only thing about the long handled axe is that it is not as accurate.  In order to get full power from this type of axe, you need a longer windup.  That leaves the wielder open to mistakes in perception, and can cause the wielder to miss the intended target based simply off of trajectory.

That is why the shorter handled axes, like this One Handed Axe prove to be better in situations that require accuracy in striking.  This axe would be much better for attacking smaller prey, and the ultimate tool for chopping wood.  Though not great in battle situations, this axe works very well in close combat and melee fighting.  When accuracy counts, go with the shorter handle.

Filed under: Medieval Products