The shaft ,the head , the butt, different hand placement for either more control or better inertia. Your channel has improved my love life dramatically!!! Thank Matt you teachings have saved my relationship.
scholagladiatoria I was pretty impressed with its punching ability , the horn of the axe not only stabbed in ,it kind of cut/slashed in to. That would have been a pretty big wound for such a quick action.
Jelperman yeah probably she said I had real listening problem and I only hear half of what anyone is talking about . But with BIG MATT E sexual advice not much talking is being done ,just lots of penetration and lots of butts , need I say more.
I always wondered and maybe you can answer this Thrand.. How would Romans have defended against an enemy who used a long axe, hooked the top of the Scutum and yanked forward with both hands.. Since two hands are stronger than one, could you not pull the Scutum away from the Roman soldier and go in for the kill with the longer pole weapon? A gladius alone is useless..
rasnac That look on his face would seem a lot less amusing if you were to break into his home some night and confront Matt in his pajamas wielding a Dane axe or any of the other sharp metal objects he keeps there.
Great video, I've been looking forward to seeing it. Regarding the difficulty of judging distance and having a feel for exactly where the head is relative to your target...that would certainly become second nature if that was your primary weapon. The analogy I would draw is a defenseman's lacrosse stick - those skilled with them regularly catch and throw lacrosse balls at 40-80mph speeds and have no issues doing so. A novice would be lucky to catch a ball moving at 25mph. The axe would be the same.
Yes, very true. It's one of the problem handling a lot of different weapons all the time - in some ways it would be better training to stick to only a few.
I do western style reenactment fighting and am currently one of two in my group who uses a daneaxe and we both try to build each other up because that is how you get better. This video was nice as sort of a reset and back to basics kind of thing. I wanted to let you know I appreciate it. Keep it up!
Back when you told us you were looking for an axe like this, I got all inspired. I contacted my trusted blacksmith and commissioned a replica of a Swedish find, similar in size and weight to yours. Mine is also fairly close to a Finnish find from grave number 37, Kirkkomäki. The Kirkkomäki find was cool, because the axes had a haft, 108 cm apparently intact. The haft didn't survive the dig unfortunately. Based on this find I hafted my axe with a 110 cm ash haft. This seems to be working ok at least for now. I completely agree on your assessment that this type of axe is brutally great cutter and you truly can feel it while using the axe. It is almost scary. Personally I did not find the distance management much of an issue, on a stationary target. Being a boat builder I have worked with axes of varying sizes for quite a bit, giving me an edge on it I believe.
That is interesting you say that, because perhaps some ship builders that had to fight would have preferred such a weapon. We all know the vikings and their ships. Not that it means too much, practice and experience on the battlefield would have a similar effect, do or die and all that.
There's an old hema document or blog post or something, that basically tells all the people complaining about techniques being "impossible" should chop more wood. It is incredible just how accurate we become after a while. I haven't used the axe that much in boatbuilding, but have worked 12 years as a stagebuilder, and my hammer accuracy is really astonishing now, compared to when I started.
I imagine fantasy dwarves would find themselves partially slashing limbs quite more often than actually successfully reaching out far enough to connect fully and lop limbs off. So their slayings might transpire more like a bull fight, laboriously taking multiple strikes, rather than video-game-like dramatic cleaves.
I have never seen you make such a serious fighting face as that fierce expression you wore while slaughtering the water bottle. Congrats on the axe. It seems to be an excellent example of the weapon.
That axe is gorgeous! I'd love to pick one of those up myself. It's cutting ability is extremely impressive, and it looks like you were having a lot of fun!
Every time I see footage of him in his garden I can't help but imagine what his neighbours must think. Some guy calling his wife from the next room, "SHARON! HE'S SWINGING WEAPONS AGAIN!"
4:31 This might be obvious to some people (longer blades are more "cutty," also weight is a factor), but I think it's worth mentioning that shorter blades, lets say sub 12 inches, can still cut very well if you use good technique. And since we are talking about an ax, I think it's also worth mentioning that axes, of the variety that we typically encounter, have edge grinds which are different from a sword or a knife. I would love for Matt to talk more about edge grinds and edge angles in general.
I really love these things. There's something very satisfying about overall length and proportions of a Dane axe. I'd imagine they are are terrifying choppers. Considering the period at which those were most widespread even armor of the day wouldn't be of much help. It won't cut maille, but with a good swing whatever bones are under it are surely to be crushed.
I think accuracy in gauging distance would increase with regular practice. Compare the hammer skills of a novice carpenter to a builder who has been working for 5 years, or an experienced forester chopping wood. If you use a tool daily, it's use can become very natural and precise. Of course, wood and nails rarely dodge so it's not exactly the same.
@ Matt Are you kidding? When I was growing up, we were reared on stories of Viking raiders fighting terrible battles against the encroaching Water Bottle People. I've been waiting for a video like this for 40 years!
Your video editing did improve massively since a few months and it's even more fun to watch than before. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in such a comfortable way !
I’m really enjoying your Dane axe videos. I have done a lot of sparring with the Dane axe and I agree that in the beginning one of the most difficult things to get used to is judging the distance on a cut so that you hit with the sweet spot on the edge. All I can say is that over time it becomes more intuitive as you become accustomed to the weapon.
Indeed! But the chance of missing entirely with the cutting edge and just hitting with the shaft is of course much higher with an axe than a longer-bladed weapon.
Ok call me stupid, but somewhere in the distant past, an EMT told me amputations are self-sealing, whereas partial amputations make fuck all of a mess. Never having seen it personally, If that is true, then would not a partial "arm off" be preferrable? Why do I keep getting flashes of the Black Knight hopping around. "What that, just a flesh wound!"
@@scholagladiatoria Then you would be in trouble against a trained swordsman. But then again, when you come charging at him wielding this thing above your head and screaming he WILL step back.
That's a very beautiful axe! I've been told that the reason for a left handed use was specifically meant to deal with right handed bearing left shields. Offputting like a southpaw vs. a orthodox boxer.
Let's not forget that the Vikings also spent years training with their specific types of weapons so distance probably became second nature to them such as with any other edged weapon like a sword You train in its use like a sword things such as footwork and things like that and they become second nature
The modern Irish sport of hurling traces back to legends of young warriors playing hurling for fitness and developing skills that could be transferred to wielding weapons I think it speaks to your point about practice and familiarity with your weapon if we consider young chaps in their 20's playing top level hurling have had a Hurley in hand most of their waking lives from the age of 4 or 5, the same principle as for top flight tennis players or golfers .
Nearly all the daneax wielding housecarls in the tapestry lead with their left hand. This might be some kind of indicator of preference for left-handed men to be housecarls, but I think it is more likely artistic license. Except in cases where the person in question is being smote, the embroiderers of the tapestry never obscure the faces of their subjects. There may be a thin spear shaft passing by, but this does not really obscure the face in the same way as a bicep might. Given that almost all the axe-wielders depicted have their bodies turned to the right (the one exception I can spot using a single handed axe in the right hand) a leading right arm would conceal the face.
Ah but did the housecarles actually train to wield with their off-hand? Many years ago I read The Golden Warrior by Hope Muntz. (Written in the 50s I think and probably long since out of print and forgotten, but a detailed depiction of life in the last days of Anglo-Saxon England if you can get hold of a copy). Numerous chapters of the novel were devoted to a blow-by-blow account of the Battle of Hastings - obviously creative licence played its part. One passage tells of the Norman horsemen laboriously riding their mounts uphill towards the English frontline . . . who, after the Normans have got most of the way up the slope, change hands so that they are holding their shields in their right hands and their axes in their left. The significance of this is that the Normans who witness them do this are equipped with those classic, long kite-shaped shields which they cannot physically swap over, across their saddles, to protect their right sides and sword-arms. So basically they witness this and they realise what's going to happen to them. The result is a bloodbath as horseman after horseman is killed or fatally or critically wounded by an axe-wound to his right arm or shoulder that he can do nothing to prevent. That attack fails and the Normans have to regroup. Like I say, creative licence was obviously used in the depictions of Hastings, but I've always wondered if the housecarles really were trained to employ tricks like that. I remember reading that one historian wrote that they were the best trained troops in Europe, outside Byzantium, of their day.
There was a hypothesis put forward that in violent societies lefties tend to have an advantage for the same reason the elite of major league baseball players tends to be dominated lefties. it throws right handed people through a loop that are not used to fighting left handed.
One thing from tradtional working axes is you use them from both sides otherwise its difficult to reach certain angles or diferent sides of a tree, might be they were used from growing up using it both ways
There needs to be a better source the Bayeux Tapestry or a novelist's speculation to make a real case the housecarls fought leading with the left hand. Medieval art is not the same as a photograph.
Alexander Hinman as I described it more further in a different comment. I‘m not a left hander but prefer ALWAYS my left hand in front for long shafty weapons. Not for swords of course. I find it way more natural to stand and to use if you‘re left hand leads.
... one pt worthy of note is that traditionally the butt end of the the haft was nestled in the center of the palm of the hand (the one lower on the haft). This was all important for maneuverability/agility/sensitivity. Also these axes were not used in a strike/recover/re-compose/strike again ... rather they were wielded via the 'winds of Odin' (whirlwind) would carry you through seamlessly rolling forth.
Serious post now.... man that is bloody terrifying. Basically any hit on an unprotected surface and you are in game over land. Id be interested to see "full scale" testing - a human analogue with some dummy armour on - gel torso with leather, padded gambeson, chain mail, etc and combos of the layers to see what the axe does "in real life". Im thinking even chain mail will have a hard time stopping it....it will certainly knacker the mail up.
I love you talking about only partially cutting through a neck or body part as if that wouldn’t put a person out of action. Personally, if someone only partially cut off my arm I know I wouldn’t be doing much for the rest of the day at least. Probably need quite a long lie down 😜
scholagladiatoria Ah I see. With your point made more clear it is indeed a good one. I think perhaps, like many things, the chances of missing would decrease with skill. However, as you said, no matter how good a person is simply due to blade type there will still be a non-zero chance of missing.
@@grayblackhelm6468 true with the extremities. People who get shot when hyped up on adrenaline sometimes dont even know until after. However getting hit in the neck is a different story...
My fav' of the Viking era axes. One tip (from my many former years of practicing) is that the leading hand should 'slide' down the haft for leverage a.) this gathers greater momentum b.) it is an illusive means of playing with the reach (making it harder for the opponent to read the techniques) c.) avoids you over-extending especially in relation to thrusting attacks for the head and then reaching over the shield and pulling back thus disarming the opponent of the shield and brining them forth off balance for a follow up strike if needs be. The other important point is to keep the lower supporting hand cupping the tail end of the haft. When you thus raise the leading hand up and slide it down the haft for the strike you gain incredible power and greater means of balance via the longer reach and also allowing you to leverage the weapon in a more dexterous manner for overhead rolling (forehand and backhand overhead) maneuvers as well as thrusting strikes.
8:40 Oh, I might know the answer to this one now! Many polearm systems (for instance, Meyer) show the left hand forward, it matches the standard configuration for spear, pike, and later bayonet. When practicing these systems, I tend to imagine I'm swinging around a really really long and heavy dussack, and am using my left hand for balance and control (much like I would when halfswording).
My ax instructor taught me to use the haft like I would do with a wood ax or maul for splitting firewood. Start with your hands farther apart and slide your upper or control hand down the shaft as you swing. If you match your foot movement to the blade you can deliver extraordinary, shield splitting power with each blow without losing any control or precision. Beautiful weapon, dude.
When it comes to a normal woodchopping axe, being righthanded, I would hold it with the right hand in the back and left hand forward. The left hand also would "float", so it starts further forward and slides back during the chop. The right hand is more accurate and would be the back hand which directs exactly where the impact will be and the angle.
The one key pt you are missing regards to the balance of reach vs body alignment is SLIDING the leading hand from higher up the haft down lower which gains you leverage, reach, more unpredictable striking distance advantage (making it harder to read your moves). The other key pt as I mentioned previously is the bottom underside of the haft should be positioned in the centre of your palm (the ODIN pt) for leverage and dexterous advantage ... would be fun to see you remake a vid' based on these two pt's to see how vastly your technique improves.
You need a good name for your axe. Here are some of the names on vikingaxes in the sagaes. Rimmumgýgr = Ambushing troll-hag Skogsgýgr = Outlaw troll-hag Galdrsgýgr = Moon-howling troll-hag Genja = Scream/Startle Skráma = Startle Skaði = Hurt/Injure Saxa = Chop off Snaga = Gnaw/Stump Randgríðor = Shield-coveter Svartleggja = Blacken Himintelgja = Sky-high chopping Stjarna = Star Skeggja = Bearded Barða = Beard Hell = St. Olav's Two handed axe. They are also described poetically as: Hamartröll = Mountain crest/peak/hill troll Grand hjalms = Damager of helmets Bryðja randa = Eater/breaker of shields Randgalkn = Shield beast (as in beast of shields) Galli meginhurðar Gauts = Damager of mighty door of Odin (a synonym for shield)
i've lunged at a few raccoons, with my Boar spear. When they are way out in front, and it's dark, the tip usually hits lower or on the ground prior to hitting the animal being aimed at. Judging distance at a 2 meters, is going to be an edge for a formation that practices those sorts of strikes. like using pole ax left handed, bypassing shields and cracking heads/slicing shoulders and creating mayham.
That dane is impressively sharp and well used. Considering the kinetic Energy in the head unless the blade is contacting properly its just a fancy looking club.
I just got mine. The haft is only 43" under the head. He said that he no longer thinks Dane Axes used such long hafts, but were shorter. Rather than used like mass polearms, they were more specialist weapons for close in fighting. He used the Bayeux tapestry as one piece of evidence.
About the mistery of holding the right hand lower down - it's pretty much as same as usage of viking swords - it means their right hand was dominant and they used it to hook, accelerate and pull the axe with lower hand closer to end of the shaft. So right hand would provide the power and left was only the guidance.
Once you have approached the target with your hands approximately shoulder width apart, if you are given a chance at a kill shot; as you accelerate to the target slide the forward hand back to the rear hand creating a grip like a modern golf grip. Swing through the target with your whole body. My Father’s family are Wends from Athens German Lausitzt that came over to found the Wendish settlement in Serbin, Texas. That’s how he did it and it uses velocity more than muscle. Skill and technique over crude force.
I like your idea about using the long axe in the left hand for tactical advantage against those who carry their shield in their right hand which would be most people. It does seem to make sense
I imagine the dudes that really fought with those things must have been immensely strong and practiced with the axe. Its hard to replicate generations of handed down knowledge and a lifetime of training.
I'm no expert at pole arms. I am very good with an ax and Sledge hammer. Something you might want to try the next time you chop something. Hold the left hand down towards the bottom, and the right hand towards the top. Like you did with the wide grip stance. As you swing, let the right hand side down until your in the same grip as the first swing you demonstrated. The right hand should reach the lower position right as the head strikes the target. Also, as you swing, let your body lean back slightly. Increasing as your right hand moves back. That helps keep the ax head balanced. Like I said, I only use axes for chopping wood. This was only a suggestion. I admire and appreciate your work..
With regards to fighting left-hand forward, the biggest advantage is that your main strikes don't come in on your opponent's shield side, as you say. There are others, though. Using the left hand as a pivot point forward and using the right to pull back on the weapon to snap it forward tends to keep more of the weapon in front of your body, leading to better defense. It also allows you to use the same footwork with your left side forward that you use with sword and shield. I also find it to be a bit more nimble and with better tip control to have the dominant hand back than forward. Further, it helps to maximize reach and control to be able to put your dominant hand at the very back of the weapon keeping a good grip, while your less skilled hand is the one sliding around on the weapon. That's not to say that "this is the best way and all others are wrong" of course, but these are some of the advantages I find to using dominant hand back on 2-handed weapons as someone that became proficient (but certainly non-expert) at using that style of fighting. I understand there are some German schools of swordsmanship that use left-hand up, but as my main area of interest didn't really have treaties, I admit I couldn't tell you which they were, but I expect you or someone else here could dig that information up.
very cool video and very nice cuts! those overhead moves really need precision to keep blade alignment and distance, bravo! please when you have time could you release a video showing some flail action?
8:38 Interesting, Meyer shows staff/polearm with the left hand in the front, I wonder if both weapons are used in a similar way. I still don't know why you'd use it this way, but still, interesting that both of them do it.
I am betting that for the Dane whose primary weapon would be his axe, he'd have been quite formidable and would have practiced so much that the distance judgement issue would not have been...an issue.
I use axes pretty much daily on the farm, putting the edge where you want it becomes instinctive really quickly. Using the same tool or weapon daily takes it from implement status to something more like a limb you can put away at the end of day.
It's interesting that you mentioned that Dane axeman were depicted left hand high. In the cover art for Forgeng's new Monte translation, is a painting of a battle from the late 1400's. In it, basically all of the halberders are also left hand high, while all of the pikemen are right hand high. Obviously, these two data points aren't enough to connect to anything more than a coincidence, but it does make me wonder.
On the point of Left-handedness and utilisation of a two-handed implement, check out how a lot of 'defined' right-handed players hold their sticks in a 'left-handed' fashion to balance power and control with various strokes and shot types, also Cricket bat-wielding across the sport is not determined by the persons preferred writing hand. Great videos and insights, cheers.
Cool stuff! Couple things that could be considered; sliding the lead hand down the shaft during a cut, much like you do when splitting logs, and the fact that slower/heavier weapons have a harder time with water bottles. When I got my (N)Odachi (which is 64" long, incidentally), my very first cut cleanly cut the bottle and left the bottom half stationary on my stand. It's all about the tip speed, man! Lastly, I think you CAN thrust with the top point of the axe blade. Hurstwic (RUclips name thorleifr) made a vid some time ago showing it being done on a pig carcass. Left a really nasty wound. Glad to see you're having fun with the axes! Cheers!
As some of the others have mentioned- sliding the top hand is a good thing. Along with hitting power it helps correct edge alignment, The biometrics involved in swinging and axe allow much more control with a sliding hand and it takes some of the twisting stress out of the swing. Next time you are test cutting slide the top hand down as you swing and then slide it back up once you recover. I have only ever fought with a blunt version in re-enactment, but can say if you try to swing the way you were, all day- your back will be protesting for a week.
I could do that, but the water bottle doesn't slow down or stop the axe like a tree or log. I'd be hitting the ground with the axe head if I just let it fly like that.
I just noticed that the quest has came up about slipping the hands. The big thing is the the hand is slipped forward to catch the momentum but also you put your hips into it and redirect.
Your channel is extremely informative, thank you! I'm both a historical re-enactor (second half of the XIII century) and a hand-sharpener by trade, so I'm getting a few ideas here. How was the dane ax(e) sharpened? From this video I'd guess a convex primary bevel (on a belt grinder, maybe?) with a fairly acute angle, and a secondary, more robust bevel right on the edge? I'm asking because around 13:01 you can catch a glimpse of a small dent, and that made me think.
What I have heard about the left handed axe use was actually to force enemies using shields to guard their right side from incoming axe blows. This can force sword users to bind their own sword hand by being forced to cover it with a shield to prevent an axe blow. It was said that this was taught to the huscarls on purpose for expressly this purpose and that it was trained and drilled this way to make it harder to defend against and that it was not their natural preference. Take it with a grain of salt I forget exactly where I found this info but if its out there I am sure it has a source.
Great video, as always! I will say something probably very obvious, but using a long handled axe myself for years for chopping wood and the comfort and ease I have with the issue of distance management, I can only imagine how much more someone from that time period would have... Chopping wood every day for heat and light and cooking, and practicing for battle as well... If one imagines how comfortable a professional baseball player is hitting something first sized or smaller with the narrowness of a bat, I don't believe any viking worth their salt would be anything less than profoundly accurate with an axe.
(8:59) As you stated, in middle school our history teacher told us the house carls used a left hand grip to get around the shields of right handed opponents, who were unused to coping with left handed enemies.
This is very late, but, that tree stump is clearly satisfied with the sacrifices. Really brings home just how vicious this weapon was. Lop off a head, human or horse? no problem.
In the Bayeux Tapestry, the ax wielder seems to have the shield attached to his arm. I usually think that you would have to sacrifice the shield in order to move a two handed weapon but I guess this is just one of the advantages of using leather straps on the kite shield.
Depends on the axe. A short enough axe can be swung single handed with ease. That said, Norse round shields were designed to hang across the back when not in play.
i wonder if units had to work-out spacing ax-guys far apart, & in front of, the main-body, re the giant swing-arc of ax; or, did they fight w. shields on their backs, from behind the safety of the shield wall, just raining blows downward on the enemy, & pulling back enemy shields
It's so much better than other "Dane-axes" one sees from shoddy makers. That axe makes sense from a force-mechanics and matter tensile-strenght and durability perspective. The only thing an axe made for battle would have that your axe does not, is a thin metal cover for the handle blelow where the axe-head sits, for parrying/spear-binding purposes, and it would be a small thing to add. Also your axe would be usable to split firewood also.... So fun to se a genuine weapon and tool that actually works!
How to learn distance management with an axe : Chop firewood for a few weeks solid and your eye for range will be quite good. Practise, practise, practise.
About the left hand on the bottom of the axe: I’m seeing people suggest they chose left handed men to be housecarls or its artistic license etc... which is all possible. Who knows right? But I can’t help thinking of the Irish sport of hurling. The standard grip on a hurl is with the dominant hand at the back and the weaker hand further up. Rather like these axes in the bayeux tapestry. They can be kept close together or spread apart depending on whether power or control is more important and typically the weaker hand slides back next to the dominant hand for the actual moment of impact with the ball. I think this is partly to do with power generation. It’s like people keep describing cutting with the katana. The bottom hand generates power by pulling. In fact people describe a ‘hit’ as a ‘pull’. You would pull hard on the sliotar (ball). So logically you use the stronger hand and side for that. More importantly though it leaves you in a better position to take your left hand off altogether and use the hurl one handed. There’s a lot of catching hand passing etc... with the weaker hand. Maybe these sort of factors played a role? Maybe Dane axe wielders were trying to maximise their power generation? Or needed to perform techniques with a free hand? Were using the axe in a versatile way at closer and further ranges?
The shaft ,the head , the butt, different hand placement for either more control or better inertia. Your channel has improved my love life dramatically!!! Thank Matt you teachings have saved my relationship.
I hear this from a lot of folks. Good to hear.
scholagladiatoria I was pretty impressed with its punching ability , the horn of the axe not only stabbed in ,it kind of cut/slashed in to. That would have been a pretty big wound for such a quick action.
I, too, was impressed by this graceful behemoth. Graceful Behemoth is what I would name mine if I had one
You forgot to mention girth.
Jelperman yeah probably she said I had real listening problem and I only hear half of what anyone is talking about . But with BIG MATT E sexual advice not much talking is being done ,just lots of penetration and lots of butts , need I say more.
Attacking water bottles while wearing a Super Dry shirt, am I the only one who finds that amusing?
Thank you Matt. It is a great video.
in my experience, having a long shaft often makes it very hard for people to stay dry.
Marcus Wikberg or is that slay dry.
What is super dry?
This is Thrand! Great axe and video Matt!
Thanks buddy.
Overall, a great axe video, you could say.
Ey thrand! i hope you have stopped raping my language so i can subscribe again
Feffnirsbane or you can just stay gone. No one will miss you. ^-^
I always wondered and maybe you can answer this Thrand.. How would Romans have defended against an enemy who used a long axe, hooked the top of the Scutum and yanked forward with both hands.. Since two hands are stronger than one, could you not pull the Scutum away from the Roman soldier and go in for the kill with the longer pole weapon? A gladius alone is useless..
There's Matt: he's hitting the bottle again ...
Do you think he might have a problem? He's also always talking about the shaft.
Just something to mention: Thors Forge has a youtube channel, might be worth sending some viewers his way.
Good point - just added to the description.
The smirk was amazing
Very appropriate. :)
You look so wonderfully pleased with yourself when you show off the cut bottles!
Lucy: Matt, can you water the garden?
Matt proceeds to grab weapons and water bottles. Yup, no problem!
Чувак ты один из немногих кто оценил всю мощь бродекса
With all though respect Matt, that intense face you make before every cut is absolutely hilarious! :D
He's swinging around a bad ass Viking axe. I'd say the facial expressions are constrained. :D
Thanks, that's what I was going for.
We can almost hear the metal that's playing in your mind. :P
rasnac That look on his face would seem a lot less amusing if you were to break into his home some night and confront Matt in his pajamas wielding a Dane axe or any of the other sharp metal objects he keeps there.
Some of those looks he has as approaches the camera, axe in hand, are a little frightening, though.
Tell that bird singing in the background that I love it forever. Clever thing.
This just in: Matt signs an advertisement deal with Pepsi.
And Coca Cola. BOOM.
i wonder what SuperDry thinks about their poster boy getting new advertisers
What sort of savage drinks both Coke and Pepsi?
A viking
I bet you even mix them together, you barbarian.
Great video, I've been looking forward to seeing it. Regarding the difficulty of judging distance and having a feel for exactly where the head is relative to your target...that would certainly become second nature if that was your primary weapon. The analogy I would draw is a defenseman's lacrosse stick - those skilled with them regularly catch and throw lacrosse balls at 40-80mph speeds and have no issues doing so. A novice would be lucky to catch a ball moving at 25mph. The axe would be the same.
Yes, very true. It's one of the problem handling a lot of different weapons all the time - in some ways it would be better training to stick to only a few.
Great comparison.
"It's a long shaft, it helps definitely "-Matt Easton 2018
I do western style reenactment fighting and am currently one of two in my group who uses a daneaxe and we both try to build each other up because that is how you get better. This video was nice as sort of a reset and back to basics kind of thing. I wanted to let you know I appreciate it. Keep it up!
Back when you told us you were looking for an axe like this, I got all inspired. I contacted my trusted blacksmith and commissioned a replica of a Swedish find, similar in size and weight to yours. Mine is also fairly close to a Finnish find from grave number 37, Kirkkomäki. The Kirkkomäki find was cool, because the axes had a haft, 108 cm apparently intact. The haft didn't survive the dig unfortunately. Based on this find I hafted my axe with a 110 cm ash haft. This seems to be working ok at least for now.
I completely agree on your assessment that this type of axe is brutally great cutter and you truly can feel it while using the axe. It is almost scary. Personally I did not find the distance management much of an issue, on a stationary target. Being a boat builder I have worked with axes of varying sizes for quite a bit, giving me an edge on it I believe.
That is interesting you say that, because perhaps some ship builders that had to fight would have preferred such a weapon. We all know the vikings and their ships. Not that it means too much, practice and experience on the battlefield would have a similar effect, do or die and all that.
There's an old hema document or blog post or something, that basically tells all the people complaining about techniques being "impossible" should chop more wood. It is incredible just how accurate we become after a while. I haven't used the axe that much in boatbuilding, but have worked 12 years as a stagebuilder, and my hammer accuracy is really astonishing now, compared to when I started.
I imagine fantasy dwarves would find themselves partially slashing limbs quite more often than actually successfully reaching out far enough to connect fully and lop limbs off. So their slayings might transpire more like a bull fight, laboriously taking multiple strikes, rather than video-game-like dramatic cleaves.
I have never seen you make such a serious fighting face as that fierce expression you wore while slaughtering the water bottle. Congrats on the axe. It seems to be an excellent example of the weapon.
That axe is gorgeous! I'd love to pick one of those up myself. It's cutting ability is extremely impressive, and it looks like you were having a lot of fun!
Every time I see footage of him in his garden I can't help but imagine what his neighbours must think.
Some guy calling his wife from the next room, "SHARON! HE'S SWINGING WEAPONS AGAIN!"
4:31 This might be obvious to some people (longer blades are more "cutty," also weight is a factor), but I think it's worth mentioning that shorter blades, lets say sub 12 inches, can still cut very well if you use good technique. And since we are talking about an ax, I think it's also worth mentioning that axes, of the variety that we typically encounter, have edge grinds which are different from a sword or a knife. I would love for Matt to talk more about edge grinds and edge angles in general.
I really love these things. There's something very satisfying about overall length and proportions of a Dane axe. I'd imagine they are are terrifying choppers. Considering the period at which those were most widespread even armor of the day wouldn't be of much help. It won't cut maille, but with a good swing whatever bones are under it are surely to be crushed.
I think accuracy in gauging distance would increase with regular practice. Compare the hammer skills of a novice carpenter to a builder who has been working for 5 years, or an experienced forester chopping wood. If you use a tool daily, it's use can become very natural and precise.
Of course, wood and nails rarely dodge so it's not exactly the same.
@ Matt
Are you kidding? When I was growing up, we were reared on stories of Viking raiders fighting terrible battles against the encroaching Water Bottle People. I've been waiting for a video like this for 40 years!
Your video editing did improve massively since a few months and it's even more fun to watch than before. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in such a comfortable way !
I’m really enjoying your Dane axe videos. I have done a lot of sparring with the Dane axe and I agree that in the beginning one of the most difficult things to get used to is judging the distance on a cut so that you hit with the sweet spot on the edge. All I can say is that over time it becomes more intuitive as you become accustomed to the weapon.
"that being said" if my arm was half cut through instead of lopped off completely, i'd still not be a happy bunny
Indeed! But the chance of missing entirely with the cutting edge and just hitting with the shaft is of course much higher with an axe than a longer-bladed weapon.
Ok call me stupid, but somewhere in the distant past, an EMT told me amputations are self-sealing, whereas partial amputations make fuck all of a mess. Never having seen it personally, If that is true, then would not a partial "arm off" be preferrable?
Why do I keep getting flashes of the Black Knight hopping around. "What that, just a flesh wound!"
@@scholagladiatoria Then you would be in trouble against a trained swordsman.
But then again, when you come charging at him wielding this thing above your head and screaming he WILL step back.
That's a very beautiful axe! I've been told that the reason for a left handed use was specifically meant to deal with right handed bearing left shields. Offputting like a southpaw vs. a orthodox boxer.
Let's not forget that the Vikings also spent years training with their specific types of weapons so distance probably became second nature to them such as with any other edged weapon like a sword You train in its use like a sword things such as footwork and things like that and they become second nature
ruclips.net/video/DfoB0SbpQes/видео.html
The modern Irish sport of hurling traces back to legends of young warriors playing hurling for fitness and developing skills that could be transferred to wielding weapons I think it speaks to your point about practice and familiarity with your weapon if we consider young chaps in their 20's playing top level hurling have had a Hurley in hand most of their waking lives from the age of 4 or 5, the same principle as for top flight tennis players or golfers .
Hi Mr. Easton, this was an amusing video and this axe is a very nice looking work of craftsmanship.
Nearly all the daneax wielding housecarls in the tapestry lead with their left hand. This might be some kind of indicator of preference for left-handed men to be housecarls, but I think it is more likely artistic license. Except in cases where the person in question is being smote, the embroiderers of the tapestry never obscure the faces of their subjects. There may be a thin spear shaft passing by, but this does not really obscure the face in the same way as a bicep might. Given that almost all the axe-wielders depicted have their bodies turned to the right (the one exception I can spot using a single handed axe in the right hand) a leading right arm would conceal the face.
Ah but did the housecarles actually train to wield with their off-hand?
Many years ago I read The Golden Warrior by Hope Muntz. (Written in the 50s I think and probably long since out of print and forgotten, but a detailed depiction of life in the last days of Anglo-Saxon England if you can get hold of a copy). Numerous chapters of the novel were devoted to a blow-by-blow account of the Battle of Hastings - obviously creative licence played its part.
One passage tells of the Norman horsemen laboriously riding their mounts uphill towards the English frontline . . . who, after the Normans have got most of the way up the slope, change hands so that they are holding their shields in their right hands and their axes in their left. The significance of this is that the Normans who witness them do this are equipped with those classic, long kite-shaped shields which they cannot physically swap over, across their saddles, to protect their right sides and sword-arms. So basically they witness this and they realise what's going to happen to them. The result is a bloodbath as horseman after horseman is killed or fatally or critically wounded by an axe-wound to his right arm or shoulder that he can do nothing to prevent. That attack fails and the Normans have to regroup.
Like I say, creative licence was obviously used in the depictions of Hastings, but I've always wondered if the housecarles really were trained to employ tricks like that. I remember reading that one historian wrote that they were the best trained troops in Europe, outside Byzantium, of their day.
There was a hypothesis put forward that in violent societies lefties tend to have an advantage for the same reason the elite of major league baseball players tends to be dominated lefties. it throws right handed people through a loop that are not used to fighting left handed.
One thing from tradtional working axes is you use them from both sides otherwise its difficult to reach certain angles or diferent sides of a tree, might be they were used from growing up using it both ways
There needs to be a better source the Bayeux Tapestry or a novelist's speculation to make a real case the housecarls fought leading with the left hand. Medieval art is not the same as a photograph.
Alexander Hinman as I described it more further in a different comment. I‘m not a left hander but prefer ALWAYS my left hand in front for long shafty weapons. Not for swords of course. I find it way more natural to stand and to use if you‘re left hand leads.
1 bottle of water disliked this video.
Nice...the grin on your face after the cuts is priceless : )
... one pt worthy of note is that traditionally the butt end of the the haft was nestled in the center of the palm of the hand (the one lower on the haft). This was all important for maneuverability/agility/sensitivity. Also these axes were not used in a strike/recover/re-compose/strike again ... rather they were wielded via the 'winds of Odin' (whirlwind) would carry you through seamlessly rolling forth.
Serious post now.... man that is bloody terrifying. Basically any hit on an unprotected surface and you are in game over land.
Id be interested to see "full scale" testing - a human analogue with some dummy armour on - gel torso with leather, padded gambeson, chain mail, etc and combos of the layers to see what the axe does "in real life".
Im thinking even chain mail will have a hard time stopping it....it will certainly knacker the mail up.
I love you talking about only partially cutting through a neck or body part as if that wouldn’t put a person out of action. Personally, if someone only partially cut off my arm I know I wouldn’t be doing much for the rest of the day at least. Probably need quite a long lie down 😜
I agree, but the main point was that it would not be hard to miss with the edge entirely, only hitting them with the shaft or with air.
To be fair, with enough adrenaline you probably wouldn’t notice for some time.
scholagladiatoria Ah I see. With your point made more clear it is indeed a good one. I think perhaps, like many things, the chances of missing would decrease with skill. However, as you said, no matter how good a person is simply due to blade type there will still be a non-zero chance of missing.
@@grayblackhelm6468 true with the extremities. People who get shot when hyped up on adrenaline sometimes dont even know until after. However getting hit in the neck is a different story...
My fav' of the Viking era axes. One tip (from my many former years of practicing) is that the leading hand should 'slide' down the haft for leverage a.) this gathers greater momentum b.) it is an illusive means of playing with the reach (making it harder for the opponent to read the techniques) c.) avoids you over-extending especially in relation to thrusting attacks for the head and then reaching over the shield and pulling back thus disarming the opponent of the shield and brining them forth off balance for a follow up strike if needs be. The other important point is to keep the lower supporting hand cupping the tail end of the haft. When you thus raise the leading hand up and slide it down the haft for the strike you gain incredible power and greater means of balance via the longer reach and also allowing you to leverage the weapon in a more dexterous manner for overhead rolling (forehand and backhand overhead) maneuvers as well as thrusting strikes.
Matt, your channel is by far my favorite, I learned from you a lot. Thanks
Thanks buddy
This is great! You look so much more happier and grin way more than usually, seems like an absolutely great axe
Haha, yes it is a lot of fun to swing this around.
Beautiful axe! Very interesting examination of it. Thank you!
8:40 Oh, I might know the answer to this one now! Many polearm systems (for instance, Meyer) show the left hand forward, it matches the standard configuration for spear, pike, and later bayonet. When practicing these systems, I tend to imagine I'm swinging around a really really long and heavy dussack, and am using my left hand for balance and control (much like I would when halfswording).
My ax instructor taught me to use the haft like I would do with a wood ax or maul for splitting firewood. Start with your hands farther apart and slide your upper or control hand down the shaft as you swing. If you match your foot movement to the blade you can deliver extraordinary, shield splitting power with each blow without losing any control or precision.
Beautiful weapon, dude.
When it comes to a normal woodchopping axe, being righthanded, I would hold it with the right hand in the back and left hand forward. The left hand also would "float", so it starts further forward and slides back during the chop. The right hand is more accurate and would be the back hand which directs exactly where the impact will be and the angle.
The one key pt you are missing regards to the balance of reach vs body alignment is SLIDING the leading hand from higher up the haft down lower which gains you leverage, reach, more unpredictable striking distance advantage (making it harder to read your moves). The other key pt as I mentioned previously is the bottom underside of the haft should be positioned in the centre of your palm (the ODIN pt) for leverage and dexterous advantage ... would be fun to see you remake a vid' based on these two pt's to see how vastly your technique improves.
You need a good name for your axe.
Here are some of the names on vikingaxes in the sagaes.
Rimmumgýgr = Ambushing troll-hag
Skogsgýgr = Outlaw troll-hag
Galdrsgýgr = Moon-howling troll-hag
Genja = Scream/Startle
Skráma = Startle
Skaði = Hurt/Injure
Saxa = Chop off
Snaga = Gnaw/Stump
Randgríðor = Shield-coveter
Svartleggja = Blacken
Himintelgja = Sky-high chopping
Stjarna = Star
Skeggja = Bearded
Barða = Beard
Hell = St. Olav's Two handed axe.
They are also described poetically as:
Hamartröll = Mountain crest/peak/hill troll
Grand hjalms = Damager of helmets
Bryðja randa = Eater/breaker of shields
Randgalkn = Shield beast (as in beast of shields)
Galli meginhurðar Gauts = Damager of mighty door of Odin (a synonym for shield)
Matt cutting shit with an axe = instalike.
i've lunged at a few raccoons, with my Boar spear. When they are way out in front, and it's dark, the tip usually hits lower or on the ground prior to hitting the animal being aimed at. Judging distance at a 2 meters, is going to be an edge for a formation that practices those sorts of strikes. like using pole ax left handed, bypassing shields and cracking heads/slicing shoulders and creating mayham.
That dane is impressively sharp and well used. Considering the kinetic Energy in the head unless the blade is contacting properly its just a fancy looking club.
I just got mine. The haft is only 43" under the head. He said that he no longer thinks Dane Axes used such long hafts, but were shorter. Rather than used like mass polearms, they were more specialist weapons for close in fighting. He used the Bayeux tapestry as one piece of evidence.
I've been working out with a bearded dane axe recently and I have to say, I find it a more natural weapon than a longsword. Very satisfying
About the mistery of holding the right hand lower down - it's pretty much as same as usage of viking swords - it means their right hand was dominant and they used it to hook, accelerate and pull the axe with lower hand closer to end of the shaft. So right hand would provide the power and left was only the guidance.
Good video Matt thanks for doing it, great axe you got, well made also. Hope you feel better and get over your cold soon.
I'm glad you used a screenwash bottle, I knew I had to do something, thanks for the reminder.
I was super excited to see this!
That silent wave at the start is a fantastic way to start a vid.
Once you have approached the target with your hands approximately shoulder width apart, if you are given a chance at a kill shot; as you accelerate to the target slide the forward hand back to the rear hand creating a grip like a modern golf grip. Swing through the target with your whole body. My Father’s family are Wends from Athens German Lausitzt that came over to found the Wendish settlement in Serbin, Texas. That’s how he did it and it uses velocity more than muscle. Skill and technique over crude force.
That thing is a beauty, been waiting for more videos with it.
First off, my favorite axe of all time... second... I love how you say wotterbuttle
I like your idea about using the long axe in the left hand for tactical advantage against those who carry their shield in their right hand which would be most people. It does seem to make sense
I imagine the dudes that really fought with those things must have been immensely strong and practiced with the axe. Its hard to replicate generations of handed down knowledge and a lifetime of training.
You are a Raider. LEGENDARY.
I'm no expert at pole arms. I am very good with an ax and Sledge hammer.
Something you might want to try the next time you chop something. Hold the left hand down towards the bottom, and the right hand towards the top. Like you did with the wide grip stance.
As you swing, let the right hand side down until your in the same grip as the first swing you demonstrated.
The right hand should reach the lower position right as the head strikes the target.
Also, as you swing, let your body lean back slightly. Increasing as your right hand moves back. That helps keep the ax head balanced.
Like I said, I only use axes for chopping wood. This was only a suggestion. I admire and appreciate your work..
It's an amazing sight to watch that axe be put to use in a similar way to the way it may have been handled over 1000 years ago!
The sounds that axe makes are very interesting!
Mat faces as he's showing the bottles - priceless! LOL :D
With regards to fighting left-hand forward, the biggest advantage is that your main strikes don't come in on your opponent's shield side, as you say.
There are others, though. Using the left hand as a pivot point forward and using the right to pull back on the weapon to snap it forward tends to keep more of the weapon in front of your body, leading to better defense. It also allows you to use the same footwork with your left side forward that you use with sword and shield. I also find it to be a bit more nimble and with better tip control to have the dominant hand back than forward. Further, it helps to maximize reach and control to be able to put your dominant hand at the very back of the weapon keeping a good grip, while your less skilled hand is the one sliding around on the weapon.
That's not to say that "this is the best way and all others are wrong" of course, but these are some of the advantages I find to using dominant hand back on 2-handed weapons as someone that became proficient (but certainly non-expert) at using that style of fighting.
I understand there are some German schools of swordsmanship that use left-hand up, but as my main area of interest didn't really have treaties, I admit I couldn't tell you which they were, but I expect you or someone else here could dig that information up.
very cool video and very nice cuts! those overhead moves really need precision to keep blade alignment and distance, bravo!
please when you have time could you release a video showing some flail action?
Thanks Matt!! Hey can I ask for a future video about best historical weapons for a realistic/practical homedefense. Cheers from Chile!!
The little happy faced tree stump in the background approves.
I thought I was the only one who noticed that!
4:58, 10:33, 12:40, 15:11
"Look at me, my depth perception must be off again."
--Saliva, "Rest in Pieces"
8:38 Interesting, Meyer shows staff/polearm with the left hand in the front, I wonder if both weapons are used in a similar way. I still don't know why you'd use it this way, but still, interesting that both of them do it.
I am betting that for the Dane whose primary weapon would be his axe, he'd have been quite formidable and would have practiced so much that the distance judgement issue would not have been...an issue.
Probably. Still, it's more of an issue with an axe than a sword.
Doby Pilgrim I hope he wore armor otherwise he is giving up excellent protection using that two handed axe.
Especially if the target decides to move out of distance, or, perhaps more effectively, further in.
The problem isn’t the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Savvy?
I use axes pretty much daily on the farm, putting the edge where you want it becomes instinctive really quickly. Using the same tool or weapon daily takes it from implement status to something more like a limb you can put away at the end of day.
I love the songbirds prettily singing while Matt mean mugs the camera and murders defenseless bottles :)
It's interesting that you mentioned that Dane axeman were depicted left hand high. In the cover art for Forgeng's new Monte translation, is a painting of a battle from the late 1400's. In it, basically all of the halberders are also left hand high, while all of the pikemen are right hand high. Obviously, these two data points aren't enough to connect to anything more than a coincidence, but it does make me wonder.
I have the same axe made from Thor's forge. It's amazing!
In HMB people often train with pole arms left handed as it makes it easier to strike at an opponents unshielded side in the mass battles.
On the point of Left-handedness and utilisation of a two-handed implement, check out how a lot of 'defined' right-handed players hold their sticks in a 'left-handed' fashion to balance power and control with various strokes and shot types, also Cricket bat-wielding across the sport is not determined by the persons preferred writing hand. Great videos and insights, cheers.
Cool stuff! Couple things that could be considered; sliding the lead hand down the shaft during a cut, much like you do when splitting logs, and the fact that slower/heavier weapons have a harder time with water bottles. When I got my (N)Odachi (which is 64" long, incidentally), my very first cut cleanly cut the bottle and left the bottom half stationary on my stand. It's all about the tip speed, man! Lastly, I think you CAN thrust with the top point of the axe blade. Hurstwic (RUclips name thorleifr) made a vid some time ago showing it being done on a pig carcass. Left a really nasty wound.
Glad to see you're having fun with the axes! Cheers!
Matt's been getting to know his *axes* a little better. About time I'd say.
In poleaxe and halberds or staff treatises actually alot of times you are supposed to lead with left hand and the right being on the butt end.
The best part of this video is Matts expressions.
I like to use warm/hot water to soften the plastic.
Do it with the big milk jugs and you can get slices .... very satisfying and less damaging. :)
Interesting! I never thought about the liquid temperature.
those birds chirping are bringing back childhood memories
Absolutely beautiful.
As some of the others have mentioned- sliding the top hand is a good thing. Along with hitting power it helps correct edge alignment, The biometrics involved in swinging and axe allow much more control with a sliding hand and it takes some of the twisting stress out of the swing. Next time you are test cutting slide the top hand down as you swing and then slide it back up once you recover. I have only ever fought with a blunt version in re-enactment, but can say if you try to swing the way you were, all day- your back will be protesting for a week.
Also it was a great video. Thank you for showing off your new toy.
I could do that, but the water bottle doesn't slow down or stop the axe like a tree or log. I'd be hitting the ground with the axe head if I just let it fly like that.
I just noticed that the quest has came up about slipping the hands. The big thing is the the hand is slipped forward to catch the momentum but also you put your hips into it and redirect.
Your channel is extremely informative, thank you!
I'm both a historical re-enactor (second half of the XIII century) and a hand-sharpener by trade, so I'm getting a few ideas here.
How was the dane ax(e) sharpened? From this video I'd guess a convex primary bevel (on a belt grinder, maybe?) with a fairly acute angle, and a secondary, more robust bevel right on the edge? I'm asking because around 13:01 you can catch a glimpse of a small dent, and that made me think.
Damn man, you make this axe weilding look so easy. Great video, great job and keep up th great work :))
What I have heard about the left handed axe use was actually to force enemies using shields to guard their right side from incoming axe blows. This can force sword users to bind their own sword hand by being forced to cover it with a shield to prevent an axe blow. It was said that this was taught to the huscarls on purpose for expressly this purpose and that it was trained and drilled this way to make it harder to defend against and that it was not their natural preference.
Take it with a grain of salt I forget exactly where I found this info but if its out there I am sure it has a source.
I like his axe swinging face.
Great video, as always! I will say something probably very obvious, but using a long handled axe myself for years for chopping wood and the comfort and ease I have with the issue of distance management, I can only imagine how much more someone from that time period would have... Chopping wood every day for heat and light and cooking, and practicing for battle as well... If one imagines how comfortable a professional baseball player is hitting something first sized or smaller with the narrowness of a bat, I don't believe any viking worth their salt would be anything less than profoundly accurate with an axe.
(8:59) As you stated, in middle school our history teacher told us the house carls used a left hand grip to get around the shields of right handed opponents, who were unused to coping with left handed enemies.
It is a theory, yes. It's somewhat supported by the Bayeux Tapestry and it makes some sense, but we have no other evidence.
Best Matt Easton video ever!
This is very late, but, that tree stump is clearly satisfied with the sacrifices. Really brings home just how vicious this weapon was. Lop off a head, human or horse? no problem.
In the Bayeux Tapestry, the ax wielder seems to have the shield attached to his arm. I usually think that you would have to sacrifice the shield in order to move a two handed weapon but I guess this is just one of the advantages of using leather straps on the kite shield.
The shields are hung on the back with a strap.
Oh right, silly me.
Depends on the axe. A short enough axe can be swung single handed with ease.
That said, Norse round shields were designed to hang across the back when not in play.
i wonder if units had to work-out spacing ax-guys far apart, & in front of, the main-body, re the giant swing-arc of ax; or, did they fight w. shields on their backs, from behind the safety of the shield wall, just raining blows downward on the enemy, & pulling back enemy shields
It's so much better than other "Dane-axes" one sees from shoddy makers. That axe makes sense from a force-mechanics and matter tensile-strenght and durability perspective. The only thing an axe made for battle would have that your axe does not, is a thin metal cover for the handle blelow where the axe-head sits, for parrying/spear-binding purposes, and it would be a small thing to add. Also your axe would be usable to split firewood also.... So fun to se a genuine weapon and tool that actually works!
How to learn distance management with an axe : Chop firewood for a few weeks solid and your eye for range will be quite good. Practise, practise, practise.
Binmen checking bins on recycle day: "So, Matt's been testing out new kit again lads." Closes lid.
I don't know why but seeing Matt swing that axe around looks really funny to me
About the left hand on the bottom of the axe: I’m seeing people suggest they chose left handed men to be housecarls or its artistic license etc... which is all possible. Who knows right?
But I can’t help thinking of the Irish sport of hurling.
The standard grip on a hurl is with the dominant hand at the back and the weaker hand further up. Rather like these axes in the bayeux tapestry. They can be kept close together or spread apart depending on whether power or control is more important and typically the weaker hand slides back next to the dominant hand for the actual moment of impact with the ball.
I think this is partly to do with power generation. It’s like people keep describing cutting with the katana. The bottom hand generates power by pulling. In fact people describe a ‘hit’ as a ‘pull’. You would pull hard on the sliotar (ball). So logically you use the stronger hand and side for that.
More importantly though it leaves you in a better position to take your left hand off altogether and use the hurl one handed. There’s a lot of catching hand passing etc... with the weaker hand.
Maybe these sort of factors played a role?
Maybe Dane axe wielders were trying to maximise their power generation? Or needed to perform techniques with a free hand? Were using the axe in a versatile way at closer and further ranges?