Hard-hitting but having a thick edge
With the right technique, a sharp sword can cut right through a leg, including the thigh bone. We were never able to do this with the axe replica. The blade of a broadaxe is twice as thick as that of a sword blade, and will therefore stop more readily against the bone. Besides, we could have benefited from further practice, perfecting our cutting technique to maximise the strength of our blows and the penetrating power of the axe. Our blows were nevertheless lethal and would have inflicted fatal injuries. It is not without reason that Viking poetry refers metaphorically to the axe as a monster destroying shields and armour.
The replica of the Langeid Axe easily dealt with the loads it was exposed to during the test cutting exercise. The toughened edge was sufficiently hard not to be blunted against the bone, while remaining soft enough not to fracture. The haft seemed to be of the right length, thickness and cross-section shape. It gave a comfortable grip when being wielded and produced little vibration or twisting as it hit its target.
Other cutting tests
Here are a few examples of other people demonstrating the effect achieved when test cutting with various Viking Age weapons, including broadaxes.
- Hurstwic (2012): Viking weapon test cuts against an animal carcass.
- Vikverir (2012): Testcutting at Vikverirs 5th Anniversary.
