Early middle ages axe; Francisca throwing/battle axe

F

Fried Krom

Joined
May 1, 2015
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4
Who can advise me on the shape and length of the haft?
Length of the blade is 19 cm and the weight is 0.817 kg.
Found in Holland while dredging.
I've attached some pictures.

Thanks in advance,

Fried Krom

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F58PpN2.jpg

NQKHS
 
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Nice find! The absence of oxygen in the river silt saved this artifact from being entirely rusted away!
 
Congratulations! You have a great treasure, treat it like that.

I have a question, is the eye tapered?
 
Museums ought to be able to help you out but youth of today (which increasingly includes 'college-learned museum staff') may or may not satisfy you. A 2 foot long 'hardwood stick' (50 cm) should be about right for what it is you want. If that 'stick' accidentally has a natural curve then use it to advantage and otherwise don't bother.
Can you make or achieve a decent edge on this?
Wood or no wood, I, and many others out there would love to know how the head and cutting edge of a 'primitive' tool holds up to regular use compared to a 20th century counterpart.
 
Very nice axe, were you present when it was dedged up? That would make it more special if so.
 
2,5 -3 times the length of the blade ( about 50 cm 300Six :) ) is what I could see on pictures of museums. Does the weight of the blade influence the length?
I don't want to sharpen this axe as I want to keep it in the good original condition. Some others are dredged which are more corroded; one of them can be sharpened.

I was not present when it was dredged up but the axes are found in the middle of Holland about 25 km South of Utrecht.
 
50 cm is about 20 inches and ought to be fine for this. The heavier the head usually the longer the handle. 800 gram (1.8 lb) seems (to me) to be in the upper category of this having been used as a one-handed tool. At least with a 50 cm handle you could use two hands.
 
I was going to say that ~20" would be appropriate but you guys are already there. Great find!
 
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