The Axe in Viking age Iceland.

[transmaster]

 

[transmaster]

To a Norseman the axe was such a versatile tool. Clear trees, Cut firewood, build a boat, a house, etc. But when it was time to go a viking, you put your trusty axe on longer pole to cleave skulls. A sword was nice, but a good one was very expensive, and had little use outside of being a status symbol and occasional weapon in battle.

 

[catspa]

I wonder if the gentleman has ever butchered a farm animal with an axe or hatchet. Slaughter could be pretty straightforward, butchering into smaller pieces would be problematic. Unless your idea of meat didn’t include smaller pieces, just communal roasting of the carcass.

Parker

 

[transmaster]

I wonder if the gentleman has ever butchered a farm animal with an axe or hatchet. Slaughter could be pretty straightforward, butchering into smaller pieces would be problematic. Unless your idea of meat didn’t include smaller pieces, just communal roasting of the carcass.

Parker

A bearded axe does a very good job. If you read the old 1830's Mountain man journals breaking down a deer or Elk carcass with an axe was the way it was done. What I have always found hilarious is the images of mountain men with gigantic Bowie type knives. I have looked at actual examples of what they carried and If I could about to go back in a time machine to one of the c.1840's rendezvous I would quickly sell out of all of the Marine Ka-Bars I could stock. My Ranching outfitter paternal grandfather had a hard time keeping a straight face seeing the ridiculous Hollywood Bowie knives his eastern hunters had.

 

[coolbreezy37]

I’ve always been a fan of the bearded axe, but the Hudson Bay profile (especially the knife) has been the most proficient for me. I’ve never processed game with either. Used a Buck 192 Vanguard for that.

 

[transmaster]

My outfitter Grandfather used an axe to break down a carcass to anchor it to a packhorse frame. I really don't know what he used for knives. I seem to recall a Buck 110 in the 1960's.

 

[catspa]

Hmmm. Interesting to see him skin with it. Coulda been even easier if the carcass was warm and fresh.

I could imagine quartering it down with the hatchet also.

Parker

 

[catspa]

I might actually try that this fall. I have a smaller tomahawk that takes a screaming edge, might be enlightening.

Parker

 

[transmaster]

Of course a knife would have done a better job but the fact the axe did the job is the important thing. This is the Axe I just purchased, it is so pleasing to see I made a good choice.

 

[catspa]

Man, that was delicious just watching.

Parker

 

[elasmonut]

I wonder if the gentleman has ever butchered a farm animal with an axe or hatchet. Slaughter could be pretty straightforward, butchering into smaller pieces would be problematic. Unless your idea of meat didn’t include smaller pieces, just communal roasting of the carcass.

Parker

I reckon an "axe" , and a"seax"/ camp knife, would have been been pretty standard with a 3"-6" thin leaf bladed utility.
You can "butcher" with any one blade but all 3 will make it quicker and easier!

 

[robinpeck]

I have always thought of a hatchet as one of the necessary tools when butchering deer and moose and I have butchered more than I can remember.

 

[transmaster]

There is an is an ancient axe from Anglo-Saxon England that looks interesting but I can find no forge that makes it. It is the Crayke Hoard Axe, also called an Anglo-Saxon "T" axe. This one looks like a real all arounder. I have seen bushcrafters who remove the Axe head from the helve and use it like a Inuit Ulu. The "T" axe would be great used this way.