Historical Tomahawk Use and Sharpness

[Nein11]

A

You've been a member since 2005 and only posted twice? OP should be honored! haha

Apparently I am the OG of Lurkers! Seems like I've posted in the past but they may not be recorded from back when I first joined, I honestly don't remember.

 

[Nein11]

Interesting. I had read there was little evidence of sheaths on viking axes but new archeological finds may have discovered examples or depictions, so what I read may be out dated.

For folks interested in Viking axes, there's a good (but long) read here. A lot of detailed information, but this was written maybe ten years ago and I don't know if they're updating it as new archeological finds she'd more light on lost information:

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_axe.htm

14 paragraphs into it they discuss sheaths on battle axes.

I'm just recalling from what I found from YouTube and a few select history sites on the subject and one video did show an example of a blade guard as I described. In spite of having a history degree, I only began studying the history of the Vikings after watching History Channels "Vikings" and Netflix's "The Last Kingdom" over the Covid holiday. If blade sheathes or protectors were in widespread use you would think that they would show up more frequently in burial sites like Viking combs and other articles did, hard to tell with that period of history.

 

[Guitarist7.62]

Sabers of the day were often left unsharpened, from the fact of sharp edges result sticking in bone. Bayonets from all over the world are also not all that if intended as a stabby pokey thing rather than a knife. A light whack on our thumb from a hammer by accident sure does hurt, can’t imagine a full power swing of a narrow bit moving at high speed whether sharp or not would do. Don’t know much about them being sheathed when not in use but for fighting, fine edges aren’t required and hard to maintain when cracking skulls and breaking bones.

 

[flicker 6]

Knowledge passed to me was that tomahawks are for extremities only. Kind of like a previous post said about bayonets.

Remember the metal trade ones basically replaced a rock tied to a stick.

Never know when some of the stories from older tribal members meshes with conversation of today.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Sabers of the day were often left unsharpened, from the fact of sharp edges result sticking in bone. Bayonets from all over the world are also not all that if intended as a stabby pokey thing rather than a knife. A light whack on our thumb from a hammer by accident sure does hurt, can’t imagine a full power swing of a narrow bit moving at high speed whether sharp or not would do. Don’t know much about them being sheathed when not in use but for fighting, fine edges aren’t required and hard to maintain when cracking skulls and breaking bones.

Sabers were more typically left unsharpened to prevent troopers from being as likely to injure each other in altercations and because the iron scabbards used at the time would blunt a keen edge after rattling around badly on the campaign trail, so it was thought at the time that it prevented unnecessary wear. Before a battle was expected it was normal practice in most nations' armies to sharpen their swords.