Antiqued Throwing Axe

Description

A throwing axe could be used as a weapon in two ways. As a hand-held weapon it had lethal force, capable of cleaving helms, mail and shields, while a volley of thrown axes could disrupt an opposing force and allow a breakthrough in a shield wall. The Vikings used throwing axes much like the Frankish warriors centuries before them.

Throwing-axes seem to be one of those innovations in human history of multiple discovery. For example the north-American tomahawk was in wide use before European settlers arrived, separately discovered from the European one. The blade of this throwing axe has a relatively short cutting edge, which means that any power in a strike is concentrated, which is ideal for punching through any armor of the Viking period. This well-balanced and competition approved throwing axe has a hardwood shaft.
Made by Hanwei. Specs may slightly vary from piece to piece.

This axe is designed as a throwing axe, but that does not mean that it is indestructible. The handles of throwing axes come under a lot of strain, and they constantly break when practicing.

There is so much mass in a throwing axe, that a quick stop at the point of impact produces a hard shock to both the target and to the axe. Even if you are an experienced thrower, the handles require replacing every so often, because the angle of the axe does not have to be too far from a perfect hit, for a large part of the impact energy to be directed to the handle instead of to the blade.

Of course, the durability of the handles also depends on experience, that is, when you get a good feel for the axe, the hits are more perfect, and bad hits don’t happen as often, so the handles start to last longer. With throwing axes, the changing and making of new handles is a part of the hobby, which is why you can get cheap spare handles for many throwing axes, with an emphasis on easy and quick replacement.