Excavated Battleaxe with Integral Langets

[fernando]

Such an elegant shape, this axe had in its glorious days !

The fascination for the morbid, which takes the common observer to conclude that, all such large axes are beheading instruments is, in the case of this example, rejected by the existence of an "appendix" in its back side, an implement i would love to learn further in detail.
Being called a hammer, my curiosity raises two questions:To hammer ... what, in particular ? And why, being its purpose to actually hammer, is it so small, comparing its proportions with those of the actual axe; in a manner that it would be rather slippery (weight wise) to firmly sustain its blade vertically, to strike whatever object with its hammer tool ?


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[Lee]

Though the hammer head is small (2.26 x 2.79 cm. in maximum cross section), I imagine that it does move the center of gravity further back towards the haft (see photo below) and that the presence of the haft might well pull the center of gravity very nearly in line with the haft. Also, even if the purpose of the axe was primarily as a weapon, in the field a small hammer would occasionally prove useful.

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by fernando

Being called a hammer, my curiosity raises two questions:To hammer ... what, in particular ?.

Not necessarily to hammer anything. Various spikes on polearms have a lot of potential use for hooking, pulling, parrying, etc. This is easily big enough for that kind of thing.

Having it flush with the top makes it less good for this, but better for use as a striking weapon. A reasonable compromise.

As Lee wrote above, a hammer can be a very useful tool. If, however, this was a long-hafted battleaxe, it might be a rather clumsy tool, and maybe the main function of the hammer is fighting.

[fernando]

Duly noted ... thanks .