The Norwegian battle axe, also called Norwegian peasant militia axe, Norwegian peasant axe or peasant battle axe (Norwegian: bondeøks or bondestridsøks), is a tool and weapon from Norway, which was an important part of the Norwegian national defense in the 1600s.

A Norwegian peasant axe.

Description

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The axe has great symbolic worth in Scandinavia, and appears in the coat of arms of Norway and as a symbol of Saint Olav, the patron saint and eternal King of Norway. The peasant axe has a mostly straight shaft with a distinct curve towards the blade.[1] The blade is crescent-shaped blade and single-edged. It is assumed that the axe is a further development of the Viking axe, also known as the Danish axe. The shape of the shaft favors a cutting effect from the blade. Peasant axes were often highly decorated and had a high status in the Norwegian culture as a symbol of the free farmer.

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See also

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References

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Further reading

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  • George Cameron Stein, Donald J. LaRocca: En Ordliste med Bygging, Innredning og Bruk av Våpen og Rustninger: i Alle Land og til Alle Tider. Verlag Courier Dover Publications, 1999, ISBN 978-0-486-40726-5 (Opptrykk), side 80.
  • Norheim, Per Terje, Fuglseth, Erik: Våpen i Norge, Damm forlag (2000) ISBN 8251205239 (Norwegian)
  • Mathisen, Trygve: Fra bondeoppbud til legdshær, Gyldendal (1952) (Norwegian)
  • Kong Christian den Fjerdes norske Lovbog af 1604 (Norwegian)
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