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.
== Description == 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. 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.
Gallery
== See also == Dane axe Shepherd's axe Bearded axe Pike pole
References
== Further reading == 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)
== External links == Norwegian military small-arms & blades » The Norwegian Battle axe Økser som våpen hos Maihaugen (Norwegian) Picture Gallery at DigitaltMuseum