Norwegian Battle Axe

[Lee]

Below are a few more photographs of the axe.

I am sorry to disappoint, but I do not believe the haft is the beautiful flamed birch illustrated in the gun stocks above. The grain of the axe handle is relatively straight and the dark areas appear to be mildly 'ebonized' (darkened by restrained heat). Pictures can so deceive. Below are two closeups near the haft cap.

Up close, the spike appears to be a single forging from which the curved elements arise. This has always reminded me of a crown.

Mass = 1,122 grams; maximum length = 1.045 meters

And a few questions for Trond (and or anyone else):

Have you seen similar curving in battle-axe hafts on other examples; is such a curve a typical feature? (I have believed this to be deliberate rather than age warping as the metal axehead also seems to follow the same curve.)

I find the crescent mark to be similar to that on Trond's engraved type 'A' axehead, but not from the same die. Perhaps the same workshop?

Any idea of what the little rings on the haft next to the head were used for?

Lastly, any idea of how expensive these would have been for the typical farmer of the time in terms of days of work required to earn the money to buy one?