The Armour Archive

I'm making a Dane/Two-Handed Axe out of a glaive that just didn't work and I have a few questions:

#1) What is a good length for this use if it is intended for single combat and melee use that is still within the historic range? For reference I am 6' tall and have short arms (reach is only 5'9" finger tip to finger tip).

#2) What is a method to make a good axe head on the cheap? Time is not a factor.

-Ivan

Sir Vitus has a tutorial on here in Combat and weapons that looks to be outstanding. Reviews from people that have gotten his axes are glowing.
Drefan

true but it is by no means a cheap way to make one danish axe. the cost of the leather as it is sold by the hide is about 100 bucks. for a cheap one walmart sells yoga blocks 2 for 9 $. carve your head out of that and then use halved stick of rattan for the clacker. i would suggest about 5 feet for the over all length. if you happen to have some leather 8 to 12 oz leather around cut out the blade with that and use that to strengthen it like this

Ah. I hadn't priced the leather yet. That makes a difference then. Also, I agree- about five feet seems to work for me too

I use my Daneaxe almost exclusively in melee and I love it. I am 6'1" with 76" reach and the axe I use is about 5'9" and it works well for me with the addition of the butt spike since I have no thrusting on the axehead. I used the archetectual foam that By My Hand sells and cut my own head shapes, keeps the price down.

I also used a cut-down By My Hand axehead on a 54 inch haft. Buttspike, backspike, topspike. I plan to make another one about the same dimensions with a Vitus-Type axehead, sans topspike, buttspike and backspike, shaped and stained haft, for a more accurate appearance.

I've used it in single engagements, and melees. Makes a great shieldwall can-opener.

axes are fun fun fun, but for open field or skirmish front melees I find any polearm under 7'6" to be at a disadvantage. If spears are in your opponent mix, you're just too far out of range to get anything done. Recently, I've started experimenting with shorter weapons for tourney fights, and having a lot of fun with them.

Now for castle battles, static bridges and the like, shorter is fine.

I think about 6' is the max historically. I don't ever recall seeing a picture of an early 2 handed axe that was taller than its user.

Im 5'6" and the Dane axe I use is right around 5'. Was originally war pay but had to rebuild the head after it popped off at practice. I use it both in tournaments and melee. I team up with a spear guy in melee and hook any spear that comes near him. Catch the spear right behind the head and lean back, opens the other spear guy right up.

My leather axe I made a few years ago.

viewtopic.php?t=63017

Currently it is on a 5 foot haft.