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John Barnett 9th Century Viking Battle Axe

In warfare the great two-handed axe was the most fearsome weapon the Vikings possessed. Axes came in short, medium and large sizes but the most formidable was the large two-handed axe. Being capable of splintering shields, splitting helmets and tearing wide open mail shirts, once a Viking warrior had his great axe in motion he was unstoppable. The best technique in using these axes was simply to focus on launching a ferocious attack with no regard for defence. This was the tactic of the famed berserk warriors of the Viking sagas who at the onset of battle would go into a berserk fury and hack and slay their way through the battle field screaming and foaming at the mouth until either all of their enemies lay dead or they themselves were cut down and killed.