Viking axe, length 75 cm

Based on the everyday tool for chopping wood,axes specialized for use in battle evolved, with larger heads and longer shafts. Some axe heads were inlaid with silver designs. In the later Viking era, there were axe heads with crescent shaped edges measuring up to 45 cm, called broad axe. The double-bitted axes depicted in modern "Viking" art are likely pure fantasy.

An axe head was mostly wrought iron, with a steel cutting edge. This made the weapon less expensive than a sword .