{{Stars2|Category=Weapons}}
{{Knives}}
''A large knife with a blade length of 18cm (7") or longer possibly used in combat.''
<br>
The short seax is also known as a Scramasax, a Hadseax or just a Sax. The term Scramasax comes from Gregory of Tours writing in 575AD, who speaks of "boys with strong knives (cultris validis), which they commonly call scramasaxes (scramasaxos)." in his History of the Franks (IV, 52). [WHEELER 1935:p.176] It is not known if this name continued in use into the Viking Age.
<br>
It is not uncommon for burials in the Viking age to contain more than one knife. [BERSU and & WILSON 1966: p.41] Wheeler gives his opinion that small heavy seaxes were in use up until the end of the C10th but that as a weapon it really belongs to the pre-Viking period. [WHEELER 1927: p.30]
<br>
Seaxs from the Viking Age never have metal fittings unlike the pagan Anglo-Saxon examples.
* England, Dorset, Cranborne. Silver strap-end [HINTON 2005: p.113]
* Middleton Warrior [BAILEY 1980:pl.14]
* 975-1000AD Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS23, f.23r.[PARKERLIBRARY]
* 1025-1050AD Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS lat 8824 - seax.jpg [OHLGREN 1992]
* 1076AD Bayeux Tapestry [WILSON 1985:pl.6, 7]
<gallery>
Scotland, St._Andrew_SarcophagusAndrew Sarcophagus.jpg|St. Andrew Sarcophagus
Repton_Stone.jpg|Repton Stone
Paris,_Bibliothèque_Nationale_de_France,_Lat._8085_seax.jpg| Paris, BNF, Lat. 8085
Middleton_WarriorEngland, Middleton Warrior, Stone Carving.jpg|Middleton Warrior
Brussels,_Bibliotheque_Royale,_ms._10066-77_seax.jpg|Brussels Bib. ms. 10066-77
Cranborne_Silver_strap-end.jpg|Cranbourne Strap End
Bayeux_Tapestry_seax.JPG|Bayeux Tapestry
</gallery>
<br>
Out of 128 knives found from Coppergate York, only 1 can be classed as a seax. [CAMERON 2000: p.64-65]<br>
{||- valign="top" id="BC1"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_Dimmock_Cote.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Dimmock's Cote]]|width="600pt"| '''England, Cambridge, River Cam at Dimmock's Cote'''===:Current Location- University of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge{{Cat|
:Type- ? 800AD
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
:Comments- 'large scramasax with a groove along the back of the blade' [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940:p.69].:Bibliography- [BJORN 1940:*{{ListRef|Bjorn & Shetelig 1940|p.69] }}|Seen=|Museum= University of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge|Accession=|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_Dimmock_Cote.jpg}}
|- valign="top" id="BC2"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_Cumwhitton_634.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Cumwhitton 634]]|width="600pt"| '''England, Cumwhitton, Plough Soil'''===:Current Location- Tullie House Museum{{Cat|
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: 30mm; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 220mm
:Comments- 'Patern-welded blade with remains of possible leather sheath still attached' [PATERSON 2014:cat.634].
:Bibliography- [PATERSON 2014:*{{ListRef|Paterson 2014|p.50,51 & Cat.634] }}|Seen=|Museum= Tullie House Museum|Accession=|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_Cumwhitton_634.jpg}}
|- valign="top" id="BC3"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_Cumwhitton_885.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Cumwhitton 885]]|width="600pt"| '''England, Cumwhitton, Grave 5'''===:Current Location- Tullie House Museum{{Cat|
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: 182mm; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 270mm
:Comments- 'Part pattern welded. Has a horn handle with inlaid silver wire.' [PATERSON 2014:cat.885].
:Bibliography- [PATERSON 2014:*{{ListRef|Paterson 2014|p.110 & Cat.885] }}|Seen= yes|Museum= Tullie House Museum|Accession=|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=TH Cumwhitton Seax Grave 5.JPG|i3=Seax Cumwhitton 885.jpg}}
===England, Brackley, Northamptonshire==={{Cat|:Type- valign? :Find Date- ? :Size- ? :Comments- :Bibliography- |Seen="top" idyes|Museum="BK1"Ashmolean Museum|widthAccession="100pt"AN1941.82| [[File:seax_Sittingbournei1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=Ashmolean Seax - Brackley, Northamptonshire (AN1941.82).jpg}} ===England, Norwich?==={{Cat|thumb:Type- ? :Find Date- ? :Size- ? :Comments- Seen in Norwich Castle Museum. No other information known.:Bibliography- |130x150pxSeen= yes|leftMuseum= Norwich Castle Museum|altAccession=Sittingbourne]]|widthi1none="600pt"X| '''i2h=70px|i2=Norwich-Seax.jpg}} ===England, Kent, Sittingbourne'''===:Current Location- British Museum 1881,0623.1{{Cat|:Type- Wheeler IV 900-925AD
:Find Date- 1881
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
:Comments- 'inlaid with copper, bronze, silver and niello.' [WILSON 1964:cat.80].
:Bibliography- [WILSON 1964:cat.80] [[http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=476352&objectId=95276&partId=1 British MuseumWebsite]]|Seen= |Museum= British Museum|Accession= 1881,0623.1|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=BM-Web Sittingbourne Seax (1881,0623.1).JPG}}
|- valign="top" id="BL1"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_ALG84_588_381.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London'''===:Current Location- London Museum ALG84[588]381{{Cat|
:Type- Wheeler III/II 1000-1100AD
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 247mm
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [MUSEUM OF LONDON IMAGES] [[http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/Online/object.aspx?objectID=object-146014&rows=1&start=0 Webpage link]]|Seen= yes|Museum= Museum of London|Accession= ALG84[588]]381|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_ALG84_588_381.jpg}}
|- valign="top" id="BL2"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_1856_Honey_Lane.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London 1856]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Honey Lane'''===:Current Location- British Museum 1856,7-1,1413{{Cat|
:Type- Wheeler IV 978-1016AD
:Find Date- 1856
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WILSON 1965:Cat.43]
|Seen=
|Museum= British Museum
|Accession= 1856,0701.1413
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=BM-Web Honey Lane Seax (1856,0701.1413).jpg
}}
|- valign="top" id="BL3"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_1879_Park_Street.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London 1879]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Park Street'''===:Current Location- British Museum 1879,12-22.1{{Cat|
:Type- 800-1000AD
:Find Date-
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 266mm
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WILSON 1965:Cat.81][[http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=83812&partId=1]]|Seen= |Museum= British Museum |Accession= 1933,0510.1|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=Seax London 1879 Park Street (Wilson 1965).jpg}}
|- valign="top" id="BL4"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_Princes_Street.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London Princes St]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Princes Street'''===:Current Location- London Museum 29.94,17 (Wheeler no.21){{Cat|
:Type- 900-1000AD
:Find Date-
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]
|Seen=
|Museum= London Museum
|Accession= 29.94,17 (Wheeler no.21)
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=seax_London_Princes_Street.jpg
}}
|- valign="top" id="BL5"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_1859_Thames.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London 1859]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London,Thames'''===:Current Location- British Museum 1859,1-22.12{{Cat|
:Type- 800-1000AD
:Find Date-
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 232mm
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WILSON 1965:Cat.50][[http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=86468&partId=1]]|Seen= |Museum= British Museum |Accession= 1859,0122.12|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_1859_Thames (Wilson 1965).jpg}}
|- valign="top" id="BL6"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_A1781.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London A1781]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Thames'''===:Current Location- London Museum A1781 (Wheeler no.25){{Cat|
:Type- 900-1100AD
:Find Date-
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]
|Seen= yes
|Museum= Museum of London
|Accession= A1781 (Wheeler no.25)
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=seax_London_A1781.jpg
}}
|- valign="top" id="BL7"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_A9313.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London A9313]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Thames at Blackfriars'''===:Current Location- London Museum A9313 (Wheeler no.8){{Cat|
:Type- 800-1000AD
:Find Date-
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]
|Seen=
|Museum= Museum of London
|Accession= A9313 (Wheeler no.8)
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=seax_London_A9313.jpg
}}
|- valign="top" id="BL8"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_A10721.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London A10721]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Thames at Brentford'''===:Current Location- London Museum A10721 (Wheeler no.11){{Cat|
:Type- 700-900AD
:Find Date-
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]
|Seen=
|Museum= Museum of London
|Accession= A10721 (Wheeler no.11)
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=seax_London_A10721.jpg
}}
|- valign="top" id="BL9"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_A13935.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London A13935]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Thames at Brentford'''===:Current Location- London Museum A13935 (Wheeler no.22){{Cat|
:Type- 900-1100AD
:Find Date-
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]
|Seen=
|Museum= Museum of London
|Accession= A13935 (Wheeler no.22)
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=seax_London_A13935.jpg
}}
|- valign="top" id="BL10"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_O2136.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London O2136]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Thames at Brentford'''===:Current Location- London Museum O2136{{Cat|
:Type- 500-700AD
:Find Date-
:Size- Blade Length: 181mm; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [MUSEUM OF LONDONIMAGES]|Seen= |Museum= Museum of London |Accession= O2136|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_O2136.jpg}}
|- valign="top" id="BL11"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_A24399.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London A24399]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Thames at Fulham'''===:Current Location- London Museum A24399 (Wheeler no.18){{Cat|
:Type- Wheeler IV 900-1000AD
:Find Date-
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]
|Seen=
|Museum= Museum of London
|Accession= A24399 (Wheeler no.18)
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=seax_London_A24399.jpg
}}
|- valign="top" id="BL12"|width="100pt"| [[File:seax_London_A24909.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London A24909]]|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Thames at Fulham'''===:Current Location- London Museum A24909 (Wheeler no.17){{Cat|
:Type- Wheeler III/II 900-1100AD
:Find Date-
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]
|Seen=
|Museum= Museum of London
|Accession= A24909 (Wheeler no.17)
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=seax_London_A24909.jpg
}}
===England, York, Goodramgate==={{Cat|:Type- :Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ? :Comments- :Bibliography- ::{{ListRef|Waterman 1959|p.73}}|Seen= |Museum= Yorkshire Museum |Accession= |i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_York_Goodramgate.jpg}}<br><br>* England, London. One find from cheapside could have had a blade of 25cm. [CAMERON 2000: p.64-65]
<br>
==English style Seax Sheathes (C9th to C11th)==
[[File:Seax Sheaths.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Seax Sheaths]]
Seax sheaths are made from substantial leather up to 3mm thick and closed by rivets about 4 to 5cm apart. In England there are 12 finds of Seax sheaths out of a total of 61 [CAMERON 2000: p.64-65]<br>
{||- valign="top" id="SA1"|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_Aachen.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Aachen]]|width="600pt"| '''Germany, Aachen'''===:Current Location- Aachen Cathedral Treasury {{Cat|
:Type- ?
:Find Date- before 1860
:Comments- Contains a name in Old English
:Bibliography- [OKASHA 1992:p.64 cat.1 pl.IV]
|Seen=
|Museum= Aachen Cathedral Treasury
|Accession=
|i1none=X
|i2h=70px
|i2=sheath_Aachen.jpg
}}
===Norway, Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag==={{Cat|:Type- valign? :Find Date- ?:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?:Comments- Contains a name in Old English:Bibliography- [OKASHA 1992:p.64 cat.12 pl.V]|Seen="top" id|Museum="SD1" |widthAccession="100pt"| i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=sheath_Trondheim_T5919.jpg}} ===Norway, Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag==={{Cat|:Type- ? :Find Date- ?:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?:Comments- Contains a name in Old English:Bibliography- [[FileOKASHA 1992:sheath_Dublin_DLS4p.jpg64 pl.V cat.13]|thumbSeen= |130x150pxMuseum= |leftAccession= |alti1none=Dublin DLS4]]X|widthi2h="600pt"70px| '''i2=sheath_Trondheim_T5919.jpg}} ===Ireland, Dublin, Christchurch Place'''===:Current Location- ? (Cameron 2007 cat.DLS 4){{Cat|
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 367mm ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2007:p.cat.DLS 4] |Seen= |Museum= |Accession= |i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=sheath_Dublin_DLS4.jpg}}
|- valign="top" id="SD2"|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_Dublin_DLS5.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Dublin DLS5]]|width="600pt"| '''Ireland, Dublin, Christchurch Place'''===:Current Location- ? (Cameron 2007 cat.DLS 5){{Cat|:Type- ? 1050-1075AD
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 295mm ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2007:p.cat.DLS 5] [OKASHA 1992:p.64 cat.2]|Seen= |Museum= |Accession= E122:12660|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=sheath_Dublin_DLS4.jpg}}
{||- valign="top" id="SD3C.DLS11"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_Dublin_DLS11.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Dublin DLS11]]
|width="600pt"| '''Ireland, Dublin, Fishamble Street'''
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2007:p.]
|- valign="top" id="SG1C.349"|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_Gloucestersheath_Gloucester_sf.65.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Dublin Gloucester349]]|width="600pt"| '''England, Gloucester, 11-17 Southgate Street''':Current Location- ? Gloucester City Museum, GLRCM 85/1968 sf.65 (Cameron 2000 cat.349) (Okasha 1992 cat.3):Type- ? :Find Date- 1968:Size- Blade Length: 170mm ; Total Length: 190mm ; Total Width: 68mm:Comments- :Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.] [OKASHA 1992:p.64 cat.3] |- valign="top" id="C.350"|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_Gloucester_sf.7.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Gloucester 350]]|width="600pt"| '''England, Gloucester, Berkeley Street''':Current Location- Gloucester City Museum, GLRCM 19/79 sf.7 (Cameron 2000 cat.350) (Okasha 1992 cat.4)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?200mm ; Total Length: 405mm 415mm ; Total Width: ?70mm
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.] [OKASHA 1992:p.64 cat.4] |- valign="top" id="C.114"|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_Hexham.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Hexham 114]]|width="600pt"| '''England, Hexham''':Current Location- Hexham (Cameron 2000 cat.114) (Okasha 1992 cat.5):Type- ? :Find Date- ?:Size- Blade Length: ? ; Total Length: 100mm ; Total Width: ?:Comments- :Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.] [OKASHA 1992:p.64 cat.5] *York 115*York 214*York 215 |- valign="top" id="C.205"|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_York_sf.754.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=York sf.754]]|width="600pt"| '''England, York, Parliament Street''':Current Location- ? sf.754 (Cameron 2000 cat.205):Type- ? :Find Date- ?:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?:Comments- :Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.112]
|- valign="top" id="SY1C.206"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_York_Coppergate.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=York Coppergate]]
|width="600pt"| '''England, York, Coppergate'''
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.]
|- valign="top" id="SY2C.207"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_York_sf.753.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=York sf.753]]
|width="600pt"| '''England, York, Parliament Street'''
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.113]
|- valign="top" id="SY3C.347"|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_York_sf.7544332.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=York sf.7544332]]|width="600pt"| '''England, York, Parliament Street''':Current Location- ? sf.754 4332 (Cameron 2000 cat.205347)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.112135]
|- valign="top" id="SY4C.144"|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_York_sf.4332sheath_London_Trump_Street.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=York sf.4332London Trump Street]]|width="600pt"| '''England, YorkLondon, Trump Street''':Current Location- Museum of London, MOL ? sf.4332 (Cameron 2000 cat.347144)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.135]
|- valign="top" id="SL1C.145"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_London_Cheapside.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London Cheapside]]
|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Cheapside'''
:Current Location- ? Museum of London, MOL 11674 (Cameron 2000 cat.145) (Okasha 1992 cat.6)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?1927:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? 390mm ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [VINCE 1991] [CAMERON 2000:p.208] [OKASHA 1992:cat.6]
|}
<br>
===A few Seax Sheathes from the C8th===
* Dover, Buckland, grave 145, leather sheath dated to 700-750AD
* London, River Thames nr. Westminster Bridge, metal fittings, late C8th
* York [MOULD, CARLISLE and CAMERON 2003: p3379-3385]* Ireland, Dublin. Style E1 [CAMERON 2007: p.15-20]* [CAMERON 2000: p.64-65]* England, London. One find from cheapside could have had a blade of 25cm. [CAMERON 2000: p.64-65]
<br>
<br>
== References ==
<nocite>{{Ref|Book=Bailey 1980}}BAILEY1980{{Ref|Book=Bersu & Wilson 1966}}BERSU1966{{Ref|Book=Bjorn & Shetelig 1940}}CAMERON2000{{Ref|Book=British Museum Website}}CAMERON2003{{Ref|Book=Cameron 2000}}CAMERON2007{{Ref|Book=Cameron 2007}}HINTON2005{{Ref|Book=Hinton 2005}}OKASHA1992{{Ref|Book=Museum of London Website}}VINCE1991{{Ref|Book=Ohlgren 1992}}WilSON1965{{Ref|Book=Okasha 1992}}WILSON1985{{Ref|Book=Parker Library}}WHEELER1927{{Ref|Book=Paterson 2014}}WHEELER1935{{Ref|Book=Vince 1991}}</nocite>{{Ref|Book=Wilson 1964}}<biblio force{{Ref|Book=false>#[[Template:Bib]]</biblio>Wilson 1965}}{{Ref|Book=Wilson 1985}}{{Ref|Book=Wheeler 1927}}{{Ref|Book=Wheeler 1935}}
<HarvardReferences />