Langseax

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This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.
Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.
Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:
VA Langseax.JPG
Langseaxes
Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:
VA Langseax.JPG
Langseaxes

Wheeler classifies these as his type III [WHEELER 1935]. They were made and used in Britain from the 8th to 10th centuries [THOMPSON 2004]:p.81. A number of langseaxs have been found in the Netherlands

Images of Langseaxes (C8th to C11th)

  • 800-850AD Stuttgart, Württemburgische Landesbibliothek. Bibl. Fol.23, fol.5v



Introduction to the British finds

The following langseax information is primarily based on the work of Vera Evison [EVISON 1964] and her comparison of the Keen Edge Ferry langseax to others found in Britain. For the purposes of clarification langeaxes are defined here as having single edged blades with a cutting edge of over 12" and with no hilt fittings.

With Inlay

England, London: River Thames, Battersea

Current Location- British Museum 1857,6-23,1


England, Lancaster: Greencroft, Harbuck

Current Location- British Museum 1912,0723.2
Find Type- Grave find – 9th to early C10th. From a hoard which included a sword of Petersen type L. Hence the date line
Find Date- 1912?
Total Length- Complete. 71.3cm
Blade- Approx. 24". Heavily corroded with only the back of the blade surviving. One one side 2 channels and a third groove inlaid with a chevroned strip of copper and copper alloy (bronze) wire parallel to edge. Wilson argues that the two empty channels probably once contained similar inlay. The more corroded reverse side way probably the same.
Hilt- traces of wood survive on the possibly intact tang.
Scabbard- None
Bibliography-


England, London: Keen Edge Ferry

Current Location- Reading Museum
Find Type- River find
Find Date- 1961 August. Dredged from the River Thames
Total Length- 45.3cm x 3.9cm. The hilt end of the blade is missing. Evison suggests that the blade was probably another 6cm longer.
Blade- Fragment. It possibly would have been about 20". The spine is 7mm thick.
Hilt- Missing
Scabbard- None
Bibliography-


Without Inlay

England, Cambridgeshire: River Cam, Dimmock's Cote

Current Location-


England, London: River Thames, Battersea

Current Location-
Find Type- River find
Find Date-
Total Length-
Blade- Approx. 22". Two narrow grooves along the back, a wider groove along the middle of the blade and a strip of pattern welding between them.
Hilt- None
Scabbard- None
Bibliography-


England, Suffolk at Little Bealings

Current Location-
Find Type- River find
Find Date-
Total Length-
Blade- Approx. 26"
Hilt- None
Scabbard- None
Bibliography-


England, London at Walthamstow

Current Location-
Find Type- River find
Find Date-
Total Length-
Blade- Approx. 14"
Hilt- None
Scabbard- None
Bibliography-


England?, Unknown

Current Location-
Find Type- River find
Find Date-
Total Length- fragment
Blade- fragment
Hilt- None
Scabbard- None
Bibliography-


Other Possible Langseaxs

We have found the following langseaxs refereed to online with people quoting 'The Metallography of Early Ferrous Edge Tools & Edged Weapons' by R.F. Tylecote & B.J.J.Gilmour. Unfortunately we do not have access to this book and so are unable to determine if they were originally decorated with inlay.

England, Gloustershire at Kempsford

Current Location-
Find Type- ? 9-10th Century
Find Date- ?
Total Length- Complete. 78cm x 4.2cm. The spine is 8mm thick.
Hilt- ?
Scabbard- ?
Bibliography-


England, Berkshire at Reading

Current Location-
Find Type- ?
Find Date- ?
Total Length- fragment
Blade- fragment 2.8cm wide
Hilt- Missing
Scabbard- None
Bibliography-


England, London at Leyton

Current Location-
Find Type- ? 9th Century
Find Date-
Total Length- fragment
Blade- fragment 3.7cm wide. The spine is 8mm thick.
Hilt- Missing
Scabbard- None
Bibliography-


Some more possible langseaxs:

England, London, River Thames at Mortlake

Current Location- Museum of London
Find Type- 8th Century
Find Date-
Total Length-
Blade-
Hilt-
Scabbard-
Discussion- Possibly a sword blade?
Bibliography-


England, London, River Thames near London

Current Location- Museum of London
Type- 8th-9th Century
Find Date-
Total Length-
Blade- Wheeler type III
Hilt-
Scabbard-
Bibliography-


References

Backhouse, Janet; Turner, D.H. and Webster, Leslie (1984) The Golden Age of Anglo Saxon Art. [BACKHOUSE 1984] *
Evison, Vera E. (1967) 'A Decorated Seax from the Thames at Keen Edge Ferry'. In Berkshire Archaeological Journal 61. (Available Online) (Plates) [EVISON 1964] ^ *
Thompson, Logan (2004) Ancient Weapons in Britain. [THOMPSON 2004] ^ *
Tylecote, R.F. and B.J.J. Gilmour 'The Metallography of Early Ferrous Edge Tools & Edged Weapons'. 1986. [TYLECOTE & GILMOUR 1986] *
Wheeler, R.E.M. (1935) London and the Saxons. London Museum Catalogues: No 6 [WHEELER 1935] ^ *
Wilson, David M. (1964) Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100. The British Museum. [WILSON 1964] *