Langseax

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.

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

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

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 at River Thames near Battersea Current Location- British Museum 1857,6-23,1 Type- River find – 9th - 10th Century Find Date- 1857? Total Length- Complete. 81cm Blade- Approx. 22" Hilt- None Scabbard- None Bibliography- [BACKHOUSE 1984:p.101-102 no.94] [EVISON 1964:p.30-33] [WILSON 1964:p.144 no.36] [British Museum]
	England, Lancaster at Greencroft, Harbuck Current Location- British Museum 1912,0723.2 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- [WILSON 1964:p.135-136 no.22] [EVISON 1964: p.33] [British Museum]
	England, London at Keen Edge Ferry Current Location- Reading Museum 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- [EVISON 1964]

Without Inlay

	England, London, River Thames near Battersea Current Location- 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- [WHEELER 1935:p.180 pl.XIII] [EVISON 1964]
	England, Suffolk at Little Bealings Current Location- Type- River find – Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Approx. 26" Hilt- None Scabbard- None Bibliography- [EVISON 1964]
	England, London at Walthamstow Current Location- Type- River find – Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Approx. 14" Hilt- None Scabbard- None Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.180 pl.XIV]
	England?, Unknown Current Location- Type- River find – Find Date- Total Length- fragment Blade- fragment Hilt- None Scabbard- None Bibliography- [EVISON 1964]

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- ? Type- ? 9-10th Century Find Date- ? Total Length- Complete. 78cm x 4.2cm. The spine is 8mm thick. Hilt- ? Scabbard- ? Bibliography- [TYLECOTE and GILMOUR 1986]
	England, Berkshire at Reading Current Location- Type- ? Find Date- ? Total Length- fragment Blade- fragment 2.8cm wide Hilt- Missing Scabbard- None Bibliography- [TYLECOTE and GILMOUR 1986]
	England, London at Leyton Current Location- Type- ? 9th Century Find Date- Total Length- fragment Blade- fragment 3.7cm wide. The spine is 8mm thick. Hilt- Missing Scabbard- None Bibliography- [TYLECOTE and GILMOUR 1986]

Some more possible langseaxs

	England, London, River Thames at Mortlake Current Location- London Museum Type- 8th Century Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Discussion- Possibly a sword blade? Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.180 pl.XIII]
	England, London, River Thames near London Current Location- London Museum Type- 8th-9th Century Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Wheeler type III Hilt- Scabbard- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.180 pl.XIII]

References

<nocite> BACKHOUSE1984 EVISON1964 THOMPSON2004 TYLECOTE1986 WHEELER1935 WILSON1964 </nocite> <biblio force=false>#Template:Bib</biblio>