{{Stars2|Category=Weapons}}{{Knives}}''A large knife with a blade length of 17cm 18cm (6½7") or longer possibly used in combat.'' <br>For longer Seaxes over 30cm (12") see [[Langseax]] and for Scandinavian combat knives see [[Norse Style Knives]].<br><br>Harke defined knives and short seaxes by size with knives being under 175mm and short seaxes being over 180mm. [CAMERON 2000:p.49]. Like Esther Cameron we have also used this as our definition. Blades of over 12" in length are more usually defined as [[Langseax]]es.<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 & 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. <br><br>==Images of Seaxes (C8th to C11th)== * 775-800AD St. Andrew Sarcophagus* C8th England, Derbyshire, Repton. Stone carving, [CAMERON 2000:p.200] [HINTON 2005: p.105]* 850-900AD Brussels, Bibliotheque Royale, Lat. 9987. Psychomachia* C9th Paris, BNF, Lat. 8085 fol.57r. Virtue, armed with a sword and seax, combating a Vice. [BNF]* C10th Brussels, Bibliotheque Royale, ms. 10066-77 Psychomachia f.112r-139r* 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.[PARKER LIBRARY]* 1025-1050AD Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS lat 8824 - seax.jpg [OHLGREN 1992]* 1076AD Bayeux Tapestry [WILSON 1985:pl.6, 7] <gallery>Scotland, St Andrew Sarcophagus.jpg|St. Andrew SarcophagusRepton_Stone.jpg|Repton StoneParis,_Bibliothèque_Nationale_de_France,_Lat._8085_seax.jpg| Paris, BNF, Lat. 8085England, Middleton Warrior, Stone Carving.jpg|Middleton WarriorBrussels,_Bibliotheque_Royale,_ms._10066-77_seax.jpg|Brussels Bib. ms. 10066-77Cranborne_Silver_strap-end.jpg|Cranbourne Strap End Paris,_Bibliothèque_Nationale,_MS_lat_8824_-_seax.jpg|Paris, BNF, Lat. 8824Bayeux_Tapestry_seax.JPG|Bayeux Tapestry</gallery><br> ==Literature (C9th to C11th)==* Beowulf c.1000AD** "Grendel's mother; the hard man of conflict then heaved, now that he was enraged, the deadly foe, so that she fell to the floor; she again him quickly gave hand-reward with wrathful grips and clutched him against herself; hen, weary in spirit, he stumbled, the strongest man, warrior on foot, so that he was in a fall; then she bestrode the guest in her hall, and drew her seax, broad and bright-edged; she wished to avenge her son, only offspring;" lines 1538-1547 [http://www.heorot.dk/beowulf-rede-text.html heorot.dk]<br>** "Then again the king himself gathered his wits, drew a slaughter-seax bitter and battle-sharp, that he wore on his byrnie;" lines 2702-2704 [http://www.heorot.dk/beowulf-rede-text.html heorot.dk]<br>** "beside him lies his life-contender sick with seax-wounds" line 2903-2904 [http://www.heorot.dk/beowulf-rede-text.html heorot.dk]<br>
Seaxes with blade lengths over 6½” long were popular during the C6th Anglo-Saxon pagan period. 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 really as a weapon it belongs to the pre-Viking period. [WHEELER 1927: p.30]
<br>
==English Seax Blades (C9th to C11th)==
[[File:Seax Blades.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Seax Blades]]
Out of 128 knives found from Coppergate York, only 1 can be classed as a seax. [CAMERON 2000: p.64-65]<br>
== Seaxes from the C9th ===== Knives England, Cambridge, River Cam at Dimmock's Cote==={{EvidenceCat|Art = * Paris, BNF, Lat: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. 8085 fol69].57r:Bibliography- :*{{ListRef|Bjorn & Shetelig 1940|p. Virtue, armed with a sword 69}}|Seen=|Museum= University of Archaeology and seaxEthnology, combating a Vice.Cambridge|LiteratureAccession=|Archaeologyi1none=X|Discussioni2h=70px|i2=seax_Dimmock_Cote.jpg
}}
=== Sheaths England, Cumwhitton, Plough Soil==={{EvidenceCat|Art = * England, Dorset, Cranborne. Silver strap:Type-end ? :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' [HINTON 2005PATERSON 2014: pcat.113634].:Bibliography- :* England, Derbyshire, Repton{{ListRef|Paterson 2014|p. C8th, Stone carving50, 51 & Cat.634}}|LiteratureSeen=|Archaeology Museum=Tullie House Museum[CAMERON 2000: p.63-64]|Accession=* Dover, Buckland, grave 145, leather sheath dated to 700-750AD|i1none=X* London, River Thames nr. Westminster Bridge, metal fittings, late C8th* York, leather sheath, C9th|i2h=70px|Discussioni2=seax_Cumwhitton_634.jpg
}}
== Seaxes from the C10th and C11th =England, Cumwhitton, Grave 5==={{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- :*{{ListRef|Paterson 2014|p.110 & Cat.885}}|Seen=yes|Museum=Tullie House Museum|Accession= Knives |i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=TH Cumwhitton Seax Grave 5.JPG|i3=Seax Cumwhitton 885.jpg}} ===England, Brackley, Northamptonshire==={{EvidenceCat|:Type- ? :Find Date- ? :Size- ? :Comments- :Bibliography- |ArtSeen= yes|LiteratureMuseum= Ashmolean Museum|Archaeology Accession= AN1941.82* |i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=Ashmolean Seax - Brackley, Northamptonshire (AN1941.82).jpg}} ===England,YorkNorwich?==={{Cat|:Type- ? :Find Date- ? :Size- ? :Comments- Seen in Norwich Castle Museum. Out No other information known.:Bibliography- |Seen= yes|Museum= Norwich Castle Museum|Accession=|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=Norwich-Seax.jpg}} ===England, Kent, Sittingbourne==={{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 Museum Website]]|Seen= |Museum= British Museum|Accession= 1881,0623.1|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=BM-Web Sittingbourne Seax (1881,0623.1).JPG}} ===England, London==={{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 128 knives found from Coppergate only London|Accession= ALG84[588]381|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_ALG84_588_381.jpg}} ===England, London, Honey Lane==={{Cat|:Type- Wheeler IV 978-1016AD:Find Date- 1856 :Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 327mm :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}} ===England, London, Park Street==={{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 can be classed as a seax]]|Seen= |Museum= British Museum |Accession= 1933,0510. 1|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=Seax London 1879 Park Street (Wilson 1965).jpg}} ===England, London, Princes Street==={{Cat|:Type- 900-1000AD:Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ? :Comments- :Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000WHEELER 1935: p.64]|Seen= |Museum= London Museum |Accession= 29.94,17 (Wheeler no.21)|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_Princes_Street.jpg}} ===England, London,Thames==={{Cat|:Type-65800-1000AD: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}} ===England, London, Thames==={{Cat|:Type- 900-1100AD:Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: 247mm; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: 334mm :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}} ===England, London, Thames at Blackfriars==={{Cat|:Type- 800-1000AD:Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ? :Comments- :Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]|Seen= |Museum= Museum of London |Accession= A9313 (Wheeler no.8)|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_A9313.jpg}} ===England, London, Thames at Brentford==={{Cat|:Type- 700-900AD:Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ? :Comments- :Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]|Seen= |Museum= Museum of London |Accession= A10721 (Wheeler no.11)|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_A10721.jpg}} ===England, London, Thames at Brentford==={{Cat|:Type- 900-1100AD:Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ? :Comments- :Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]|Seen= |Museum= Museum of London |Accession= A13935 (Wheeler no.22)|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_A13935.jpg}} ===England, London, Thames at Brentford==={{Cat|:Type- 500-700AD:Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: 181mm; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ? :Comments- :Bibliography- [MUSEUM OF LONDON IMAGES]|Seen= |Museum= Museum of London |Accession= O2136|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_O2136.jpg}} ===England, London, Thames at Fulham==={{Cat|:Type- Wheeler IV 900-1000AD:Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ? :Comments- :Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935:p.]|Seen= |Museum= Museum of London |Accession= A24399 (Wheeler no.18)|i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=seax_London_A24399.jpg}} ===England, London, Thames at Fulham==={{Cat|:Type- Wheeler III/II 900-1100AD:Find Date- :Size- Blade Length: ?; Blade Width: ?; Blade Thickness: ?; Total Length: ? :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|Discussionthumb|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> ===Germany, Aachen==={{Cat|:Type- ? :Find Date- before 1860:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 470mm ; Total Width: ?: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
}}
=== Sheaths Norway, Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag==={{EvidenceCat|Art|Literature:Type- ? |Archaeology = :Find Date- ?* England, 12 finds (out of a total of 61 knife sheaths) [CAMERON 2000: p.64Size-65]Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?* York [MOULD, CARLISLE and CAMERON 2003: p3379Comments-3385]Contains a name in Old English* Ireland, Dublin. Style E1 [CAMERON 2007: p.15Bibliography-20]* [CAMERON 2000OKASHA 1992: p.64-65cat.12 pl.V]|Discussion Seen= Substantial leather up to 3mm thick|Museum= |Accession= |i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=sheath_Trondheim_T5919. Closed by rivets about 4 to 5cm apart. [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65jpg
}}
== Seax hanging position ===== At the front Norway, Trondheim, Sor- Horizontal Trondelag==={{EvidenceCat|Art* Middleton warrior:Type- ? :Find Date- ?:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?:Comments- Contains a name in Old English:Bibliography- [OKASHA 1992:p.64 pl.V cat.13]|LiteratureSeen= |ArchaeologyMuseum= |DiscussionAccession= |i1none=X|i2h=70px|i2=sheath_Trondheim_T5919.jpg
}}
=== At the side – Angled Ireland, Dublin, Christchurch Place==={{EvidenceCat|:Type- ? :Find Date- ?:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 367mm ; Total Width: ?:Comments- :Bibliography- [CAMERON 2007:p. cat.DLS 4] |ArtSeen= |LiteratureMuseum= |Archaeology Accession=* Norse blades|i1none=X|Discussioni2h=70px|i2=sheath_Dublin_DLS4.jpg
}}
=== At the back Ireland, Dublin, Christchurch Place==={{EvidenceCat|: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]|Art Seen=*Bayeux Tapestry|Museum= |LiteratureAccession= E122:12660|Archaeologyi1none=X|Discussioni2h=70px|i2=sheath_Dublin_DLS4.jpg
}}
{|
|- valign="top" id="C.DLS11"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_Dublin_DLS11.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Dublin DLS11]]
|width="600pt"| '''Ireland, Dublin, Fishamble Street'''
:Current Location- ? (Cameron 2007 cat.DLS 11)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: 405mm ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2007:p.]
|- valign="top" id="C.349"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_Gloucester_sf.65.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=Gloucester 349]]
|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: 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="C.206"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_York_Coppergate.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=York Coppergate]]
|width="600pt"| '''England, York, Coppergate'''
:Current Location- ? (Cameron 2000 cat.206)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.]
|- valign="top" id="C.207"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_York_sf.753.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=York sf.753]]
|width="600pt"| '''England, York, Parliament Street'''
:Current Location- ? sf.753 (Cameron 2000 cat.207)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.113]
|- valign="top" id="C.347"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_York_sf.4332.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=York sf.4332]]
|width="600pt"| '''England, York'''
:Current Location- ? sf.4332 (Cameron 2000 cat.347)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.135]
|- valign="top" id="C.144"
|width="100pt"| [[File:sheath_London_Trump_Street.jpg|thumb|130x150px|left|alt=London Trump Street]]
|width="600pt"| '''England, London, Trump Street'''
:Current Location- Museum of London, MOL ? (Cameron 2000 cat.144)
:Type- ?
:Find Date- ?
:Size- Blade Length: ?; Total Length: ? ; Total Width: ?
:Comments-
:Bibliography- [CAMERON 2000:p.]
|- valign="top" id="C.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>
== See Also =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 [[Weapons]]<br>[[Langseax]]<br>
<br>
==See Also==
[[Langseax]]<br>
[[Norse Style Knives]]<br>
<br>
== References ==
*[*BERSU and WILSON {{Ref|Book=Bailey 1980}}{{Ref|Book=Bersu & Wilson 1966]}}*[*CAMERON {{Ref|Book=Bjorn & Shetelig 1940}}{{Ref|Book=British Museum Website}}{{Ref|Book=Cameron 2000]}}*[*HINTON {{Ref|Book=Cameron 2007}}{{Ref|Book=Hinton 2005]}}{{Ref|Book=Museum of London Website}}{{Ref|Book=Ohlgren 1992}}{{Ref|Book=Okasha 1992}}{{Ref|Book=Parker Library}}{{Ref|Book=Paterson 2014}}{{Ref|Book=Vince 1991}}{{Ref|Book=Wilson 1964}}{{Ref|Book=Wilson 1965}}*[*MOULD, CARLISLE and CAMERON 2003]{{Ref|Book=Wilson 1985}}*[*WHEELER {{Ref|Book=Wheeler 1927]}}<HarvardReferences />{{Ref|Book=Wheeler 1935}}
[[Category:Weapons]]<HarvardReferences />