Seax
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A knife with a blade length of 20cm (8") or longer possibly used in combat.
Seaxes over 8” 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
Seaxes from the C9th
Discussion
Probably similar in form to the C10th style?
Knives
Sheaths
Archaeology
[CAMERON 2000]:p.63-64
- Dover, Buckland, grave 145, leather sheath dated to 700-750AD
- London, River Thames nr. Westminster Bridge, metal fittings, late C8th
- Derbyshire, Repton, Stone carving, C8th
- York, leather sheath, C9th
- Silver strap-end from Cranborne, Dorset [HINTON 2005]:p.113
Seaxes from the C10th and C11th
Knives with blade length from 17 to 20cm. Dated to 920-1100AD [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65
Discussion
One find from cheapside could have had a blade of 25cm. Out of 128 knives found from Coppergate only 1 can be classed as a seax. [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65
Knives
- Out of 128 knives found from Coppergate only 1 can be classed as a seax. [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65
Sheaths
- England, 12 finds (out of a total of 61 knife sheaths) [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65
- York [MOULD, CARLISLE and CAMERON 2003]:p3379-3385
- Dublin Style E1 [CAMERON 2007: p.15-20]
- [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65
Discussion
Substantial leather up to 3mm thick. Closed by rivets about 4 to 5cm apart. [CAMERON 2000]:p.64-65
Seax hanging position
At the front - Horizontal
Art
- Middleton warrior?
At the side – Angled
Archaeology
- Norse blades
At the back
Art
- Bayeux Tapestry
