Interaction of Sharp Edges with Pole Weapons

Dear fellow enthusiasts of combat archaeology,

The headline of this email might sound like clickbait on some redundant video platform. I apologise. However, I do think this is indeed an interesting topic, as does archaeologist Gustav Solberg, whose research focuses on Viking Age combat and warfare. This is a preference we both have in common. Today, I will share with you, amongst other things, a video that my good friend and fellow martial artist Emil Hyllestad O’Gara kindly pointed out to me: Gustav’s most recent test of an axe versus a wooden shaft.

Merits and flaws of test cutting for research

Gustav was the organiser of the Viking Combat Research Forum at the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen earlier this year (watch my event report here). I had previously met him when he conducted some test cutting at Trelleborg Viking Fortress, striking with replica axes at pieces of a pig suspended from a rope. What I found particularly impressive was that, despite the seemingly negligible nature of the actions, the effect on flesh and bone was frightening. Blades do work!

As a researcher, Gustav is well aware of the pitfalls here. With weapon tests like these, there are many variables regarding the setup, material, and performance, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to exactly repeat even a single test. This is highly problematic in academic discourse (this paper discusses these issues). However, not running such experiments would exclude a method of gaining valuable insight that cannot be gathered elsewhere.

In 2020, an interdisciplinary study of wear marks on bronze swords brought together the skills and expertise of many researchers, craftspeople and fighters, attempting to shed light on Bronze Age combat. Historical martial arts instructor Bob Brooks talks about his involvement in the project and the respective experiments in an episode of the Sword Guy podcast. The paper had a significant impact on the academic community. I wholeheartedly applaud this venture, which paved the way for future experimentation in the field.

So, I am happy that archaeologists like Gustav, Rolf Warming, Ingo Petri and others conduct their own combat-related tests, even more so as the method and results will be meticulously documented and hopefully considered in academic work, which I am looking forward to seeing more of.

Chop the head off!

Now for the axe versus spear shaft: Cutting a wooden pole to pieces with a bladed weapon is a classic in many action sequences. But how realistic a feat is it? Anybody who has ever chopped firewood knows that wood splits along the grain, not against it. So, I always had my doubts that it would be an easy task to cut a spear shaft in two. But now we have a video, so see for yourself.

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Blunts slide, sharps bite!

Last summer, at the huge Viking encampment in Sletten, Denmark, Mikkel Mønsted and I shared some of our insights into sharp weapon interaction with an interested crowd of fellow re-enactors. Watch our demonstration of how a sharp sword fares against a two-handed spear.

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So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your blade well-honed.

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Yours,

Roland

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