Different types of the Francisca
A throwing axe is an axe that is used primarily as a missile weapon. Usually, they are thrown in an overhand motion (much like throwing a baseball) in a manner that causes the axe to rotate as it travels through the air. Throwing axes have been used since prehistoric times and were developed into the Francisca by the Franks in the third century AD. A skilled axe thrower will rotate the axe exactly once throughout the flight so that the sharpened edge of the head will penetrate the target.
List of throwing axes[]
Native American Afraid of Hawk, holding a tomahawk
Unlike knives, most small axes can be thrown reasonably well, even if they weren't designed to be thrown. Furthermore, if an axe is thrown, it may rotate faster than a knife thrown in the same way, owing to the greater part of weight in the head of the weapon.
See also[]
- Axe
- Battle-axe
- Axe throwing
- Knife throwing
External links[]
- An informative page about axe throwing, by Norbert C. Maier
- Step-by-step instruction on How to Throw an Axe or Tomahawk
- Regia Anglorum page on germanic battle axes
The original article can be found at Throwing axe and the edit history here.