Battle axe
![Horseman's axe, circa 1475. The blade's punched decoration suggests German make. This is an example of a battle axe that was tailored for the use of a mounted knight. The wooden haft is modern.](/Images/godic/202502/12/Horseman's_axe_-_14753608.jpg")
![An ornamented, 7th-century Merovingian battle axe head on display in the British Museum.[1][2]](/Images/godic/202502/12/Decorated_battleaxe3608.JPG")
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A battle axe (also battle-axe or battle-ax) is an axe specifically designed for combat. Battle axes were specialized versions of utility axes. Many were suitable for use in one hand, while others were larger and were deployed two-handed.
Axes designed for warfare ranged in weight from just over 0.5 kg to 3 kg ( 1 to 6 pounds), and in length from just over 30 cm to upwards of 1.5 m (1 to 5 feet), as in the case of the Danish axe or the sparth axe. Cleaving weapons longer than 1.5 m would arguably fall into the category of polearms.