The Francisca, so named for its Frankish origins, was used by the Vikings both as a throwing weapon and for close-quarters combat. Its graceful lines are legendary but the upswept point and downturned edge were both capable of penetrating chain mail. Our Francisca features a forged head with a fire-gray or antiqued finish and a swelled-end hardwood shaft for secure head retention. The shaft is also backswept, as were the originals, providing greater sticking capability when thrown.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
This axe is a tomahawk-sized piece that is historically correct. The photo does not show the backswept curve of the handle which greatly improves the balance and beauty of this axe. Comes with a very sharp edge as well as a leather guard which covers the edge for safety when the axe is not in use. The gentle curve of the handle and the exceedingly graceful shape of the axe-head combine to make this axe beautiful and aestheticly pleasing to the eye. It has excellent balance and is perfectly suited for throwing. Not the least bit heavy and "clunky" as are many battle ready replicas. I enjoy historical replica weapons for their aesthetic beauty, and many do not meet these criteria, but this axe is truly a work of art, and a fully functional one at that! Do a google search for this Hanwei product, because the price varies widely. I can happily report that the lowest price I found was with the company with the fastest and most complete response to my email questions! If you appreciate simple, beautiful, and functional historical weapons/tools, this is a real GEM!
