Jump start your 2023 goals now with this exclusive offer- try Skillshare free for 7 days and then get 20% off your first year! skl.sh/scholagladiatoria720

The Kalinga axe was tested by Skallagrim ("The Most Brutal Melee Weapon I've Tested so far (Igorot Headhunting Axe)" and "The Most Vicious Axe vs. Zombie Head... Yikes!")

Don't forget the massive Sapper's (Sappeurs) axes of the 19th Century, huge tools wielded by large men, a tool, yes but often used as a weapon.

I love these ethnographic surveys of little-known weapons. Keep 'em coming!

American Naval Boarding axes sometimes had a very funky jagged shape to the beard that is worth looking into. Boarding Axes in general are interesting as they're such multi-tools. Bardiches are also well known but under appreciated. Might be interesting to discuss whether Lochaber Axes, from the other side of your island, are a subtype of Bardiche or their own thing. It'd be super interesting if you can find accounts of Bardiches/Lochaber Axes being used in combat, because it's hard to imagine them in the early modern combat ages that they lasted into.

The Igorot battle axe is known as the 'pinang'. If a warrior only manages to graze his opponent as he makes a downward or lateral swipe with his pinang, he can very quickly maneuver it in reverse in which the rear projection would come into play. Imagine it hitting the neck or the jaw as reaction time from the opponent will have to be very, very quick indeed in order to counter that. Once it punctures the neck or the ribcage, the main blade only would serve as the coup de grace. It's a weapon designed for ending close combat at the shortest time possible. For the actual taking of heads, the Cordillerans use a different blade, the pinahig.

You may find Eurasian shepherd's axe (known as "ciupaga" in Poland) an interesting example for a future video.

I'd love to see more detail on the Danish/Norwegian Peasant Axe. Nice job with the cultural diversity of axes. I admire the technology of weaponry, and find it fascinating to see how different cultures use their particular resources and techniques to solve common weapon problems.

Had seen some of these before, but only knew something about the Norwegian peasant axe. They are classed in three different types depending on the shape of the axe head. The ones in your video were type A and B (I think). Also interesting is that a type of staff called "bergmannsstav" (mountain man staff) developed from this design.

Geometrically, the Nordic peasant's axe looks like the upper point of the bit is in alignment with the handle. I think that would make it more optimized for sharp force impact thrusts, more for stopping power than for depth of penetration. The angle does look awkward for chopping into someone, but I would love to see both of those hypotheses tested.

Perhaps the bend in the farmer's axe haft was to center more of the axe head weight over the wooden haft. While this would decrease striking power it might have made easier to use for farmers with little combat training.

I was at least vaguely familiar with every one except that Sarawak axe, which I think was completely new to me. A couple thoughts: 1) The Illerup Adal weapons deposit in Denmark turned up a number of axes with bent handles very similar to those Norwegian examples, except in the opposite direction, so that the blade hooks back towards the user. Also among the finds are several examples of chisel-like axe blades (no handles) with the socket inline with the handle, an iron-age survival of the old Bronze Age design, that were evidently mounted on a crooked haft much like those Sarawak axes. Because of the way that trees grow, I suspect that both kinds of axes ended up with the heads angled back towards the user, obviously intentionally in some cases, which leads me to think that that the way they were used took advantage of that backwards hook in someway. Incidentally, these Baltic area axes from the 3rd century (I think - the majority, but not all, the artifacts date to around AD 250) don't look much like later viking axes - quite different design. 2) I was just looking up the Igorots and reading what I could of an early 20th century ethnographic account of them yesterday! Judging from the pictures, there are actually a number of variants of that axe design, and shorter handles and/or much less concavity in the cutting edge are also possible - some have more or less straight edges titling back ~20 degrees or so towards the user. 3)Regarding South African axes, I have to mention Umslopogaas' axe Inkosi-kaas ("Chieftainess" - she must be a woman because she pries into so many things, and a wise one for have been inside the heads of so many men), from the works of H. Rider Haggard. Haggard's Alan Quatermain novels are kind of a forerunner to modern fantasy literature in many ways, set in Africa contemporary to Haggard's own time, but featuring a lot of fantasy or downright supernatural elements, so Inkosikaas can be considered one of the first named weapons in fantasy literature of the (relatively) modern period...She is described as having a repurposed European head rather than a Zulu-made one, but the handle is made from horn and features that wire binding. Umslopogaas shows up in the books Alan Quatermain, Nada the Lily, and She for those interested.

Thank you for making this video. I love axes they're my favorite weapon but I've never seen any of these and I always love learning about new things I've never seen before I'd love to see you talk about an epsilon axe and why they went obsolete but I understand that period and region is way outside your primary specialty Thank you for all your wonderful content

Fantastic video showing some really interesting axes! Thanks!👍

Hi Matt,I went to Fiji last year and I was quite surprised at the variety of axes and other fighting implements that were found there. I have never seen anyone go through, defies the implements of the Oceana region and it could be a topic for you to do.

This is a lovely, useful video. Straight to the point, excellent image reference, clear explanation of region and fighting style. This is exactly what I was looking for today. Thank you.

Actually, the last one was the only one I think I had seen before though I did not know the details of it. Very interesting video. Would love to see more of these rare weapon types and more of these particular axes explored. Always find your take and research on them fascinating. Thank you.

Hey Matt! Japanese axes don't seem to get enough love. Everything else gets overshadowed by their swords. Even if fighting axes were more rare, you could still show us some of their tool axes. That would be super Neat'O. Also, I know video games are rarely good sources for historical accuracy, but in the earlier Mount & Blade games we see predominantly longswords, arming swords and the like. But then there's also these larger two handed sabres, usually from the more Swedish sounding areas. We usually think of sabers coming about later on in the age of musketry, so I would assume that those large Swedish sabres are earlier appearances of those types of sword. Of course curved blades of various sorts are found all throughout time and place, so perhaps it wasn't really a new concept or anything. Though the ones I'm referring to are shown to often have a knuckle bow, or a slightly swept cross guard, which was certainly ahead of it's time. At least when comparing to the other swords in common usage at the time, having mostly straight cross guards. But it would still be cool to have a look at those large "proto-sabres", if you will.

With a little internet search, i found more information on the Norwegian Peasant/Farmer axes. The bent axe-head is for making slicing draw cuts and it helps with edge alignment both during the swing (centre of mass is shifted to haft) and during the cut (edge closer to haft). Used two-handed these also doubled as walking sticks and a status symbol when on ceremonies/holidays. There was a law by the king for farmers to have a weapon for military use. Many had the option to buy a decent axe from the government for a cheap price, but many had these crafted. Make no mistake, while this was predominantly militia weapon, it is a weapon of war first and a status symbol second.

Always loved your videos about lesser known blade cultures. Very interesting

great video. i'd like you to maybe look at the 'shepherd's axe' used in the territories around the carpathian mountains in the future. cheers!

That's very informative video. I am more interested into swords to be honest but axes are also really cool looking and also fascinating weapons. If possible could you talk a bit more about the bronze axes used in the bronze age around the world?

Hoping to see a fokos, but not at disappointed in your choices. Very interesting.

I'm probably not the only one to point this out, but Skallagrim has actually done testing with a replica of that Igorot axe. It was every bit as scary taking apart ballistic gel targets as it looks like it would be, and the skull analog he used didn't stand a chance at all against that thing.

YES! Finally the norwegian farmers axe (Bondeøks) on Scholagladiatoria!!!!!!

About Nordic curved axes, I will give you an 99% accurate explanation of why they were tilted upwards like this - it's to emulate the crucial advantage of a slashing type sword, the ability to hit, damage or destroy an opponent AND KEEP YOUR WEAPON UNENTANGLED AND READY TO RE-DEPLOY. If your axe head is getting stuck into shields, armors, or rib cages, you are effectively disarmed, often when most vulnerable. It's a crucial disadvantage that will get you killed. But if you hit, hurt and are ready to strike again, that's huge. that's why they were curved. To be closer to swords in usage.

dang, i was decently known with most of these weapons, but the Saruwak (i hope i spelled that right) at the end was completely new to me. Very interesting find! I'd love to look up more of that axe from India, but i don't know how to spell its name :P I really love me some good axes in media, and even more so with proper and interesting techniques and choreography. We need more of that. I personally like to create stories, and one of my most prominent characters wields a long axe, where I try my best to envision neat but not over-the-top brutish fighting techniques, such as quarterstaff ones, pommel smashes and hooking. For any future axes, i'd love to hear more/see more spotlight on the Tabar, Ono and/or Masakari, Ge (dagger axe), Labrys, Lochaber Axe, Egyptian axe mace, shepherd's axe, Sagaris and Nzappa Zap. There's also some sort of Chinese ritual axes with big and heavy heads depicting faces on them, but I don't know the names of them. Luristan Bronze axe heads would be interesting as well, if possible.

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford shows some stone/flint axe heads beside bronze axe heads with exactly the same shape. We found an efficient shape and duplicated it when we changed manufacturing methods. But this and the Pitt Rivers Museum have great examples of some of these unusual axes.

As for the norwegian farmer axe, having fought in viking age reenactments with a dane axe hacking from the second line over the shieldwall, my theory was always that the shape would really lend itself to far reaching descending cuts done from a distance. With this shape you could do a cut that is thrown forward, something inbetween a cut and a thrust, and get someone in the face essentially circumventing the defense helmets of this period (usually with some kind of extended brow rim) provided. I don't really have much proof to back this though (maybe wounds on battlefield remains of that place and period could shed more light on it).

I saw a type of mounted axe in a cavalry book years ago and cannot find anything about it nowadays, used by the Croats S/E Europe spear shaped head part metal shaft spike or war hammer in the other side. Very informative and interesting looks at weapons that we may never see otherwise. Keep it up

Bullova are meant for use against unarmoured or lightly armoured opponents and share a lot of parallels in use and training with lathi use (obviously edge alignment would be important with the bullova), furthermore the way they were used to slice explains why they many times had a spike as you flowed into the thrust from slices and vice versa. Easier to demonstrate than explain in writing tbh. The way they were swung defensively to keep multiple attackers at bay is also very lathi like. Defense also was done two ways, against swords usually between the spike and the head, against other polearms you would try and trap the opponents haft with you haft, lock it with your head and twist...the long edge prevented the opponent from grabbing you haft/shaft easily. Shorter examples were sometimes used with shields but most of what I've learnt was two handed use with the longer shafts. It was originally a tribal weapon.

maybe look at something like the Hungarian Fokos or Polish Ciupaga, Czech Valaška, forgot Romanian axe name sorry.

I Am a Simple Man, i see axes, i click Like! 👍

Hello im new to this channel and i love your content. I wanna ask you, In terms of fighting style and weapon choice, What is your favorite historical fighter figure and why? Also, can we expect matt to speak about major historical battles and the weapons used in it.

Happy New Year man!

On the curious curve of the Norwegian farmer's ax, I note that it lines the upper point of the ax head directly with the end of.the shaft. At a guess, I would say it was designed to allow thrusts as well as chops while still keeping the shape of the traditional head.

The Japanese ono/masakari is vastly overshadowed by swords and pole-arms when discussing Japanese historical weapons. Edit: I edited my comment to add in the term masakari, unknowingly removing Matt's heart. Whoops.

Happy New Year Matt.

As a child I was fascinated by our local museum in Adelaide. The South Australian Museum Humanities Collection is excellent and encompasses ethnographic items from the Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The Papua New Guinea and Pacific cultures collections are particularly strong. I think I have seen examples of nearly all of these there ! (except the Scandinavian one) You missed the wooden (hardwood) axes of New Guinea. Also, the N.Z. Maori "Mere" is a weapon similar to a "Patu" but usually made of "Greenstone" ie jade, and flatter and longer, While this is often described as a "Club", I would say it is more of a club/sword/axe, as some Maori warriors were said to be able to take off an opponent's head with one blow !

I have the idea that the curved axe show at the beginning was made that way to be carried on the belt with the axe head on your side and the shaft pointing in an angle backwards(or forward), that way you can have a longer shaft and don't interfere with your walking/riding. Also it can be used as a more confortable walking stick

Irish Gallowglass axe is cool. Fokos/shepherds axe is a fun one. Long shaft acting as a walking stick with a fairly small faced axe with a longish head acting as a grip. Commonly carried by cavalry as well because of reach and weight

I think the norweigan bonde økse, also called church ax, you took it along when you travelled the long way to church in Norway. Had that shape to be effective against an enemy standing right square in front of you.

The Bondeøks - two thoughts: 1. it reminds me of a walking stick, especially since a lot of them seem to have a shoe with a small spike at the end. 2. some of the specimes are so absurdly angled that I wonder if their primary use was as a tool in timberworking (peeling off bark or cutting branches off a felled tree) or even peat cutting. Regarding your question which axes we are familiar with: I have seen all the shapes before and knew the names of the indian axes, but I have never seen or heard of the bondeøks before.

Although the Norwegian axes are known as farmers axes, the farmers were the biggest group of landowners in Norway and big farms was almost like nobility. The arms requirement varied according to the size of your farm, and poor, small farms could get away with just getting a pike.

my hypothesis on the bent head axe is not necessarily to make it slicey, but make it a glancing blow instead of imbedding the bit into a torso and getting stuck

good old Matt, always axing the right questions!

Due to RPGs, I think I've seen illustrations of all of them, but that's not the same as actual information like where they come from. The two surprises for me were the Norwegian farmer's axe ( I had no idea something that odd-looking had such a long run ) and the Igarot/Kalinga axe where I might have seen it in a picture, but had no idea who made it or how it was put together.

Excellent video. Very interesting.

the 1st axes reminded me of the kukrax you reviewed at the end of May 2020. the last axes remined me of the ADZE ship building tool.

I think the orientation of the head on the farmer’s axe is so that the farthest forward point of the axe is not even with shaft, so that the result of winging a bit short is a tip cut rather than a partial chop with the shaft hanging up on the target.

My favorite axe is the francisca. Not sure why, I just really like the idea of it. I'm also partial to the tabar. One video I'd be interested in Matt are the various weapon combinations available with a shield. Why would our infantry or even skilled warrior (landed gentry) choose a spear/sword/axe/mace combination with a shield and what benefits and drawbacks do each of those give?

Norwegian Bondeöks or peasant axe s tend to have langets in the front, along the curve of the handle. This, atleast speaks of where the expected to meet opposing attacks from swords and the like and might provide insight into their use. I have several pictures of this if your intrested. Also worth notibg is that they are almost exclusively so large that they would probably be held 2 handed

I'm glad you're shining light on some of these obscure weapons from underappreciated cultures, they deserve to be recognized as well!

As for the peasant axe, I may relate the shape of some Polynesian canoe paddles are shaped like them. The point is at the segment of the arc in use, the head is aligned with the object to be struck or moved at the point of contact . It’s actually a small segment of the arc that does all the work

Hi Matt, i'm a nifemaker from sult Brasil, thanks for sharing your knologe about blades, a good ad to this topic could bee the francisca axe, and how they are efective in throwing axe.

Wouldn't the Norwegian axe be useful as a stand/tripod for early type of firearm? Infantry from the eastern europe used axes as stands for firearms so maybe that was the purpose. Sidearm for melee/peacekeeping on the person and issued matchlock, musket whatever for pitch/siege battle if needed

Hey, Matt. Great video. I was wondering if you could maybe talk in a video about the term “claymore”. It is used all of the time in video games and fiction as a name for something like a longsword or sometimes a great sword. It seems like it is used as a catch all term. Is there a more specific type of sword that is actually a claymore?

Stone’s Glossary is an excellent reference for these weird weapons. Hunga-Munga! You left that one out.

Eastern European Shepard's Axe. Not battlefield weapons but a fantastic defensive tool for protecting oneself and property while still giving good general utility when out in the mountains. I teach its use and keep one handy. My daughter in law likes to have it around because of all of my arms, she trusts herself to weild that effectively should the need arise.

I would like to see a detailed show on the more obscure Japanese weapons such as the O’No (giant axe) metal bows, wooden hammers and clubs, giant shuriken (cruciform) aikuchi, Nagemaki thank you ps I particularly liked your episode on Tachi and O Tachi/Dachi. Incidentally, apart from the eras they were made in, I was taught in Japan, that the tachi was primarily a cavalry sword so the blade was carried downwards to affect a ground to Sky to draw to clear away infantry, whereas the katana was primarily an infantry sword, or at least for infantry use and guard duty and was primarily used for the Sky to ground draw for quick implementation as infantry or guards or use from Seiza/hanmi hantachi ( kneeling or kneeling and standing) as would occur in the palace as in Iai jutsu Can you clarify Regards

Great video, Matt. Knew some of these but many were new to me. Would love to see something on the bhuj - is it a knife is it an axe - from Gujarat.

5:20 if you ask me, it puts the point of the axe in line with the handle for a more effective thrust

Once axe I would recommend is the Cambodian Mak. It is like a cross between the Nagaland axe with the Malaysian. Though some call it a sword but it looks more axe like to me.

I agree! More movie/video game axes please!!

there's also the shepherd's axe, also known as fokos, ciupaga, or valaška, small head, thin blade, oftentimes beautifully decorated, predominantly used by Carpathian shepherds as a tool, walking stick, and a weapon to defend against wolves, there are some depictions of them being used by brigands (Juraj Jánošík), as far as I have found, Hungary has some organisations that view and use them as weapons, most elsewhere it became more of a cultural symbol and a prop for certain kinds of dances etc.

Interesting. I would like to see some possible technique modifications that could be applied to these types of battle axes.

curved handle seems good for making the beard of the axe dig in with a chop but also better jabs with the horn

I love the Norweigan peasant axe! Would love to hear more of your idea as to why its curved like that. Also the Kazakhs had a pretty cool axe, its pretty normal looking but it has like "blades" beneath the axe head, well it looks like blades but I asume its reinforcement for the socket.

It's a funny thing about Axes, once you see them, use them, feel them hit your shield/weapon or body, you just might get hooked.

@scholaegladiatoria there's a guy who replied to a Richard with various sources on the Norwegian axe. It's quite interesting information.

I believe it's in Sir Gwain & the Green Knight where an axe is described as a "bow-bent axe". Obviously this reference far predates those Scandinavian 17th century axes but I'm wondering if the design serves the same function. From what I understand bow-bent axes had curves throughout their hafts. However b-b & the 17th c axes may function similarly.

So good, i was waiting for this video for so long, finally the Ikakalaka (or kalinga?) Now just needs something on zaghnals (i was actually hoping to see them here tho, buti guess they are closer to a warpick than an axe)

With the Norwegian axe maybe the angled head originates from its civilian use; it would allow a downward chop to items which were laid low to the ground (chopping logs?)

the last 3 I didn't know (the very last looked familiar, but probably not for what it actually is), and the whole video made me notice my old man fog brain as the names/places do NOT leap to mind quickly, but it's more a "I know/recognise that" deal. The bulova would have been the most quickly recognised. Tabar, tabarzin, tapar, topor, & hybrids like tabar-zaghnal, tabar-shishpar...I would enjoy a huge video on them in their wide variety! I never can figure out or understand that Norwegan axe; it's not a burning question, but someone needs to play-test the design someday. The idea of regional videos (probably with some time boundaries as well) is very exciting & awesome to me; placing all the spears, knives, daggers, swords, axes , bludgeons, bows, slings & crossbows (er: ought have said arms) of a given area together in a (large) video can provide some precise context we never usually have, and it's just useful to creative type endevours like a writer or gamer. I'll pick a periphery people that's always on the fringes, but is very long lasting, how about KURDISH arms & armor? Due the vast period of time potential, perhaps pick a focus period. It might be hard to nail down specifics though, as opposed to some other focus, like, say. Medeval Hungary, which sounds like a fun & focused "regional video" topic too

Honestly, it's Fire Emblem that taught me to appreciate the battle axe. Hector, Camilla, Edelgard. All my favorite characters weild axes

Best description of weapons in combat from a book springs to mind, Knives worry people, swords scare people, but Axes terrify!

What I would really like is for someone to do a bit of test cutting with the Norwegian peasant axe. Besides _maybe_ being better in a thrust, I cannot see what benefits there could possibly be to that design. It seems to be an evolutionary dead end. It is reminiscent, in a way, to an early Japanese tachi, the kenuki-gata tachi. Many of these (not all) had a straight or nearly straight blade but a slightly curved grip - but the blade was offset at an angle to the tang, giving the illusion of a deep curve. The same principle can be seen in its ancestor, the warabite-to. I know the kenuki-gata tachi is still occasionally made, as either ceremonial swords or a journeyman's piece, but I have not been able to find any practical reviews of one. Much less the Norwegian peasant axe.

Axes were probably more common in medieval warfare than the sword was. Cheaper to make, easier to teach.

Nice video!

Around the time of chain mail for the more common soldier. The farmers axe helps the wielder get more force to help split rings and drive deep.

I’m very familiar with the Igorot axe. The African axes, I recognized from books. The ones from India were unfamiliar. I think you should have included the dagger-axe of the Bronze Age during the warring states period of ancient China. I also would have included the Shepherd walking stick axe of Eurasia. Thanks for all you do!

Some very early Japanese swords had straight, or nearly straight, blades but function like curved tachi/katana. The earlier swords have an angle at where blade meats hilt. This makes the angle the blade intersects a target more like a curved blade than a straight un-angled blade. Similarly bow-bent axes or these 17th c axes cause the edge to intersect at an angle to the target. This is like the angle many halberds with angled blades intersect a target. The effect is more of a guillotine type shearing cut, where a normal axe uses more of a chopping cut.

If memory serves, in H. Rider Haggard's 1887 (or 1888?) novel _Allan Quatermain_, Quatermain's Zulu chieftain pal, Umslopogaas, wields a specialized battle axe, with a handle made from a rhinoceros horn and with a back spike. Most of the time Umslopogaas preferred to use the back spike with surgical precision, hence his nickname "the Woodpecker."

I would like a follow-up on the peasant axe. It’s such an odd shape that there must be a reason for it.

If it's an axe....Tord is the guy to make. Cheers! Great stuff. Thanks Mr. E.

The Eastern Romans used axes as well. At various times they were one of the most 'balanced' armies in the world because they fought many varied countries/tribes both in the West and the East. Few empires did that. For example they used both curved swords (the Paramerion) and a straight-double edged sword (The Spathion). So it comes as a little surprise they used axes (The Tzikourion, from the latin Securis). Source: Leo's Tactica. 3 axe heads were mostly used: 1) the normal crescent-shaped, 2) Double Crescent-Shaped, 3) Crescent-Shaped with a point at the opposite end. This 3rd form is more recommended because of the ability to have more armor-penetration.

14:06 I noticed someone wielding a weapon like this in Horizon: Forbidden West while my wife was playing it. I thought that it kinda made sense, because it has a good shape for going up against the armored machines. It has a good shape for getting in-between armored plates, and it has that pick-like chisel point on the back.

Another point to consider about tanged axes that can also be used as tools: some blades are set into the handle such that they can be taken out and set perpendicular to quickly create an adze. These films of Mossi woodcarvers show this for example kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nd-eaq54td7SfWg.html

I made a sparring Nordic peasants axe a few year back for sparring with my HEMA group after I found out about them on a trip. From my experience I found that the head seemed to line up well with my target when I swung it and I didn't need to adjust my technique like I thought I might have to. I don't really know but my guess would be that the axe head might pass through the target without the shaft hitting the target based on the angles when I hit people but that's purely a guess. If you wanted to make one yourself I used an old hockey stick and a rubber dane axe head, it's a very rough replica but with my limited resources it was the best I could do.

Nice Vid Mat. Would you be able to Hunt Heads if say it was legal somewhere?

A video on the fokos, or Hungarian/Romanian shepherd's axe would be much appreciated!

Thanks for the awesome video! Could you maybe write down the names of the weapons next time on screen as it's hard to look up the weapons on google afterwards?

Looking at the picture of the Danish/Norwegian Peasant Axe it seems as if the "weird" bend puts the top point of the axe blade in line with the handle so maybe the idea was to make it more stabby?

Hi there, I'm Malaysian and the "biliong" axe is more better known as "beliung" here.

Having some acquaintance with Sarawak (my brother lives there), I have not heard any reference to the biliong as a weapon, but as a tool. The head could be rotated, to serve either as an axe, or an adze, as circumstances dictated. I may be wrong, of course, but that is my general impression. Sarawakians generally used swords or spears in battle...

When kyrgyz nomads tribes moved from Siberia to Central Asian mountains, the suddenly changed their swords to an axes. Just because in Tien Shan mountains they do not have access to iron as in Siberia, and get it only from trade.

5:20 the angle of the head puts the point in line with the shaft, which would make a thrust more effective. Just an observation.

I happen to own a very nice replica of a Late Medieval Hungarian battle axe (original circa 1500). It has a particularly vicious appearance, and it's one of those weapons that you would expect a culture to come up with if they were having to fight off occupation by the Ottomans! Btw, it's a bit of a shame that you didn't feature the infamous Russian bardiche! The aforementioned Hungarian axe definitely shows the influence of the bardiche, as well as Muslim battle axes such as the tabar.

I think my only brush with the name Sarrowac is from reading articles in the Naval Chronicle about run-ins with pirates from there. Would that fit?

Tye angle of that first axe kind of looks like it would make it easier for digging or chopping at something by your feet. Maybe the design just descended from some sort of farming tool.