The Sparth axe

[Dave Neeson]

Hi, this is my first time posting and I am hoping that someone here can help me. I have spent a fair bit of time and alot of not sleeping looking for the first known use of the sparth axe.
You know the kind that joins the haft in 2 places much like the bardiche i would love to have a go with this weapon but am not sure if it fits into my clubs 14th century time period. If anyone has any answers for me it would be mush appreciated Or any other info on the early galloglaich for that matter. Thanx.

[LafayetteCCurtis]

Maybe you could look up this page of the Royal Galloglas:

http://home.earthlink.net/~rggsibiba/ht ... oglas.html

If the information in the site is correct, then the sparth axe would have existed in the 14th century (since it's well after the contact with the Nordic seafarers) but it wouldn't necessarily have had a substantially different shape from ordinary battleaxes (though it would have lacked top and back spikes).

[Dave Neeson]

Thank you for the reply but i was wondering after a more specific style of head like this one.

www.silvermane.com/.../044pp.jpg

I know it says it falls into my time on the site but then i'm sure we have all seen many sites with the wrong dates on an item.

So if anyone can tell me if this was in use in the 14th century or even if it matches similar heads from the time it would be much appreciated.
[/url]