Ax throwing

This article needs to be revised: the article subject is not clearly described! Is it about throwing an ax or an ax and why is the distinction so important? Why are the 1.5 kg so important that they are in the introduction? Aineias © 21:14, 7th Dec. 2015 (CET)
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The ax throwing today is a sport that is different with long-handled double axes weight is operated with both hands. A double ax is an ax with two opposite edges of the same size. One-handed throwing of hatchets (short handle) is sometimes incorrectly referred to as ax throwing. As a throwing ax it was originally a war tactic used by different peoples.

Ax and knife (further developments of the hand ax ) are among the oldest human tools and weapons. Initially, these were too precious and unstable to be used effectively as a throwing weapon and possibly damaged or lost in the process. This changed with the discovery of the metal, and soon it was possible to manufacture weapons that not only survived a throw, but were even able to cause considerable damage without having to reduce the protective distance to the prey or the enemy.

history

The real origin of hatching lies in the dark of history. The battle-often referred to incorrectly as ax, but was already in the Neolithic in the Streitaxtleuten used extensively. The ax throwing was very pronounced and integrated into war tactics among the Franks , whose preferred throwing device, the " Franziska ", was even named after them. These axes, optimized for throwing, were thrown in battle from the own shield wall onto that of the opponent in order to create gaps and thus facilitate a frontal assault. Of course, each fighter did not have just one throwing ax at their disposal.

The Native Americans also had axes that were suitable for throwing: the tomahawks , the metal version of which came from Europe.

Throwing hatchets / axes have a short range (up to 15 m) and were therefore rarely used as a hunting weapon, as a bow is far more effective here.

Sporty ax and hatchet throwing

Ax throwing at the Lexington Barbecue Festival

Today's sport of ax throwing is derived from the Scandinavian and North American loggers . Due to the huge distances from home, they could not go home often and thus had a lot of time to throw their axes to the bet. A target was marked on the ends of the stacked tree trunks and the double-edged axes were thrown at them. Nowadays, of course, people no longer throw at the ends of tree trunks, but rather on tree grates, which are set up individually or arranged next to each other. This sport is still traditionally practiced in Sweden today by the “Yxkastareförbundet”, with championships for men and women and a detailed set of rules. In Germany and other European countries, too, the two-handed ax and one-handed hatchet is becoming more and more popular. Ax throwers and knife throwers are involved in the Eurothrowers. The double ax throwers have had their own association since 2019, the Deutscher Doppelaxt Werfer Verband (DDWV). But competitions also take place outside of these organizational structures, which, for example, are explicitly based on the Swedish rules.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ "Yxkastareförbundet"
2. ↑ European throwing club "Flying Blades" (EuroThowers)
3. ↑ About us. In: ddwv.de. Retrieved March 2, 2020 .