The Executioner’s Axe

The forge in Sweden is home to a small axe museum with over 2,000 unique axes. Carefully curated throughout the years, it’s a unique sight for forge visitors. Since travelling to the museum may not be in your plans, we thought we would share some photos with our US enthusiasts.

The executioner or headman was the man who carried out executions for those who were sentenced to death during the Middle Ages. Gradually, the Europeans began to replace their swords with an axe. The Executioner’s Axe is a longer half moon shaped axe. 

In Sweden, executions by axe were common during the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1921, the death penalty was removed for peacetime crimes, but it wasn’t until 1973 that the death penalty was entirely abolished in Sweden.

This replica is forged by blacksmith @fthelinsmide