The use of weapons was fundamental in Scandinavian culture during the Viking Age, and every free Viking – every bondi – not only owned and carried a weapon with them at all times, but was also familiar with its use and handling. Carrying weapons was one of the fundamental rights of free men; the Hávamál itself states:
“let no more than one step ever separate you from your weapon, no matter where or when.”
The Sagas tell us that peasants carried them while working in the fields or on the farm, and that many men slept with their weapons hanging on the wall, next to their beds. The right to bear arms was limited to free men, with women and slaves excluded.
A Viking was equipped with an axe, spear or knife, and a shield.
The axe was the Vikings' star weapon and has been found in almost all archaeological sites, including some female grave goods. These could be of different types, the most common being short-handled axes – used by both peasants and farmers as well as for warfare – and long-handled axes, the two-handed battle axes, which were solely for combat and required a great deal of skill in their use.
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