The Danish sword was similar to that of the Anglo-Saxons, and differed only in the scabbard, upon which more labour was spent in ornamentation.
The spear illustrated ([Fig. 82], No. 2) is that of Canute as shown upon his coins, while the companion weapon is that of the ordinary soldiery.
The Danish axe ([Fig. 82], No. 3) was the famed bipennis, consisting of two axe-blades of similar form on either side of the shaft, which latter in a few cases was furnished with a spike. The axe could be used as a pole-axe for close combat, or, if furnished with a shorter handle, be hurled in a similar way to the francisca. A variation of the bipennis is seen in the companion axe, which is furnished upon one side with a diamond-pointed cutting blade of steel in substitution for the axe-blade.
PLATE VIII
The Bayard Armour in the Rotunda, Woolwich