The eye is wrapped over a mandrel and welded. It is then drifted open to receive a wooden handle or haft. It has been case hardened and has a wax and oil finish. This axe does not come with a wooden haft!

This is the perfect blade for hunting, historical re-encators or to keep with your emergency supplies.This is a completely useful all around great utility axe. It can be used as a throwing axe for competition. You will have no problem cleaving in an enemy's skull, breaking in monistary doors or busting through a shirt of chain mail!

The francisca (or francesca) is a throwing axe used as a weapon during the early middle ages by the Franks, among whom it was a characteristic national weapon at the time of the Merovingians from about 500 to 750 AD and is known to have been used during the reign of Charlemagne (768 - 814). Although generally associated with the Franks, it was also used by other Germanic peoples of the period including the Anglo-Saxons, and several examples have been found in England.

The Roman historian Procopius (c. 500 - 565) described the Franks and their use of throwing axes:

"...each man carried a sword and shield and an axe. Now the iron head of this weapon was thick and exceedingly sharp on both sides while the wooden handle was very short. And they are accustomed always to throw these axes at one signal in the first charge and thus shatter the shields of the enemy and kill the men."

Procopius makes it clear that the Franks threw their axes immediately before hand to hand combat with the purpose of breaking shields and disrupting the enemy line while possibly wounding or killing an enemy warrior. The weight of the head and length of the haft would allow the axe to be thrown with considerable momentum to an effective range of about 12 m (40 ft). Even if the edge of the blade were not to strike the target the weight of the iron head could cause injury in any event.

Another feature of the francisca was the tendency to bounce unpredictably upon hitting the ground due to its weight, unique shape, lack of balance and slight curvature of the haft, making it difficult for defenders to block. It could rebound up at the legs of opponents or against shields and through the ranks. The Franks capitalized on this by throwing the franciscas in a volley in order to confuse, intimidate and disorganize the enemy lines either before or during a charge to initiate close combat.
Today, the francisca remains in popular use as a throwing axe in competitions or as a weapon for reenactors of medieval warfare.