Seax

A scramseax (also scramsax, scramseaxe, scramasax, scramaseaxe and sometimes refered to as simply scram or seax) was a type of Germanic (Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian and Frankish) knife with a single blade{{ref|regia}}. Scramseax seem to have been used for warfare and as tools {{ref label|regia|1|a}}. They occur in a size range from 7.5cm to 75cm. The larger ones (langseax) were probably weapons, the smaller ones (hadseax) tools, intermediate sized ones serving a dual purpose{{ref label|regia|1|b}}. Wearing a scramseax may have been indicative of freemanship{{ref label|regia|1|c}}. The scramseax was worn in a horizontal sheath at the front of the belt{{ref|seax}}. Scram refers to food and seax to a blade (so, "food knife"){{ref|food}}. There is some debate about the authenticity of the longer word scramseax{{ref label|regia|2|a}}. The Saxons may have derived their name from seax (the implement for which they were known) in much the same way that the Franks were named for their francisca{{ref label|food|3|b}}.

Related Topics:
Germanic - Anglo-Saxon - Scandinavian - Frankish - Knife - Blade - Warfare - Tool - Weapon - Saxons - Francisca

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