The archaeological collection of the Spassk-Dalny Museum features stone and metal axes from distant historical eras.

The first stone axes had short handles; rounded, less often sharpened, butts; and wide, convex blades with an oval cross-section.

Sharpening a stone blade was difficult, so the ax was more of a striking than a chopping tool. Its effectiveness depended mainly on the weight of the blade, as the lengthening of the handle made it harder to use.

With the advent of the Bronze Age, the types of blade attachment, shape, and ways of using the ax did not change, but the handle became longer and the sharpening better. This also marked the ax transition from a subcategory of striking-crushing tools to chopping tools. New axes were improved mainly by expanding the cutting part of the blade and giving it various shapes.

The battle ax was considered one of the most popular weapons of the ancient world. Due to the combination of a relatively heavy stone or metal head and a lighter handle, the ax was much more effective in close combat than slashing bladed weapons. In terms of the number of finds at archaeological sites of Jurchen culture, axes ranked second only to arrowheads.

The ax consisted of the following elements: the wedge — the chopping part designed to deliver a chopping blow; the back — the upper part of the wedge; the handle — the bearing part that directed the blow; the blade — the cutting edge; and the eye — the hole for fastening the handle.

In battle axes, the blade was narrowed, which increased the force of the blow. Axes were used in battles to pierce the helmet or protective armor of the opponent. Lightly armed horsemen used axes as auxiliary weapons when it was impossible to maneuver a long spear in close combat. Heavy cavalry also used battle axes.

Before the ax, spears prevailed in battles. Axes appeared during the Jurchen era, which was due to the spread of helmets.

Axes were dual-purpose tools. In everyday life, they were used as carpentry and woodworking tools. Researchers agree that axes with a narrow blade and a high butt were used solely for combat, while those with a low butt and a wide, massive blade were used in household activities.

In the Far East, battle axes became widespread in the 10th–12h centuries. They were used by many peoples of the Eurasian steppe during that time.