The Muscular Nutcracker
is 13 inches tall. This Soldier has been working out. He has a very broad chest and large upper arms and legs. TheseChristmas Nutcracker Decorations have a dome shaped black hat with an amber plastic jewel in the center of a gold star. He has a green uniform jacket with white trim and amber plastic jewels. His red pants have black and gold triangles in front just above his black boot tops. The Wooden Nutcrackers Soldiers are holding a gold Battle Axe on a black staff in his right hand. Select to see a complete listing of our wonderful Christmas Decorations Ideas.

Battle Axe.
A battle axe is an axe specifically designed as a weapon. Battle axes were specialized versions of utility axes. Many were suitable for use in one hand, while others were larger and were wielded two handed. Axes designed for warfare ranged in weight from just over 1 to 6 pounds and in length from just over 1 to 5 feet, such as the Danish axe or the sparth axe. Through the course of human history, commonplace objects have been pressed into service as weapons. Axes are no exception. Besides axes designed for combat, there were many axes that were both tools and weapons. Axes could be designed as throwing weapons as well. Axes were always cheaper than swords and far more available. Select this link to view our Large Nutcrackers.

The History Of Nutcrackers
A nutcracker is a device for cracking nuts. It works on the principle of moments derived from Archimedes' discovery of the lever. Nutcrackers as woodcarvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have been known since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers are carvings of a person with a big mouth that is opened by pressing a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. The modern Wooden Nutcracker Soldiers in this style are mostly for decoration and not for cracking hard shelled nuts. The carving of Wooden Nutcracker Soldiers as well as religious figures and cribs developed as a cottage industry in forested rural areas of Germany. The most famous nutcracker carvings come from Sonneberg, Thuringia, also a center of doll making, and from the Ore Mountains. Wood carving was usually the only income for the people living there. Today the travel industry bringing visitors to the remote areas supplement their income.
Nutcrackers have become popular in the United States as well and a recreated "Bavarian village" of Leavenworth, Washington even features a Nutcracker Museum. Many other materials were used for the decorated nutcrackers, such as porcelain, silver, and brass, and can be seen at the museum. Select this link to view our Christmas Nutcrackers Village People.
Carvings by famous names like Jungbanel, Mertens, Karl, Kolbe, Petersen, Ulbricht and especially the Steinbach nutcrackers have become collectors' items.