{"product_id":"damascus-viking-axe-olive-wood","title":"Damascus Viking Axe with Olive Wood Handle and Tooled Leather Cover","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the bearded axe in its dress version, the one people buy to hold and then leave out where it can be seen. The head is hand forged Damascus with a narrow brass line inlaid into the cheek, and the handle is olive wood with heavy honey and brown grain. It measures 19 inches overall with a 6 inch head and a 5 inch cutting edge, so it still cuts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCutting edge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e19 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle wood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOlive wood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus over a high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched pattern, mirror bright bevel, inlaid brass line\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead cover\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTooled leather head cover\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe head\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe steel is Damascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core and etched so the light and dark layers run across the cheek, with the bevel polished mirror bright. Behind that bevel sits a narrow line of polished brass, inlaid so it catches light against the dark etch. The shape follows the Norse bearded pattern, where the lower edge hangs below the eye in a long curve and leaves an open hollow behind it. The core is carbon, the honest trade, so the head darkens and can rust if left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOlive wood is a dress wood and it is the reason this axe looks the way it does. The grain is wavy and strong, honey colored in places and close to brown in others, and no two handles come out the same. At 13 inches it is long enough for a real swing and short enough for one hand. The handle is driven through the eye with a wedge driven into the top, spreading the wood tight against the steel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather head cover\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe cover is cut for this head and the edge sits down inside it, which is how you store an axe without dulling it. The leather is vegetable tanned. A belt loop is stitched to the back, a strap with a snap closes over the top, and a welt is sewn into the edge so the stitching never rides on the steel. The stitching is done by hand. The face is hand tooled with a carved floral pattern inside a beaded border, cut and shaded rather than stamped flat. Other sellers say genuine leather and stop.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis one goes out as a gift more than most, because the olive wood and the brass line read across a room. It still holds a working edge, so nobody has to treat it as decoration only.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who want a display piece that works\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDamascus collectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnniversary and birthday shoppers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople drawn to Norse shapes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone buying their first bearded axe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Damascus viking axe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe tooled leather head cover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA free laser engraving quote on request\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Damascus pattern comes out of the forging and the etch, so it never repeats. Add the grain of the olive wood and the depth of the tooling, and the axe that ships to you will read differently from the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the head dry after use and never put it away wet. Carbon under the pattern means the head darkens, and that gray patina is normal and protects the steel. Oil the head before storage and oil the olive wood now and then, since a dry handle shrinks and a loose head is dangerous. Check the head is tight before every use, and dry the leather away from heat. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003ecare and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaser engraving is 20 dollars per piece and you add it on this page. Around 30 characters fits on a head or a handle, and clean line art comes out better than a photograph. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. Free on orders of 10 pieces or more. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a bearded axe?\u003c\/strong\u003e An axe whose lower edge hangs below the eye in a curve.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the beard for?\u003c\/strong\u003e It gives a long edge on a light head and lets you grip behind the blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the brass line?\u003c\/strong\u003e A narrow strip of polished brass inlaid into the cheek.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this steel rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can, since the core is carbon, so dry it and oil it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it look like the photo?\u003c\/strong\u003e No, the pattern and the olive grain differ on every piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long until it ships?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the same steel on a darker wood, see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-viking-axe-rosewood\"\u003eDamascus axe in rosewood\u003c\/a\u003e, and for runes the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-viking-axe-rune-etched\"\u003erune etched Damascus axe\u003c\/a\u003e. More sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-axes\"\u003eDamascus axes\u003c\/a\u003e, in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/viking-axes\"\u003eviking axes\u003c\/a\u003e, and in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/gifts-for-him\"\u003egifts for him\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44134760087670,"sku":"VEF-AXE-DAM-BRD-405","price":239.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/damascus-viking-bearded-axe-olive-wood-handle_89f759da-8482-4dd3-8634-1d4188c2f59a.jpg?v=1788742095","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-viking-axe-olive-wood","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}