{"product_id":"viking-bearded-axe-carbon-steel-ash","title":"Viking Bearded Axe, Hand Forged Carbon Steel with Ash Handle","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the plain working version of the Norse bearded axe. The head is hand forged from 5160 spring steel and left dark gray with the hammer marks on the cheek, and the ash handle is wrapped over its lower half in dark brown leather cord. It runs 19 inches overall, with a 6 inch head and a 5.3 inch cutting edge. People buy it to split kindling and trim branches.\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\u003e5.3 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\u003eAsh, lower half leather wrapped\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5160 spring steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDark gray forged finish, hammer marks, bright bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead cover\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTooled leather, belt loop and snap\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 5160 spring steel, which is what axe makers reach for. It takes an impact without chipping and comes back on a stone quickly once the edge dulls. The head is left dark gray with the hammer marks showing on the cheek, and only the bevel goes to a mirror bright polish. The beard hangs below the eye, so a 6 inch head carries a 5.3 inch cutting edge. The trade is that 5160 is a carbon steel. It patinas, and it wants drying whenever it gets wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe handle is ash at 13 inches, the standard axe wood and the one most Norse axes are hung on, because it grows straight grained and springy and soaks up the shock of a strike. The lower half is wrapped in dark brown leather cord, which fills the palm and gives you something to hold when your hands are damp. The handle is driven through the eye and a wedge is 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, so the bevel sits inside it snug. 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 runs clear of the steel. Every stitch is put in by hand. The face is hand tooled with a basket weave stamp inside a carved border, struck into damp leather so the weave stands up. Most sellers stop at the words genuine leather.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBuy this one if the axe will be used rather than looked at. The wrapped handle stays comfortable for longer than a few swings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCampers who want a Norse pattern axe that works\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone splitting kindling for a stove or a fire pit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who prefer a forged finish to a polished one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomeone shopping for a first real axe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe carbon steel bearded 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\u003eEach head is forged, ground and finished by hand, so runs stay small and no two are identical. The hammer marks fall where they fall, the ash grain runs its own way, and the wrap sits differently on every handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the head dry after use and never put it away wet. The gray patina is normal and protects the steel. Sharpen with a file and a puck or a stone, following the existing bevel. Oil the head before storage and the handle now and then, since a dry handle shrinks and a loose head is dangerous. Check the head is tight before every use. 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, added on this page. Around 30 characters fits on a head or along the handle. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. Clean line art engraves cleanly, photographs do not. 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 The lower part of the cutting edge hangs below the eye in a long curve.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy 5160 spring steel?\u003c\/strong\u003e It takes an impact without chipping and comes back on a stone easily.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the leather cord for?\u003c\/strong\u003e It wraps the lower half of the handle and gives you a surface to grip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do you sharpen an axe?\u003c\/strong\u003e Use a file and a puck, following the existing bevel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow sharp is it out of the box?\u003c\/strong\u003e It arrives sharpened by hand and ready to cut.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this steel rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can, because it is carbon steel. Dry it after use and oil it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pattern welded version is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-viking-axe-rune-etched\"\u003eDamascus bearded axe with the rune etched head\u003c\/a\u003e, and smaller still is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/viking-hatchet-carbon-steel-charred-handle\"\u003ehatchet on a charred handle\u003c\/a\u003e. More sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/viking-axes\"\u003eviking axes\u003c\/a\u003e, in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/carbon-steel-axes\"\u003ecarbon steel axes\u003c\/a\u003e, and in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/axes-hatchets\"\u003eaxes and hatchets\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44134744064118,"sku":"VEF-AXE-HC-BRD-402","price":179.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/carbon-steel-viking-bearded-axe-ash-handle_f9e4ab04-35cc-4448-b1e5-e2ef9d8c2068.jpg?v=1788742106","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/viking-bearded-axe-carbon-steel-ash","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}