Bearded axes are the Norse pattern where the cutting edge drops well below the line of the haft, leaving an open crescent behind it. That hook is what the word bearded means. It buys a long cutting edge on a light head, because the beard is thin steel rather than a solid block, and it leaves room to slide your leading hand up under the head for close work.
The collection runs from 15 inch hand axes up to 35 inch two handed pieces, the longest close to Dane axe length. Two steels run through the range. Plain 1095 high carbon is hardened to 54 to 58 HRC, sharpens quickly and comes back on a stone. Damascus of 1095 and 15N20 is forge welded, folded and etched, hardened to 58 to 60 HRC, and shows light and dark bands across the cheek. Hafts are ash, hickory, oak, birch, walnut or dark stained hardwood, wedged through the eye, and nearly every axe ships with a fitted leather edge cover.
If you want one axe to carry and use, take a 16 to 19 inch piece on an ash haft. For reach and wall presence, look at the long hafted heads. A short bearded head sits close to hatchet territory, so it is worth reading where the line between an axe and a hatchet actually falls before you settle on a length.
Free US shipping
On most pieces. Heavier and oversized ones carry a flat charge.
Hand Forged
Heated, hammered and ground by hand.
Engraving available
Names, dates or Norse runes on most pieces.
Ships from New York
Inspected and dispatched from our New York warehouse. No import duty, no customs delay on US orders.
