Ash is what an axe haft should be made of. It bends before it breaks, it soaks up the shock that would jar your wrist on a stiffer timber, and the straight grain runs the length of the shaft instead of wandering across it. Every axe on this page is hung on ash, which is the single most useful thing you can know about a haft before you buy one.
Lengths and heads
The shortest is a hand axe on a 16 inch ash haft with a chevron etched cheek and a hammer poll for driving pegs, with a snap closed leather mask. A bearded axe on a 14 inch haft comes mounted on a walnut raven wall plaque with solid brass brackets, which is the only one here sold to hang rather than to swing. The middle of the range sits at 17 to 22 inches: a mirror polished head with an engraved valknut and a 6 inch edge, a Damascus head with an engraved vegvisir and a 7 inch edge, a helm of awe etched head with a brass collar and butt cap, a triquetra engraved cheek on pale ash with a steel collar, an Elder Futhark engraved cheek, and a Damascus head with a rune bordered edge. The long hafts are where the work gets done: a war axe at 28 inches with a 6 inch cutting edge, a knotwork engraved bearded head on a 26 inch haft with a leather wrapped grip, a double bit at 26 inches with etched knotwork on both bits, a Damascus axe on a 32 inch haft with a Mjolnir stamped poll, and a double headed axe on a 34 inch haft with twin crescent bits and an etched beast motif. Steel is plain 1095 high carbon at 54 to 58 HRC or forge welded 1095 and 15N20 Damascus at 58 to 60 HRC. Prices run from 229 dollars to 389 dollars.
Keeping the wood alive
Ash dries out if you leave it in a hot car or next to a radiator, and a dry haft shrinks away from the head. Oil it once a season and check the eye. Our axe care notes cover both, along with what to do when a head does work loose. If you are still choosing, the guide to choosing a Viking axe deals with head weight and haft length. Replacement wood is in axe handles and hafts, and the heavier heads are in war axes.
Ransack Viking is a US company based in Chicago, Illinois. These pieces are handmade in the Czech Republic, then imported, inspected and shipped from Chicago. Engraving is done in the US after arrival: text 19 dollars, symbol 39 dollars, family crest 49 dollars.
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.
