Hunting axes with a bearded head and a hand length haft
The axes filed here are the compact one handed pattern from 14 to 19 inches overall, short enough to ride on a pack strap and heavy enough at the head to split kindling, drive stakes and break down a carcass at camp. The beard, the lower edge that drops below the eye, lets you choke up behind the head and use it like a heavy knife for skinning cuts and trimming. Heads are plain 1095 or high carbon steel and 1095 and 15N20 Damascus, most in the bearded profile, and hafts are ash, hickory, birch, rosewood or plain hardwood. Most ship with a leather blade cover where the listing says so.
It is written for hunters who carry an axe for camp chores and butchering rather than for felling, for bushcrafters who want a bearded head for carving, and for anyone choosing a gift for a man who hunts. Several of these axes carry Norse themed engraving on the head, which matters to some buyers and not at all to others; the steel and the haft are the same either way.
What to look for
Head weight is what does the work, so a heavier head on a short haft is the right shape for a hunting axe. Look at the beard depth if you intend to carve or skin with it, because a deeper beard gives more edge behind the grip. Check the haft wood: ash and hickory take shock best, birch and plain hardwood are fine for camp use, and rosewood is the handsome choice. A Damascus head at 58 to 60 HRC holds its edge longer; a plain 1095 head at 54 to 58 HRC is tougher if you strike bone or knots and is quicker to sharpen in the field.
How the axes are made and where
Ransack Viking is a Memphis, Tennessee company. These axes are made by hand in the Czech Republic the old way. The head is forged and ground, the edge is hardened, and the haft is fitted and wedged in the same workshop. Each axe is imported, inspected at our Memphis warehouse and shipped from Memphis. Engraving of a name, a date or a rune line is done in the United States before dispatch.
Care is short. Wipe the head dry and oil it after use, and keep the blade cover off during long storage so damp leather does not sit on the edge.
Related archives
All of our axes are in Viking axes, with the bearded pattern on its own in bearded axes. For a longer haft and a bigger bit for firewood, look at splitting and felling axes. A hunting knife to pair with the axe is in hunting knives. If you want a comparison rather than a list, our best Viking axes guide explains which head pattern suits which job.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bearded axe good for hunting?
Yes. The beard lets you grip right behind the edge for controlled cuts when breaking down game, and the short haft keeps it packable. It will not replace a felling axe for big wood.
How long is a hunting axe?
The ones here run from 14 to 19 inches overall, the one handed size that fits a pack and still swings with authority.
Do they come sharp?
Yes. Each head is ground and sharpened by hand before shipping. A file and a puck stone will keep it that way in the field.
Damascus or high carbon for a working axe?
High carbon 1095 for a tool that will hit knots and bone. Damascus if you want edge holding and the pattern and will be a little more careful with it.
Can the head be engraved?
Yes. Most heads take a name, date or rune line, cut in the United States before the axe ships.
12 matching pieces
Free US shipping
On every order, no minimum.
Hand Forged
Heated, hammered and ground by hand.
Engraving available
Names, dates or Norse runes on most pieces.
