Blog
Viking Christmas Gifts: Ideas for Him, From Bearded Axes to Drinking Horns
Most Christmas lists for men are the same list. A wallet, a whiskey stone set nobody uses, and a hoodie with a joke on it that was funny in the shop. If the man in question likes the Norse world, you can do a good deal better than that. Below are Viking Christmas gift ideas sorted by who he is and what you want to spend, with real prices from our shelf and an honest note on who each one suits.
A quick word on where these come from, because it matters at a gift table. Every piece here is handmade in the Czech Republic by workshops that still work by hand. Engraving and rune work are done in the United States after the piece arrives, and orders ship from Chicago, Illinois.
Viking Christmas gift ideas, by who he is
For your husband
Buy the thing he keeps looking at and never buys. For a lot of men with a Norse streak that is a proper bearded axe, the kind that splits kindling in the morning and hangs on the wall in the evening. The Palefrost is a Damascus bearded axe with a 19 inch haft at $149, and it is one of the two best selling axes on the site. Add his initials in Elder Futhark runes for $19 and it stops being an axe and becomes his axe.
For your boyfriend
Keep it useful and keep it in his pocket. A Damascus folding knife gets carried every day, which is more than can be said for most Christmas presents by the second week of January. The Leafcarry at $109 is our best selling folder. The Bonecarry at $89 does the same job with a bone handle for a little less. A short rune engraving of his name is enough. Proposals in steel are best saved for a later date.
For your dad
Dads say they need nothing, then use the same tool for thirty years. A good hunting knife suits that perfectly. The Scorpio is a Damascus skinner with a stag antler handle at $89, and the Yumastag is a larger Damascus hunting knife with a stag handle at $167.20 that has 10 reviews. Either one replaces the knife he has been sharpening since the last century.
For the man who drinks like a jarl
A drinking horn is the classic Viking gift and, unlike a sword, nobody needs to check the local carry rules. The Runemead carries a full Elder Futhark row around the horn at $135.20. If he prefers his ale in something that stands up on its own, the Aleholm stainless tankard at $119.20 is easier to live with and survives the dishwasher argument.
For the man who wears it
Jewelry is the easiest Viking gift to get right, because it does not depend on a hobby. The Wayrune Vegvisir pendant is $103.20 and the Runeband ring set is $135.20 with 20 reviews. One honest note: Vegvisir and the Helm of Awe come from Icelandic manuscripts of the 17th to 19th centuries, not from the Viking age itself. He will probably not mind. His friend who reads too much might.
For the board game man
Hnefatafl is the board game the Norse actually played, a king trying to escape while the attackers close in. It is a better Christmas afternoon than the one with the plastic hotels. The Kingsflight board in walnut and maple is $151.20. For the garden, the Oathfall Kubb set is $119.20. Our guide to the Hnefatafl board and its rules has everything he needs to start.
For the collector, or the big one
For a milestone birthday that happens to fall in December, or a man who already owns everything with a rune on it, go to the sword or the helmet. The Serpentweld Viking sword is $439.20 with 10 reviews. The Hornkeep horned helmet is $199.20, and yes, we know. Horned helmets were never worn in battle, they are a 19th century opera invention, and they still look magnificent on a shelf.
Viking stocking stuffers under 100 dollars
Not every gift has to be the main event. These fit in a stocking, or at least next to one.
Palefrost Hand Forged Damascus Viking Bearded Axe | 19 Inch | Birch Wood Handle with Leather Blade Cover and Gift Box | Norse Collector and Wedding Gift | RK-351
Leafcarry Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Damascus Steel Handle Ready for Engraving & Cowhide Leather Sheath | Everyday Carry Collector Gift | RK-375
Runemead Hand Made Rune Drinking Horn | Full Elder Futhark Row | Dark Natural Ox Horn and Polished Steel Rim with Black Leather Belt Loop | Norse Mead Gift | RK-1675| Gift | Price | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Braidhorn beard comb in a wooden box | $87.20 | For the beard he has clearly been growing on purpose |
| Bonecarry Damascus folding knife | $89 | Gets carried daily |
| Scorpio Damascus skinner | $89 | For the hunter on a budget |
Viking Christmas gifts by budget
| Budget | What fits | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Under $100 | Folding knives, skinners, beard combs | Folding pocket knives |
| $100 to $160 | Bearded axes, drinking horns, tankards, pendants, rings, rune sets, Hnefatafl boards | Viking axes, drinking horns |
| $160 to $300 | Larger hunting knives, helmets, Damascus bearded axes | Hunting knives, Viking helmets |
| Over $300 | Swords and full display pieces | Viking swords |
Engraving that makes it his
A name, a date or a line of text is $19. His name carried into Elder Futhark runes is also $19, and we confirm the exact rune string with you before anything is cut, which saves an awkward Christmas morning if the runes spell something you did not intend. A Norse symbol such as Mjolnir, Valknut or Vegvisir is $39, and a family crest is $49. The engraving page has a rune converter you can try first. Keep it short. Initials and a year age better than a quote from a film.
When to order for Christmas
Processing takes one to two weeks, engraved or not, and US delivery takes three to seven business days after that. For a piece to be under the tree, aim to order by the end of November. Plain pieces ship free inside the US. Heavier and oversized pieces such as large swords and helmets carry a flat shipping charge that shows at checkout. If you are buying for someone in another state, the knife laws by state page is worth two minutes of your time.
Questions people ask
What is a good Viking gift for a man?
Something he will use or display every week. A bearded axe for a man with a wood stove, a Damascus folding knife for a man who carries one, a drinking horn or tankard for the table, or a Hnefatafl board for the man who likes a game. Add his name in runes for $19 to make it personal.
What are good Viking gifts under 100 dollars?
The Bonecarry Damascus folding knife and the Scorpio Damascus skinner are both $89, and the Braidhorn beard comb in a wooden box is $87.20. All three are handmade and all three can be engraved.
Are these Viking gifts handmade?
Yes. Every piece is handmade in the Czech Republic by workshops that still work by hand. Engraving and rune work are done in the United States before the order ships from Chicago. Small variations between pieces are part of that.
Can you engrave runes on a Christmas gift?
Yes. A name in Elder Futhark runes is $19 and we confirm the rune string with you before cutting. Norse symbols are $39 and a family crest is $49.
When should I order a Viking gift for Christmas?
By the end of November. Processing takes one to two weeks and US delivery three to seven business days after that, so later orders risk arriving after the day.
Is a drinking horn practical or just decoration?
Both, with care. A sealed horn holds a cold drink well and makes an excellent toast. It does not want hot liquids or a dishwasher, which is why some people choose a steel tankard for daily use and keep the horn for occasions.
Buying for a wedding party instead? See groomsmen gifts and Viking wedding gifts. Buying for a whole team or clients? See engraved corporate gifts.
Shop the range
Palefrost Hand Forged Damascus Viking Bearded Axe | 19 Inch | Birch Wood Handle with Leather Blade Cover and Gift Box | Norse Collector and Wedding Gift | RK-351Leafcarry Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Damascus Steel Handle Ready for Engraving & Cowhide Leather Sheath | Everyday Carry Collector Gift | RK-375Runemead Hand Made Rune Drinking Horn | Full Elder Futhark Row | Dark Natural Ox Horn and Polished Steel Rim with Black Leather Belt Loop | Norse Mead Gift | RK-1675
Wayrune Hand Made Silver Finish Vegvisir Pendant with Knotwork Border & 24 Inch Curb Chain | Norse Wayfinder Gift | RK-1784
Kingsflight Hand Made Walnut and Maple Hnefatafl Viking Board Game | Solid Hardwood Board with Turned Playing Pieces and Elder Futhark Border | Norse Family Gift | RK-1732
Scorpio Hand Forged Damascus Skinner Knife with Stag Antler Handle and Buffalo Horn and Walnut Spacers and Damascus Bolster | Deer Skinning Gift | RK-338