A Bearded Hewing Axe in the Viking Style
On March 11, 2012 by jaustinI just completed my first woodworking axe. It is a hewing axe meant for smoothing flat sides 0n a work piece which was previously shaped with rough strokes into approximate but oversized dimensions. This particular axe is “right-handed”, meaning that its flat face is on the left side when held held in a normal working position. The handle is twisted away from the hewing plane so that the knuckles of the hewer have additional clearance to the work. This axe has a forge welded eye (asymmetric wrap technique shown below) and forge welded bit of 1075. The finish is ground then forge blackened, after which the edge-zone is re-polished. The woodworker who ordered this axe will put his own edge on it and haft it (the haft in the photos is just for show).
Nice work! I have read that while adzes were probably used by the vikings axes are usually shown doing all the work (like hewing). Nowadays, hewing axes (for any time period) are hard to find.
Hi Steve: Sorry for the months of delay in noticing your comment in forgedaxes.com I’m not too internet savvy and my comment box got filled with spam (22,000 bogus comments!). A friend just helped me improve the site immensely and take care of the spam problem. Anyways, thank you for taking note of the work. Hewing axes are my ultimate goal – in particular the goosewing axe of the Alp region. If you visit the site now you’ll see class announcements and, soon, axes for sale.
Yours, Jim.
I’m looking looking for a bearded axe just like this for my husband’s birthday. The Bearded Hewing Axe in Viking style.
Hi Holly: Sorry for the months of delay in noticing your comment in forgedaxes.com I’m not too internet savvy and my comment box got filled with spam (22,000 bogus comments!). A friend just helped me improve the site immensely and take care of the spam problem.
Well I’m sure that your husband’s birthday was months ago, so sorry for the huge delay again. I do continue to make axes for sale and teach classes in traditional metalworking which you can now see on the improved site. In case you’re still interested in an axe they generally sell for between $325 and $550 – depending on size, style, finish and whether they are hafted or not.
Best regards, Jim.
I would like to know how much a Viking war axe would be hafted?
Hello TJ: Sorry for the months of delay in noticing your comment in forgedaxes.com I’m not too internet savvy and my comment box got filled with spam (22,000 bogus comments!). A friend just helped me improve the site immensely and take care of the spam problem. Now you can see classes in axe-making that I offer and, soon, axes that I will have for sale. A hafted Viking battle axe (hafted) would go for between $475 and $550 – depending on size, style and finish. This includes $100 for the haft alone. Most people buy just the axe heads and make their own hafts or have them made. Hafts are expensive to ship (I send them in 64″ long tubes), which is another reason that people tend to make their own. Anyways, hope this helps – and sorry again for the delay.
Yours, Jim.
how much is the bearded axe as built.
Hello David: Sorry for the months of delay in noticing your comment in forgedaxes.com I’m not too internet savvy and my comment box got filled with spam (22,000 bogus comments!). A friend just helped me improve the site immensely and take care of the spam problem. Now you can see classes in axe-making that I offer and, soon, axes that I will have for sale.
I currently charge $375 for the smaller bearded axes with hafts about 40″ long. I now weld them using the asymmetric wrap technique which was the standard method used in the Viking age. Hope this helps, and again – sorry for the huge delay in getting back to you.
Yours, Jim.