Mammen Axe with Etchings

Mammen Axe with Etchings

The grave from which the Viking axe was recovered is dated to ca. 970/971 AD and believed to be the last resting place of a man of high, even princely status. The small iron axe was richly adorned with engravings inlaid with precious metals, leading to assume that it may have been a ceremonial or prestige weapon rather than a mere battle or throwing axe.

The original piece as well as many more grave goods and textile remains from the so-called Mammen Find (Danish: Mammenfundet) are on display at the National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) in Copenhagen.

The Viking axe we offer here replicates some of the engraved motifs of the original artefact. The high carbon steel axe head has an approx. 10.5cm long, unsharpened edge and is mounted on an approx. 60cm long wooden shaft.

Please note that this early medieval axe is not a battle ready weapon. It is primarily designed as a collector's or decoration/display piece and is by no means suited for combat reenactment. Besides its quality as a collectible, it is also perfectly suited as a prop, e.g. to complete your Viking costume.

Details:

• Material: unsharpened high carbon steel blade (not stainless!), ash wood handle
• Overall length (shaft) approx. 60cm
• Axe head approx. 16 x 10.5cm
• Blade thickness approx. 1.8cm at the neck / approx. 0.3cm before the edge
• Shaft thickness approx. 3.5 x 2.5cm
• Weight approx. 760 g
• Supplied WITHOUT sheath

Specs may slightly vary from piece to piece.

The steel used here is not rust-proof and might show slight surface tarnishing in places. We recommend you to maintain the blade on a regular basis, for example using WD40, Ballistol Universal Oil, which is ideally suited for steel care.