Cold Steel Viking Battle Axe

I'm very pleased with this axe. It's super sturdy and feels really good to maneuver around. You have to attach the axe head yourself, which wasn't what I expected, but I probably missed that part about it in the product details. No big deal. The pre-sized whole in the axe head to drill through to securely attach to the haft is slightly smaller than it's supposed to be, which in annoying, but I have to give them props for using very high quality steel to make it. It broke my drill bit, and as I'm typing this I'm trying to figure out how to remove the broken bit. Bummed it's stuck in there at the moment, but I'm so pleased that the steel is good enough to break a drill bit that I can give it less than a stellar review.

I did not know what to expect, but trust me I was surprised when I opened the sturdy, heavily seal, massive box I found at my door.I found a well packed beautifully finished Hickory handle, then in another heavy cardboard box I found the axe head, perfectly packed.Upon opening the smaller box I was speechless at the sight of the gleaming polished high carbon steel axe head that could shave you, if you dared!Assembling the head on the axe was a breeze, a tight solid mount that in my opinion does not the attaching pin set.I have done many living histories, and as relaxation I go to Renaissance Festivals. This axe does not show forge and hammer marks or rough hand hewn marks on the shaft of a true period piece, but to the average person one could want for no better!!!! And we all know the average Viking carried an axe or spear, only the King or the richest of Warriors could afford a sword!I love this axe and look forward to buying more from Amazon!P.S.Amazon must be located in my backyard with shipping so fast!....Love it!

First, shipping was crazy fast. I purchased this axe on a Saturday and it was on my doorstep Tuesday morning. Everything was well packaged and protected so I have no issues there. My one word to anyone wanting to order this and assemble it ( yes assembly is required but I knew this already) and get there inner Ragnar on, The handle pole is so thickly protected with a thick lacquer that the axe head will not even go a good six inches up the handle upon initial assembly attempt just to see how this thing is going to look. I have already prepared to sand the pole so this is no great issue with me. About the handle, they did send my a wonderfully beautiful piece of hickory that has a beautiful grain pattern and is straight and solid. I am very pleased with it and cannot wait to get it sanded to see the wood without the varnish. This handle is SOLID! You could use this thing for a short defensive staff all on it's own if you so wished. I must find out if cold steel sells extra handles. I have not found them for sale online anywhere. The head is nice and seems to be well polished. The grain pattern of the steel is uniform. My complaints with the head are few. It is dull to the point where I can safely run my finger across the edge without fear of being cut. The angle of the edge is very steep and does not seem an appropriate edge for a weapon designed for cutting flesh . This is a weapon not a wood cutters axe and I will re profile the edge as I can as this is a large edge to deal with and I have to work out the logistics of it. I am not the greatest of free handed sharpeners. The horn designed for stabbing is non existent. Just not there. A rounded place where the sharp point is supposed to be. I will also have to find a way to bring back the sharp horn to this axe. This axe will take some minor work to get it where it should be, but for the price, it is well worth the time. I am in no hurry as Lindisfarne was raided long ago and I can take my time and get this right. It is absolutely worth the price I paid for it and I would order it again at this price. Besides, isn't a little time and effort in making the axe personally your what it is all about? STILL if anyone knows where they are selling extra handles for this PLEASE let me know!!

what was delivered to me (shipped/sold by Amazon) was NOT new Cold Steel. it was either a counterfeit or a bizarrely, horribly abused used one. the haft had had a botched "scorched grain" effect attempted. looked like one of those uber cheap hafted martial arts "weapons" one sees at the swap-meet. the finish was a bubbly, rough cheap high gloss. the shaping was uneven and sloppy. none of this looked/felt like a Cold Steel haft and i own several of their wood handled items. on top of this a random hole had been filled flush with a plastic screw anchor!of the blade... dull, dull, dull. appeared to have been ineptly attacked by someone wielding a very coarse carborundum stone. they only achieved scratches. deep ones. this blade was not brought up to a fine polish, was a uneven brushed finish. couple of large chips/manufacturing flaws around the eye. shaping was not symmetrical. rubber (?) residue or "something" globbed around eye/poll areas.it screamed FAKE!or a seriously abused piece. or both. which i feel is a distinct possibility. i use/collect edged tools/weapons so i have some knowledge. i read through many reviews (too many probably) and it is pretty obvious that a goodly number of reviewers are doing......odd things to blades (and other things too).so be aware. if you do buy one i hope it is a real Cold Steel (darn fine products). and a new one.almost forgot- this came very poorly, possibly dangerously packaged. Cold Steel is excellent in securely boxing their items. the box for this had been crudely folded and barely taped. the inside boxed axe head could slide back and forth with no padding.