Most of the character in this axe is in the handle. The ashwood shaft carries a hand-carved pattern drawing on traditional Norse handle designs, wrapped in a two-tone black-brown leather that’s genuinely unusual in this collection — most of the range uses a single leather color. At 17.5 inches overall with a 4-inch cutting edge, it’s built to the same working dimensions as the rest of HM Knives’ carbon steel axes; what sets it apart is entirely in the details of the grip.
The Handle Pattern, and Why It Matters
Viking-era axe handles weren’t left plain — surviving archaeological examples show carved and burned patterns along the shaft, both decorative and functional, since texture improves grip. This handle follows that same idea: a hand-carved pattern that’s not just for looks, giving your hand something to grip against instead of smooth, slippery wood.
Two-Tone Leather Wrapping
The black-brown leather wrap is a deliberate departure from the single-color wraps used elsewhere in the collection. It ages and darkens differently across the two tones as it’s handled, which means the wrap actually looks more distinct the longer you use it, not less.
Built for Real Use
Underneath the handle detail, this is still a working axe — forged from high-carbon steel and hardened to 58-60 HRC, the same range used across HM Knives’ collection. It’ll handle camp chopping, brush clearing, and general outdoor use without issue; the handle craftsmanship doesn’t come at the expense of the axe actually functioning as a tool.
Handmade to Order
Every axe ships with a leather sheath and is made to order, typically 5-7 business days before it leaves the forge. Because the handle carving is done by hand, no two pieces carry the exact same pattern. If you’d rather see the rest of what we forge, our full handmade viking axe collection covers every style, including versions with plain single-color leather instead of the two-tone wrap here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the handle pattern carved by hand or machine-stamped? By hand — which is why the pattern varies slightly from piece to piece rather than being perfectly identical across every axe.
What does the two-tone leather look like over time? The black and brown sections age and darken at slightly different rates as the leather is handled, which tends to make the two-tone effect more noticeable with use, not less.
Will the carbon steel blade rust? It can if left wet. Wipe it dry after use and keep a light coat of oil on it in storage — see our axe care guide for the full routine.
What’s included with the axe? The axe itself and a leather sheath. Custom engraving elsewhere on the blade is available as an add-on if you want it personalized.
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