Generation 2 Viking Axe
Apr 3, 2010 5:11:27 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2010 5:11:27 GMT
So here's my very first review for SBG.....and it's not a sword, but an Axe. Most specifically, the Generation 2 "Viking Axe" which is currently available from several suppliers.
It's a well known fact that Vikings were quite fond of the axe as a fighting tool. It's a possibility that more axes were used than swords, swords being expensive and axes being much cheaper. Swords also tended to be a deal more fragile than your average axe, and axes had the added bonus of being useful as an all around farm implement as well, while swords are pretty one dimensional. Axes came in both the "useful for chores and slaughter" and "weapon only" versions, with the multi-use version being by far the most numerous surviving examples, indicating that they probably outweighed the purpose war axe in numbers.
The reviewed example isn't really a true replica of any known Viking axe I'm aware of. I'd more say it's closer to a generic battle axe type, with some medieval influence, but not so far off from real examples to be considered a fantasy piece. It's a solid piece of carbon steel of the wrapped eye construction type. It's clear that the piece was formed from a single chunk of steel, with the eye wrapped around a mandrel and welded to the blade. The eye is stamped "G2", otherwise no markings are evident. The metal is smooth with a few grind marks evident but well finished overall. The head is secured to the odd haft (more about this in a bit) by a stout pin running crosswise through the eye and a wedge in the top. It's firmly on there.
The haft is, well, odd. I've never seen a handle quite like it. The handle widens to a big swell just below the head, then narrows just a bit and is straight to the end. Allegedly this is to keep the head from running down the shaft.....not a problem with any full sized axe I've ever used, I'll say for the record. Tomahawks, yes, axes, no. The handle is just....huge. It's big enough I had trouble getting a decent grip, much larger than a normal axe handle, or shovel, rake, sword, or any other gripping surface I've used. It's too big, and there's no swell or ball at the end. The wood is finished in some kind of cheesy brown colored varnish like substance. I suspect this handle may be an attempt to make a throwing axe out of this.
As received, the axe has a sort of wants to be sharp edge. I tested it straight from the box. 20oz water bottles simply weren't there for this axe; it cut them cleanly in half and launched the top a good 20 feet. I missed a nice swell in the handle end about this time, the handle being large enough to be difficult to grip and the momentum nearly taking the axe from my hand at the end of the swing. 2 liter bottles posed no challenge either, but did result in a nice drenching for your reviewer. The axe proved to be a decent chopper on wood as well, but that thrice-cursed handle magnifies the vibration of each strike to a painful level.
I then took the axe to a stump and proceeded with some axe abuse. I really whacked the ninnies out of that hickory stump, with the blade edge, sides, and back. Through it all the head remained firmly fastened to the handle, and showed no ill effects.
For a weight of nearly four pounds, the axe handles quite well. This is clearly not a multi-use axe, but is designed to be a war axe. The steel seems hard enough for moderate use, but hitting a rock on a glancing axe abusing stump strike showed it won't cut rocks well.
Personally I would like to see Gen 2 make a true viking profile axe, which this, unfortunately, is not. It is head and shoulders above the ALO (Axe Like Objects) fantasy pieces I see everywhere. The handle is salvageable (hey, I've got a Dremel Tool) and the construction seems solid and no-nonsense. That broad blade simply begs for some etching or inlay work.
It's almost better to think of this as an axe kit, rather than a finished product overall. Plenty of wood to work with and nicely contoured and polished metal surfaces simply beg for customization.
Final score:
Historical accuracy: 2/5
Fit and Finish: 4/5
Structural: 5/5
Value: 4/5
It's a well known fact that Vikings were quite fond of the axe as a fighting tool. It's a possibility that more axes were used than swords, swords being expensive and axes being much cheaper. Swords also tended to be a deal more fragile than your average axe, and axes had the added bonus of being useful as an all around farm implement as well, while swords are pretty one dimensional. Axes came in both the "useful for chores and slaughter" and "weapon only" versions, with the multi-use version being by far the most numerous surviving examples, indicating that they probably outweighed the purpose war axe in numbers.
The reviewed example isn't really a true replica of any known Viking axe I'm aware of. I'd more say it's closer to a generic battle axe type, with some medieval influence, but not so far off from real examples to be considered a fantasy piece. It's a solid piece of carbon steel of the wrapped eye construction type. It's clear that the piece was formed from a single chunk of steel, with the eye wrapped around a mandrel and welded to the blade. The eye is stamped "G2", otherwise no markings are evident. The metal is smooth with a few grind marks evident but well finished overall. The head is secured to the odd haft (more about this in a bit) by a stout pin running crosswise through the eye and a wedge in the top. It's firmly on there.
The haft is, well, odd. I've never seen a handle quite like it. The handle widens to a big swell just below the head, then narrows just a bit and is straight to the end. Allegedly this is to keep the head from running down the shaft.....not a problem with any full sized axe I've ever used, I'll say for the record. Tomahawks, yes, axes, no. The handle is just....huge. It's big enough I had trouble getting a decent grip, much larger than a normal axe handle, or shovel, rake, sword, or any other gripping surface I've used. It's too big, and there's no swell or ball at the end. The wood is finished in some kind of cheesy brown colored varnish like substance. I suspect this handle may be an attempt to make a throwing axe out of this.
As received, the axe has a sort of wants to be sharp edge. I tested it straight from the box. 20oz water bottles simply weren't there for this axe; it cut them cleanly in half and launched the top a good 20 feet. I missed a nice swell in the handle end about this time, the handle being large enough to be difficult to grip and the momentum nearly taking the axe from my hand at the end of the swing. 2 liter bottles posed no challenge either, but did result in a nice drenching for your reviewer. The axe proved to be a decent chopper on wood as well, but that thrice-cursed handle magnifies the vibration of each strike to a painful level.
I then took the axe to a stump and proceeded with some axe abuse. I really whacked the ninnies out of that hickory stump, with the blade edge, sides, and back. Through it all the head remained firmly fastened to the handle, and showed no ill effects.
For a weight of nearly four pounds, the axe handles quite well. This is clearly not a multi-use axe, but is designed to be a war axe. The steel seems hard enough for moderate use, but hitting a rock on a glancing axe abusing stump strike showed it won't cut rocks well.
Personally I would like to see Gen 2 make a true viking profile axe, which this, unfortunately, is not. It is head and shoulders above the ALO (Axe Like Objects) fantasy pieces I see everywhere. The handle is salvageable (hey, I've got a Dremel Tool) and the construction seems solid and no-nonsense. That broad blade simply begs for some etching or inlay work.
It's almost better to think of this as an axe kit, rather than a finished product overall. Plenty of wood to work with and nicely contoured and polished metal surfaces simply beg for customization.
Final score:
Historical accuracy: 2/5
Fit and Finish: 4/5
Structural: 5/5
Value: 4/5