Bearded axes are mostly associated with the Viking Age Scandinavians. These were exceptional weapons for disarming your enemy. Vikings often used shield walls in warfare and this formation was where men would stand shoulder to shoulder with shields up for protection. These walls were extremely hard to penetrate so enters the bearded axe. Imagine you are fighting alongside your brethren facing an impenetrable shield wall. With a beard axe in hand you strike taking your axe over your opponents shield and yanking it down hard. This gives your buddy the opportunity to bash the dude in the face. Brutal but necessary so there you have it the beard axe. This great looking axe has a hand forged construction made from iron steel with a rustic finish. The Bearded Axe has a cutting edge that extends below the width of the butt to provide a wide cutting surface while keeping the overall weight of the axe low. The wooden handle is made from sheesham and stained a warm brown. We may not have shield walls today but why let that stop you.