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Nathan Spence
Location: Virginia Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 66
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 Posted: Mon 29 Sep, 2008 10:19 am Post subject: Question about a viking axe |
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I was thinking of getting a one handed axe to go with my Viking era kit.
Does anyone have any opinions on the Mammen Axe produced by Paul Chen?
This is a link to a great web store who carries it for sale.
http://www.viking-shield.com/index.html
I am just not sure if it
will be something that can be presented in living history. I am looking for a useable
realistic one handed fighting axe. It may get used to chop some wood as well.
Any guidance is very appreciated.
Spence
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Jonathan Eells
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| Posted: Mon 29 Sep, 2008 11:25 am Post subject: Get a real axe |
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I love the look of the Chen Mammen axe, but for a real axe that would do your ancestors proud and that you can use for wood, get a Gransfors axe. Look them up online, there's a few dealers, and Gransfors does a historical line that should get you drooling. No silver inlays, but you can do those yourself!
Jonathan
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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Gavin Kisebach
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| Posted: Mon 29 Sep, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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The only complaint I have about the Mammen axe is that the haft is tiny; it feels like an axe head on a drinking straw. Maybe it just wasn't meant for hard swinging.
Other than that it's got to be the best looking mass produced axe I've ever seen. It's razor sharp too 
There are only two kinds of scholars; those who love ideas and those who hate them. ~ Emile Chartier
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Chase S-R
Location: New Mexico Joined: 31 Jan 2008
Posts: 166
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| Posted: Mon 29 Sep, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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Another axe you might consider is the Viking axe by arms&armor I have one and love it,
the Cas iberia axe is one of the best repros of a historical weapon, side by side with the original you can barely tell the difference, the antique just looks older and rustier 
Charles Stewart Rodriguez
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Lin Robinson
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| Posted: Mon 29 Sep, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject: Re: Question about a viking axe |
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| Nathan Spence wrote: | I was thinking of getting a one handed axe to go with my Viking era kit.
Does anyone have any opinions on the Mammen Axe produced by Paul Chen?
This is a link to a great web store who carries it for sale.
http://www.viking-shield.com/index.html
I am just not sure if it
will be something that can be presented in living history. I am looking for a useable
realistic one handed fighting axe. It may get used to chop some wood as well.
Any guidance is very appreciated.
Spence |
The Mamen Axe is definitely not a fighting axe, at least as it is reproduced. This is a replica of possibly the most ornate axe head ever found in a Norse burial mound, in Denmark. The handle is very small and light and made of the usual Asian hardwood, meaning it will break if actually used as an axe.
There are more useable axes out there. This one is a nice display piece.
Lin Robinson
"The best thing in life is to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women." Conan the Barbarian, 1982
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Gavin Kisebach
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| Posted: Mon 29 Sep, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | The handle is very small and light and made of the usual Asian hardwood, meaning it will break if actually used as an axe. |
I wouldn't call it a hard use axe, but I think it would work with a better handle. I'm tempted to buy one and just make my own handle on it from some cherry wood that's seasoning in my back yard. It's amazing to me that they can make these for as little as they do; it seems to defy the conventions of mass production and custom work all at once.
There are only two kinds of scholars; those who love ideas and those who hate them. ~ Emile Chartier
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Nathan Keysor
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| Posted: Mon 29 Sep, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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I have one of these along with most of the other Paul Chen axes. Yes the handle is dinky. The detailing is OK but the black finish looks a bit modern to me. I'm much more fond of the Paul Chen bearded axe personally.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"
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Gavin Kisebach
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| Posted: Mon 29 Sep, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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The finish is actually the same finish, or very similar to, what is on my custom danish axe. The maker simply left the head black after tempering and it has the same blue-black sheen to it. I don't think it looks modern at all, but we are used to most weapons having this oxide polished off. Naked steel seems more authentic to the modern eye; in everythng from axes to helms.
Powdercoating or painting are the common modern finishes that are applied to a lot of axes that make them look dreadfully modern IMO.
There are only two kinds of scholars; those who love ideas and those who hate them. ~ Emile Chartier
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Nathan Spence
Location: Virginia Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 66
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| Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 6:42 am Post subject: |
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Thanks very much for all who have given some advice.
What about this axe. Its called the Paul Chen Short Viking Axe.
This one is for sale at Viking Shield dot com.
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Tony Peterson
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| Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 10:55 am Post subject: |
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You should think about making one yourself. You can get some fine Axe heads from here:
http://www.walhalla.com.pl/sklep/index.php?cPath=22_48
Ive used this site a few times now and they've never let me down. They are cheap, well made and stand up very very well in combat.
Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas!
The time of heroes is dead: the christ god has killed it, leaving nothing but weeping martyrs and fear and shame.
If we die... it will be for GLORY, not gold.
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Jeff Kaisla
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| Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Nathan, I just looked at the Mammen tonight. Its not a bad little axe though if you want to chop wood with it you wont be able to cut anything much bigger than kindling...its hatchet sized. It does look very similar to the origional for sure..the decoration isn't all that impressive up close,almost looks like it was done with a center-punch, and the decoration doesnt stand out as well as in the picture I found. I think the silver inlay on the origional would have been very pretty. Also the finish isn't black, its actually brown which looks rather nice. I personally havn't had much success with hanwei's axe hafts, but a trip to your local hardware store to pick up a hickory handle would solve that right quick!
Hope this helps....probably would be worth the money.
Jeff
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Gavin Kisebach
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| Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Hanwei got into this business of patina a few years ago - basically offering most of thier viking weapons in a normal finish or a "rustic" finish. Some of thier weapons, like the trowing and lugged spear, are actually difficult to find in the original finish. Their bearded axe has a peened finish with a brown paint of some sort that I think is supposed to make it look ageworn and pitted, but I think it just looks peened and painted. 
Jeff, is the axe that you looked at one of the "aged" pieces that I'm describing?
There are only two kinds of scholars; those who love ideas and those who hate them. ~ Emile Chartier
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Jeff Kaisla
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| Posted: Tue 30 Sep, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Gavin Kisebach wrote: | Hanwei got into this business of patina a few years ago - basically offering most of thier viking weapons in a normal finish or a "rustic" finish. Some of thier weapons, like the trowing and lugged spear, are actually difficult to find in the original finish. Their bearded axe has a peened finish with a brown paint of some sort that I think is supposed to make it look ageworn and pitted, but I think it just looks peened and painted.
Jeff, is the axe that you looked at one of the "aged" pieces that I'm describing? |
No, I know what you mean, I own Hanweis hero axe. No this one is polished smooth (except for the decoration which is done in the peened manner), with a browned finish.....almost like if you were to quench it in vegetable oil. Kind of a brown metallic sheen. The edge is polished to a mirror finish like the other axes.
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Ian Hutchison
Location: Louisiana / Nordrhein-Westholland Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 626
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| Posted: Fri 03 Oct, 2008 7:34 am Post subject: Re: Question about a viking axe |
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| Nathan Spence wrote: | I was thinking of getting a one handed axe to go with my Viking era kit.
Does anyone have any opinions on the Mammen Axe produced by Paul Chen?
This is a link to a great web store who carries it for sale.
http://www.viking-shield.com/index.html
I am just not sure if it
will be something that can be presented in living history. I am looking for a useable
realistic one handed fighting axe. It may get used to chop some wood as well.
Any guidance is very appreciated.
Spence |
For the same price you might want to check out the "Nordland" axe by A&A. It was recently reviewed favorably here. It has a painted coat that you should remove before doing living history though. Also, if you are a real purist and don't want to use a cast axe head but rather forged, you might check out:
http://www.paul-binns-swords.co.uk/Axes.htm (well known in reenactment community)
'We are told that the pen is mightier than the sword, but I know which of these weapons I would choose.' - Adrian Carton de Wiart
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David Wilson
Location: In a van down by the river Joined: 23 Aug 2003
Posts: 803
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| Posted: Fri 03 Oct, 2008 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| Nathan Spence wrote: | Thanks very much for all who have given some advice.
What about this axe. Its called the Paul Chen Short Viking Axe.
This one is for sale at Viking Shield dot com. |
I have this axe. It's a nice-feeling axe, at least to me; that is, it feels useable.
Admittedly, I haven't put it to much actual cutting use, so I can't tell you how it holds up under the stress of "real work"..... but it's a nice wallhanger and "air cutter"....
I second the recommendation for A&A's "Nordland" axe. It's a nice little axe.
David K. Wilson, Jr.
Laird of Glencoe
Now available on Amazon: Franklin Posner's "Suburban Vampire: A Tale of the Human Condition -- With Vampires" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072N7Y591
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Hadrian Coffin
Industry Professional
Location: Oxford, England Joined: 03 Apr 2008
Posts: 404
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| Posted: Fri 03 Oct, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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I have the nordland axe
I used it against one log and the head fell off, and then the paint came off which makes it ugly looking because all the casting flaws show up
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Jeff Kaisla
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This is a standard topic
