This axe combines the bearded axe design from the Viking Age and magical modern materials that the Vikings would surely have used if they got their hands on them. If you want a unique companion in the wilderness or the post-Ragnaröktic wasteland, this could be it. Also usable as a throwing axe.

CRKT Berserker was designed by Ryan Johnson who has been creating knives and tactical tomahawks for over 30 years. His background in tomahawks can also be seen in this axe even though inspiration has been sought in the Viking world, too. He has spent years redefining the role of the tomahawk in law enforcement and military applications. Ryan is the president and primary designer at RMJ Tactical, whose hawks are very popular among special forces.

Axe head

The head is forged from tough 1055 carbon steel that ensures a long and happy life before Valhalla. It also provides good edge retention unless you try to hack through rocks and steel doors. The black manganese phosphate coating was only used on Thor’s hammer back in the old days but is luckily nowadays also available for us mere mortals. It improves corrosion resistance and hides you from the frost giants. The blade isn’t razor-sharp, so if you want to use this axe for more detailed stuff, it could use some additional sharpening. As a throwing axe, it is definitely sharp enough.

Handle

The handle is made of durable Tennessee hickory, which is a dense material that withstands hard use, thus commonly used for axe handles nowadays. Not native in Europe so we had to use crappier materials here until the Vikings went to Vinland and brought back hickory, cardiovascular diseases, and Manowar.

The head is not attached to the handle in the package but assembly is very easy. For a Finn, the handle is attached backwards but the method is familiar to everybody who has been using tomahawks. The good thing is that you don’t need a wedge and the head will not go flying that easily. The downside is that the handle is narrower at the bottom, which might feel awkward if you are used to shaped handles. This is a matter of preference of course. You can easily make a shaped handle with a wedge for this axe if you like. If you make a longer handle, you can increase the chopping power as well.

Sheath sold separately

The leather axe blade sheath is sold separately. We recommend getting one of those to protect both the blade and everything around the blade. Unless of course, you enjoy sharpening, sewing slashed things, and first aid.

Use

A bearded axe heavily influenced by the Viking Age isn’t perhaps your typical camping companion. Yet it also works as a hiking and bushcraft axe. Since the handle is easy to replace, this can also be used as a throwing axe. Of course, throwing things around will mean that the handle will eventually break and the head will get dents. Luckily the handle is very easy to replace.

The axe head is wide, which makes it a bit tip heavy. If you want to fully exploit the weight, you might want to make a bit longer handle to get more power.

Made by Columbia River Knife and Tool

Columbia River Knife and Tool® is an American knife and tool-manufacturing company founded in 1994. They are known for high-quality folding and fixed blade knives and tomahawks.