The Mammen Axe, one of the best-known and best-decorated examples of the small Viking throwing axe, is a perfect example of the Viking’s blend of art and war. Excavated from a famous 10th century barrow near Mammen Denmark. The original iron axehead used decorative silver wires to create the Norse artwork which portrays a glaring human face, and a fantastic bird that twists around its own wings, which then turns into plant shoots. The axe was too beautiful to have been used in battle, and was probably carried by a chieftain to show off his power and wealth. Our recreation of this beautiful piece is a tribute to the creative as well as the martial side of this dynamic, influential culture.
Basic Maintenance Tips:
You should observe some basic maintenance best practices to keep your axe in its original condition for years to come. When you receive it you will notice that the blade edge is untreated steel and has oil on it. This is not a stainless steel kitchen utensil. The exposed polish metal will tend to rust over time, especially if people touch it with their fingers because the oil in the human hand will cause it to rust more quickly. Also if you leave your windows open on a rainy humid day that will cause it to rust more quickly as well. If you don't touch it with your finger tips, or expose it to humidity and keep a thin oil protective coating on it, you may be able to go for several years without having to polish the metal.
If it does start to rust, don't worry this is natural. The best practice is always to use the least abrasive cloth or pad, and polish it as lightly as possible. You can polish it with "3 in 1 oil" that you can get at a hardware store, or some other type of thin clear oil like sewing machine oil for example. When you polish it don't use a steel wool Brillo type of scouring pad because that will be too abrasive and cut into the metal. You simply need to use a soft cloth and polish it very lightly. You may use one of those all purpose non scratching scouring pads, they are usually made of a green synthetic cloth like material, but again polish it lightly.
