Legacy Arms/ Generation 2 Viking Field Axe

[GUN SNOB]

I just got this Legacy Arms/ Generation 2 Viking Field Axe in the mail today

Manufactures specks:
Blade length: 8.5"
Overall: 32"
Weight: 2.5 lbs.

Out of the box it is sharpish. Not a problem. That can be fixed easy and seems like a minor complaint we hear a lot. I re sharpen every thing any way so the factory edge never last past the first sharpening.

The head is well shaped and finished with only one small forging divot that can be felt in the surface along the inside radios of the beard. (One too many hammer blows.)

The head has a steel wedge and a cross pin threw the handle. Won’t come off using but has a little wiggle. A little BLO should tighten that up quick enough. I would like to see wood handles dried better before assembly and storage but have had more than one delivered a little loose. I just expect to have to oil them when they get here. Maybe I should expect more but…..

The bit is more of a blade. I have seen it listed as a Field Ax but I would think it would be much better fighter/battle Ax. At .220 thick to the eye (with no wedge/taper) and the curve of the blade I expect it to slice better than split. It should chop like a very large Tomahawk.

 

[GUN SNOB]

The handle just sucks, but in a good way. It is way to fat and has a strange flat along the front edge. I say in a good way because there is plenty of meat there to shape it how I want it. I took some pictures in hand and with my HB Shawnee and next to a sledge handle, a standard hawk handle and a cold steel handle for comparison. This thing has a club for a handle.

The Eye is large, round with a flat at the bit. A replacement would be easy enough but would probably need a Mattock handle to fit. A sledge handle (the one I have) is to narrow.

 

[GUN SNOB]

With the club handle the balance point is 10 inches down from the top of the head. This and the fat handle give it a very neutral, sluggish feel when swinging. Think a ball bat with out a taper. The weight of the head never pulls threw the arc of the swing.

The head is light and the handle is heavy. Shaping the handle will help a lot. There is a lot of wood to remove. It is 11/2 thick (side to side) and 13/4 wide (front to back). At 32 inches and 2.5 lbs I expect it will be real fast and easy to recover/change direction but you just can’t get a grip on the log. With a more standard dimension handle this thing will be wicked.

A few test chops on a piece if fire wood, (red oak) it cut as well as my Estwing Camp Ax. No real shock, there about the same weight, length and bit width. Not a real test but I was there taking photos and could’t resist. After I slim the handle and bevel the edge I’ll give it a real test.

 

[BearKinder]

Thanks for the review.

I was thinking about getting one (it is indeed billed as a battle axe) for my Viking stuff.

How does the steel seem (hard, soft, etc)?

I thionk I might actually like the big, thick haft on it. I was a bit disconcerted with hot it narrows to mount the head.

 

[Dusty One]

Thanks for the review and pic's. She's a big one !

 

[GUN SNOB]

How does the steel seem (hard, soft, etc)?

I hit a piece of red oak hard with it 4-5 times. After I wiped the residue off I cant tell were it hit. Legacy Arms/ Generation 2 make swords and have a rep. for a good temper. It seems to have a good temper but I want to cut more with it before I say for sure.

I thionk I might actually like the big, thick haft on it. I was a bit disconcerted with hot it narrows to mount the head.

The eye is 1 5/16 wide and 1 1/2 front to back. My sledge hammer is 1 1/8 x 1 3/8. A sledge handle is to small to use for a replacement. I was worried about the taper also but not now that I have seen it. I am thinking it should be Berserker proof.

 

[Pipeman]

That is a very pretty looking head, what a great shape. Congrats.

Regards

Robin

 

[GUN SNOB]

That is a very pretty looking head, what a great shape. Congrats.

Sexy ain't it.

 

[Pipeman]

Sexy ain't it.

It sure is, very stylized. I like bearded hawks and axes but they kinda look chopped off, that point is amazing looking. Congrats, she's a beauty.

Regards

Robin

 

[GUN SNOB]

Cut test;

I used the Viking Field against a Bear Mountain Minuet Man on a 26 inch haft and an Estwing Camp Ax. I placed a piece of tape at the 26 inch mark on the Viking so the usable handle length would be the same. The cuts are 10 swings each.

The fat handle was hard to control (see the wider cut) but the blade cuts wide and deep. Because of the round Handle shape and 6 inch bit (handle to cutting edge) the Ax wants to roll in the hand. I think a better grip shape would help the depth of the cut, not that it is bad now.

After approximately 40 chops with this blade there is no noticeable loss of the edge. I would say the temper is good.

I would say this is a working/Battle ready Ax, not just a wall hanger.

 

[Wolf_1989]

I hit a piece of red oak hard with it 4-5 times. After I wiped the residue off I cant tell were it hit. Legacy Arms/ Generation 2 make swords and have a rep. for a good temper. It seems to have a good temper but I want to cut more with it before I say for sure.

A few years ago I bought their River Witham Viking Sword.

The one I received didn't seem to be tempered at all. If the blade was flexed even a little, it would stay bent.

So I contacted G2 and told them about the problem and I mailed it back for a replacement.

The replacement is magnificently tempered. It's a very sharp, very tough blade. Flexible but not whippy. Hard but not brittle. Just right.

 

[GUN SNOB]

Witham Viking Sword is a good looking piece. There swords are what I was looking at when I found the Ax. Not sure witch sword I want. Looking at them and Darksword out of Canada. To many styles to decide and can't afford them all.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Witham Viking Sword is a good looking piece. There swords are what I was looking at when I found the Ax. Not sure witch sword I want. Looking at them and Darksword out of Canada. To many styles to decide and can't afford them all.

I'm glad they brought back their falcata but I'm disappointed it's not the forward-curved type.

The battle axe looks good. I think if I bought one, I'd mod it by clipping the bottom of the blade to give it more of a skeggox appearance.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I actually have a double bit that looks like it was made by the same people.

Last of the Legends with a matching sword.

I have never used it. The head has a wiggle, and I tried soaking the eye with wd40 (their recommendation). Did not fix the wiggle. I also tried to two additional pins in the head. did not make it better.

I have rehandled another poll axe with a pick handle more than once, so I know how to do it. It is just a pain in the ass.