When a new road was being constructed in Langeid in southern Norway's Setesdal valley in 2011, workers discovered an ancient Viking burial ground. Along with coins and a stunning sword, an archaeological team exhumed a Viking broadaxe that hadn't seen the light of day for over 10 centuries. Educated conjecture has it that these artifacts may have been owned by a wealthy farmer and warrior who was subject to King Cnut, who ruled the North Seas Empire at the time. This is an axe that was designed for war, with a light, thin blade capable of making fearsome shearing cuts. The blade has a reinforcing ridge 1-1/8" from the edge and over 10-1/2" of effective cutting area. Though obviously highly prized for the afterlife, the axe is only slightly "decorated" with a brass collar around the handle under the head. Categorized as a type M broadaxe in Norwegian archaeologist Jan Petersen's typology of weapons, this style of axe was used in the second half of the 10th century until the Middle Ages. This replica is a fully functioning axe with a high carbon steel blade that's battle capable like the original. Made by Windlass Steelcrafts and arrives sharpened from the factory.