Borre Serpent Viking Seax Knife – Carbon Steel & Carved Bone Handle

Borre Serpent™ Viking Seax Knife

The Borre Serpent™ Viking Seax Knife combines a compact broken-back blade with an intricately decorated bone handle inspired by Scandinavian Borre-style ornamentation.

Measuring approximately 8.3 inches overall, this historical-style Viking Seax features an approximately 3.9-inch blade made from EN45 high-carbon spring steel. Its angular broken-back profile gives the compact blade the distinctive shape associated with traditional Seax designs.

The polished animal-bone handle is etched on both sides with an ornate Borre-style Norse motif, while cast brass fittings add contrast to the natural bone.

A detailed vegetable-tanned leather sheath completes the knife. Hand-tooled plaitwork, reinforcing bone scales, brass rivets, and two serpent-shaped brass suspension rings give the sheath a particularly distinctive Viking-inspired appearance.

Specifications

Knife Type: Small Viking Seax
Overall Length: Approx. 8.3 inches (21 cm)
Blade Length: Approx. 3.9 inches (10 cm)
Blade Width: Approx. 1 inch (2.5 cm)
Blade Thickness: Approx. 4 mm, tapering to approx. 3 mm toward point
Blade Material: EN45 High-Carbon Spring Steel
Blade Style: Broken-Back Seax
Blade Edge: Unsharpened
Handle Material: Polished Animal Bone & Cast Brass
Handle Decoration: Borre-Style Norse Motif
Handle Fittings: Brass
Handle Feature: Steel Eyelet with Brass Ring
Sheath: Thick Vegetable-Tanned Leather
Sheath Decoration: Hand-Tooled Plaitwork
Sheath Fittings: Bone & Brass
Suspension: Two Serpent-Shaped Brass Rings
Style: Viking / Norse / 9th–10th Century Inspired

Borre-Style Bone Handle

The defining feature of the Borre Serpent™ is its polished animal-bone handle.

Both sides are decorated with intricate Norse-inspired ornamentation based on the Borre style, an artistic tradition associated with the Viking Age.

The pale natural bone provides a contrasting background for the darker decorative pattern, while brass fittings complete the historical-inspired appearance.

EN45 Carbon Steel Blade

The approximately 3.9-inch broken-back blade is hand-forged from EN45 high-carbon spring steel.

The spine measures approximately 4 mm thick before tapering toward the point, giving the compact blade a substantial historical-style profile.

The edge is supplied unsharpened.

Broken-Back Seax Profile

Although compact, the Borre Serpent™ retains the characteristic angular spine associated with a broken-back Seax.

At approximately 8.3 inches overall, it offers a smaller alternative to the large Viking long Seax designs while maintaining a recognizable historical profile.

Detailed Viking-Style Sheath

The included sheath is made from thick vegetable-tanned leather and decorated with hand-tooled braid-style plaitwork.

Reinforcing bone scales and brass rivets add further detail, while two brass suspension rings shaped like coiled serpents create one of the most distinctive features of the complete piece.

Natural Material Variation

Animal bone and leather are natural materials, so differences in color, grain, and surface appearance should be expected.

The decorative work is also handcrafted, meaning individual handles and sheaths can vary slightly from the product photographs.

Carbon Steel Care

EN45 high-carbon steel is not stainless and requires regular maintenance.

Keep the blade clean and completely dry. Apply a thin coating of suitable blade oil periodically to help protect the steel against moisture and surface corrosion.

Avoid prolonged exposure to humidity and never store the blade wet inside its leather sheath.