Welcome to West Wolf Renaissance! We're a family owned and operated LLC business in Minnesota specializing in handmade Jewelry, Knives, Shields, and Clothing items inspired by Viking and Celtic art. Since many of our shop members have Scandinavian ancestry, we really put our heart and soul into our Viking products, which have grown to dominate our business since we started in 2002.

While we were originally known for our widely popular Viking and Renaissance shields, we eventually transitioned to handmade jewelry and clothing accessories in 2007 when some of our friends and shop members began careers in blacksmithing. We started making some simple blocky-looking Thor hammers we fashioned into pendants, realized people really wanted to buy them, and kept on making new and different items. We helped define and flesh out the Norse or "Viking" niche that had been somewhat sparse in the online marketplace at the time. But our product line has grown beyond that over the years, influencing many people along the way, to the point now where we keep seeing our designs and similar ones popping up all over the place. We've even been fortunate enough to design and make unique products for a few popular movies and television shows you may have seen.

Our jewelry and metal products are created using traditional time-honored techniques that date back many centuries. Instead of using 3D computer models or CNC machines, we typically opt for more hands-on and handmade processes. That's why we first sculpt a Master of each jewelry item using traditional sculpting tools and a firm modeling clay. Once we have that sculpted and all the intricate details shaped and refined, we cast the Master in wax for Investment Casting or "Lost Wax" casting purposes. Depending on the product, we might also use Sand Casting, which uses resin-bonded sand to construct molds where metal is poured into. But the most fun and physical process we use is good old-fashioned Blacksmithing using an anvil and simple hand tools. We find the strike of a hammer against iron or steel particularly primal and satisfying. Whatever the process or technique we use, though, the end result is usually a product with great charm and character.

Concerning Blacksmithing, some of our products are sealed when they're finished to prevent oxidization or rusting. This is usually a glossy or semi-gloss protective coating. Other products we choose to leave as raw and unfinished metal. If you have a preference, just let us know if you want your hand-forged item sealed or unsealed.

Another area of Handmade we've been exploring in recent years is Leatherworking. While this process is relatively straight-forward, there were some challenges getting started, set up, and growing familiar with the many tools that leather crafting utilizes. Fortunately, YouTube has become a great resource for learning tricks and techniques, so we're now thoroughly enjoying making bracelets and clothing accessories from all-natural leather cowhides. This will definitely be something we expand on in the future.

If you're interested in the world of all things Handmade, you may have seen or heard of the Etsy-produced TV series Making It, which aired on NBC. It's a fun and positive show which two of our shop members were lucky enough to be shown on. Kristen and Jesse are in Season 2, Episode 3 - Best Friends, and are shown 2 minutes into the episode, sporting their handmade Viking attire and accessories which they made themselves. It was great to see them in the show and have people recognize their creativity and eye for detail. We highly recommend watching the series.

Thanks for reading about us and our shop! We hope you enjoy our products and you can find something here that speaks to you. Thanks also to our many repeat customers that keep coming back for more. We love hearing and seeing how you're using the items we make. We hope to keep designing and crafting great stuff for you!

Prefer to purchase on Etsy instead? You can find our Etsy shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/WestWolfRenaissance

You can also find us on social media at:
https://www.instagram.com/westwolfrenaissance
https://www.facebook.com/WestWolfRenaissance

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon will I receive my purchase?

Most of our items are already made, ready to ship, and will arrive in about 3 to 5 Days for addresses within the United States. If you live outside the United States, we always ship via USPS which usually takes about 8 to 10 days but depends on the speed of the destination country's custom department. Should you require faster delivery please message us and we'll see what we can do.

Do you take custom orders?

Yes, we do accept custom orders. We're always busy making custom shield projects for people, but we usually don't accept many custom jewelry and metalwork orders due to the process being more involved and time-consuming. There are some times during the year when custom requests are not possible due to our high workload, so this can vary depending on what we've got going on.

Items that are Custom or are Made-to-Order typically take about 3 weeks. Our workload changes throughout the year, with our busiest months being November and December. We can sometimes prioritize your order and move it to the top of the list for and extra Rush Fee. Please message us for availability and price for a rush order request.

What are your prices for custom shields?

Our prices for custom shields depend mainly on the complexity of the design, as that is usually what determines the amount of time spent on the project. If you already have a picture or image of what you'd like done, just send that our way with a detailed description of the project and we'll get back to you with a price quote as soon as possible.

Questions or comments?

Please make a submission through our Contact Form.  We want to hear from you, so don't be shy about sending us a message!  Customer satisfaction is something we strive for, so anything you have to say is completely welcome and will be responded to as soon as we are able.