Hunters belt axe

[BenR.T.]

Every once in a while I will cut out axe head in the midst of all the knives, and I slowly work on it as a side project. Here is one of those that just really came together nicely imho.

The head is L6 saw steel, hafted on an a rustic piece of hickory w/ 2 peened brass pins. The sheath has artificial sinew flemish twist cordage, and an elk antler toggle.

This thing is very light and would make a great bowyer's or trappers axe.

let me know what you think!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Scott A. Roush]

that is really nice... I'm gonna have to make one in that style some day. Very clean work....

 

Does anybody know if that construction style was common for tomahawks? What about Europe? Were axes ever made that way?

[Alan Longmire]

Does anybody know if that construction style was common for tomahawks? What about Europe? Were axes ever made that way?

 

For metal tomahawks, no. For stone ones, yes, kind of. Slightly different socket for the much thicker stone heads, and of course no pins. One exception on the metal ones statement: Some of the earliest trade goods included thin iron wedges. Very rarely one got hafted like that, but again without the pins. An adze-like mount was more common.

 

For Europe, only in certain areas during the bronze age. The eye/socket evolved very early in metal tools.

[Scott A. Roush]

Thank you Alan... Interesting it wasn't done that way more often. Less work and it seems like a durable construct.

 

Sorry for diverting attention from your blade Ben... Very nice work again.

 

Do you stamp your mark?

[BenR.T.]

No worries Scott! I have always wondered the same thing, All I had ever seen were stone tools.

Yes the mark is stamped, I just bought it a month or so ago.

[Martin Schutte]

Ben very nice work love you’re Axe and “sheath”, just one Question can this design work hard or is it only for light work??? I would like to make one for myself that will work hard in the bush. Once again cool axe Martin

[dragoncutlery]

the up side of an eye is if your blowing threw an object it will push said object around the haft protecting it instead of directing it to it also with the eye there is the take down ability also drilling holes in wood has never strengthened it light work a few limbs skinning ect fine whole forest to be leveled give me an eye and a spare haft just in case and a file to sharpen with and some water cuzz choppings thirsty work

[Scott A. Roush]

aye... good sense.

[Dan Scott]

Very cool. Looks like you really nailed the fit between the head and the haft. That's one beautiful axe.

 

Martin, I made an axe like this, but with a paracord wrap and 5 steel pins, and I've been using it for a few months pretty heavily and it hasn't budged a bit. However, the geometry on mine isn't really suited for splitting wood. It is very good for chopping small stuff, though, and I've used mine very roughly in that regard. I now use it as a practice axe for throwing. It's probably taken at least 200 throws thus far and the construction is still holding strong. I haven't even had to replace the wrap.

 

-Dan

Edited May 19, 2011 by Dan Scott

[Wild Rose]

I have to respectfully disagree with Alan - while this celtiform style was not common by any means with a steel blade there are existing examples of American tomahawks with such heads.

The book American Indian Tomahawks by Peterson includes a couple of examples of these celtiform styles - one is from the Poncas and is dated 1840 which is rare indeed.

 

Overall the eyed axes/tomahawks are by far more common and useable........

Edited May 19, 2011 by Wild Rose

[BenR.T.]

Great points! I think to many people want a knife (or axe) that will do EVERYTHING, instead of using it for its designed purpose. A well made custom knife will take a ton of abuse, but that is no excuse to not use some common sense imho. I wouldn't use a splitting maul to fall a tree, and I wouldn't use this to build a log cabin! It would work great for making a bow, scraping a hide, or chopping some brush though!

 

just my opinion.

 

Ben

[Alan Longmire]

I'm always happy to be corrected by Chuck; he knows far more than I do about these things. There's always one or two examples of any possible way to make something.

 

I DID say they were very rare except in the earliest trade goods, though! The ones Dan linked to down in the Design and Critique forum are contact-period ones, ca. 1540-1700-ish. The English were still trading those iron wedges to the Indians as late as 1760, alongside trade axes and hawk heads.

 

In the southeastern woodlands the usual haft form was made to resemble an Ivory-billed woodpecker with the blade being the bill. I've seen one currently at the museum in Moundville, Alabama with a four foot long haft and a foot-long stone blade from ca. 1350. It was found in the banks of a slough along the Black Warrior River.

[Scott A. Roush]

I love these!-

 

http://furtradetomahawks.tripod.com/id10.html

 

I'm gonna make one from the gnarliest piece of wood and steel I can find....

 

Ivory Billed woodpecker, eh? What a pointy blade! If I'm imagining it properly. Should make a great pickeroon or nifty for poking holes in peoples skulls....

[Alan Longmire]

Ivory Billed woodpecker, eh? What a pointy blade! If I'm imagining it properly. Should make a great pickeroon or nifty for poking holes in peoples skulls....

 

Nah, the broad edge was forward. They're still darned cool-looking.

 

Edit: here's a pic of a ceremonial one made entirely of stone. The real using ones looked similar, but with a wooden haft, of course.

 

[Martin Schutte]

Thanks Dan mine will be used by a friend (traditional bow hunter buddy) and official tester of all my knifes and choppers , will be thinking about doing a Para cord wrap for strength.

Can you maybe put a link of it or a couple of picks on that I can get a feel for size!

 

Thanks all on the info it will help a lot!!

Martin

 

Edit Sorry Dan I found youre Axe after searching!!

Edited May 20, 2011 by Martin Schutte