A unique and unusual axe (well for Maine at least!) The Basque Axe!

DarthTaco123

DarthTaco123

Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Messages
1,730
I just received my first Basque axe today, purchased it private sale. I haven't done a LOT of work with it but hot dang does it work well! It's a 3 3/4 lb head on a 25" haft (could be a bit longer but this is going to work darn well!). I think the photos will do most of the talking, but it's absolutely gorgeous, worth every penny I paid for it.
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Fantastic axe. Very different from our US models for sure. Is that a large slip-fit eye or is wedged?
 
Interesting. It looks like it might have a more weight forward feel to it with the straight handle and no poll.
 
halfaxe said:
Interesting. It looks like it might have a more weight forward feel to it with the straight handle and no poll.
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Nope! Balances like a "7" rather than a "T". If it's anything like the Italian axes I've used then it'll have some somewhat different handling characteristics that'll take a little adjusting to, but the balance will remain centered over the grip point. :)
 
The balance is certainly something to get used to, as is the handle style. Unlike the classic slim handles that you find on American axes, the one on this Basque axe is a bit thick,and the sides are nearly flat. It feels oddly comfortable, though. I'm sure once I'm used to it I'll be able to drive it home just fine!
 
7-balanced axes will feel a little odd to folks used to T-balanced axes but you'll quickly adjust to it. Just a different flavor. :D
 
Ain't that funny. I live right out in Etna, little ways outside Newport. Maybe we'll have to get together and parade our axes around?
 
The more I browse around the forums the more I see Maine listed as locations. Something in the water up here breeds axe love I guess.
 
BeardedSteve said:
The more I browse around the forums the more I see Maine listed as locations. Something in the water up here breeds axe love I guess.
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Well, yeah! We were only home to some of the finest axe manufacturers in the business after all! :D
 
Sorry to piggyback on threads...but I figured better than starting another. Just got my baby in the mail today from Lamnia.


Only downside...during shipment the axe must have been bumped or dropped...and it cut right through the sheath at the top. I emailed Lamnia...hopefully they can get me a new one. I am super happy with the axe though. Such shine you can see me in the reflection in 2 of the pictures.









All in all, I am happy. Just really hoping they can get me another sheath with the logo on it. Gotta love how careful postal people are.
 
The folks that made those certainly went that extra mile to thoroughly shine them up. With belt sanders that may not be a big deal these days but certainly is the reverse of rough finish Swede artisan jobbies. What I find to be novel about a round (and thin) poll is that a user would likely not be tempted to pound rebar and wedges with one such as happens all the time with square poll heads.
 
These Basque axes are avail thru a company LAMNIA.COM along with a lot of other cool stuff.
 
Nice looking axes! Could someone post a picture from the top so we could see the profile?

TIA

Bruceter
 
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