Another Mustad

M3mphis

M3mphis

Joined
Jan 13, 2011
Messages
2,562
These pics are rushed and not great, sorry. Last night I hung another Mustad carpenter's axe. Some of you have seen my other Mustad that I absolutely love. Here's its little brother.

I also found that a local hardware store carries some phenomenal handles from Link. I got a 28" boys axe handle and a 28" cruiser DB handle. They are lovely. They are even finished with wax rather than lacquer. Very nice and only $10 to $12.
P1070778.JPG


P1070779.JPG


"Shoulder-less" look.
P1070780.JPG


Great grain all the way through the handle (look at the grain, not the chatter marks).
P1070781.JPG


The cruiser DB handle.
P1070782.JPG


The "new" Mustad with it's big brother in blued finish.
P1070791.JPG


Someone sharpened it using the "jackass method." I'm not planning to remove enough steel to smooth out the entire bit.
P1070786.JPG


"øks" is Norwegian for axe.
P1070787.JPG


Profile.
P1070792.JPG


P1070799.JPG


Looks like some sibling rivalry.
P1070802.JPG


P1070804.JPG


Can't wait to take it into the woods. I suspect this will become my go to "forest axe."

Thanks, Fellas.

Matt
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: vab
looks good memphis! i've been wanting to get a carpenters axe myself...

let us know how they perform 'out in the woods'...

another thing; are the polls on those hardened? i assume that they are, but just want to know for sure...

thanks...
 
bearhunter said:
looks good memphis! i've been wanting to get a carpenters axe myself...

let us know how they perform 'out in the woods'...

another thing; are the polls on those hardened? i assume that they are, but just want to know for sure...

thanks...
Click to expand...

Thanks. I don't think they are. The first one I got was mushroomed badly. This second one has been filed down like it used to mushroomed as well.
 
Man those are some great looking axes. I'm keeping my eye out for a Mustad, but they don't pop up very often.
 
Trailmaker, you took the words right out of my mouth. Wow those are great looking axes! I think one of those is going on the short list. Im getting behind.

M3mphis, On a side note, I was planning on having my connecticut done to post against yours but a bruin got in the way and now I'm prepping for taxidermy. Soon...

Great looking axes as usual Matt. Keep em coming.
 
Last edited:
M3mphis said:
Thanks. I don't think they are. The first one I got was mushroomed badly. This second one has been filed down like it used to mushroomed as well.
Click to expand...
after i typed that i went back and looked at the pics, then figured that they werent hardened since they were a little mushroomed...
i know that GB's hardens the poll on their carpenters axe... thats why i was wondering...

mattyak; congratulations on the bruin... how big?
 
Just like the old world look to those. They would look really great with that special bluing patina you used on one of your other pieces.
Also looks like the New forthcoming Wetterlings. I would rather have an old Mustad though. Gonna put it on the radar screen.
What's your guess on the weight and handle length?
 
M3mphis those are some great looking pieces of hickory by the way. I wish I was able to hand pick mine. I plan on stocking up when I get off for the summer and return to civilization from the sticks.

Bearhunter; It was on the medium size as far as interior grizz,brown goes. Maybe 8'. Honestly I haven't measured it yet so that is just a wild guess.


Bear1
Bear2
 
Last edited:
mattyak said:
M3mphis those are some great looking pieces of hickory by the way. I wish I was able to hand pick mine. I plan on stocking up when I get off for the summer and return to civilization from the sticks.

Bearhunter; It was on the medium size as far as interior grizz,brown goes. Maybe 8'. Honestly I haven't measured it yet so that is just a wild guess.


Bear1
Bear2
Click to expand...

Dude, RIGHT ON!!! Nice job! That's a hairy beast...and so is the bear!
 
M3mphis said:
Dude, RIGHT ON!!! Nice job! That's a hairy beast...and so is the bear!
Click to expand...

Thanks. As for the hairy beast.... my better half's sentiments are similar. She thinks its time for my face to come out of hibernation. I think She's gonna have to wait at least until the snow melts.

Oh, and sorry for hijacking your thread. Back to the Mustads. I'm digging the Norsk inscription. SKÅL PÅ ØKS
 
Thanks for sharing, Memphis. That Mustad on a 28" haft looks like it would be extremely versatile. Large enough for serious work, yet allows one to choke up behind the axehead for delicate/precise cutting.

I have a Kelly on a straight 28" that I am fond of, and can almost do as much with it as a full size axe.
 
cattledog said:
[QUOTE SKÅL PÅ ØKS
Click to expand...
I didn't see that ??? What does it mean[/QUOTE]

Sorry Cattledog, M3mphis' axe reads "Mustad ØKS" I added the "SKÅL PÅ" as a "toast" or "cheers to the axe" roughly equivalent. My Norwegian is a more than a little rusty so if someone who is fluent can actually fix my translation please do.
 
That new Mustad is a real honey. I like it even better than your first one.

This talk of hardened polls has me thinking. I have an old carpenters axe in the 'to do' pile. I think I'll harden the poll before I hang it.
 
Square_peg said:
This talk of hardened polls has me thinking. I have an old carpenters axe in the 'to do' pile. I think I'll harden the poll before I hang it.
Click to expand...

Peg you read my mind. I was actually going to ask about the difficulties of going about doing this. I think having an axe that can do some mild pounding is a real plus when its carried in a vehicle or in the boat.

Let us know how it goes and the steps involved when you get to it if you would sir.
 
It's not hard to do, Matt, but you need a forge and fuel. There are ways to improvise a forge. Mine's home made. Alternately a rosebud torch could take something as small as an axe poll up to quenching heat.

You'll know it's hot enough when it stops being magnetic. That should be approximately at a cherry red heat. Then I would quench half of the poll for a few seconds, perhaps quickly dipping it a time or two. Leave the upper half of the poll hot and unquenched. Have the side of the poll polished before you heat it up. Then after the short quench quickly polish it again, just a patch out to the end to see the temper colors run. I like to use an angle grinder with a 100 grit disc on it. Let the temper colors run until you see a bronze color reach the end of the poll. Then quench again. If there's still a lot of heat left in the poll then only quench half of the poll again and watch the colors run again. By the 2nd time you've let the colors run the upper half of the poll and the eye should be cool enough to quench without hardening them. At this point you can quench the whole head cool. As an added precaution you could let the head soak in a 400° oven for an hour and then let it cool in the oven. That will help relax any stress in the metal remaining from the hardening process. Odds are you'd be OK without that oven soak on an axe head. Smaller items like knives are more likely to need oven tempering.

You don't want to harden the eye of your axe. I've had one crack before while wedging it.
 
[/QUOTE] axe reads "Mustad ØKS" I added the "SKÅL PÅ" as a "toast" or "cheers to the axe" roughly equivalent.


Very Cool!
 
Last edited:
That really is a good looking axe. Do you know if they made any other patterns?
I haven't been able to find much on-line about them. In a recent thread about making one axe yourself - this one would be right up there for me now. Usefull effective size- unique and no longer available - couldn't think of a better project. The new wetterling seems close.
I would want a hardened poll on my wish list. I not sure how much you could gain by trying to harden a poll made from mild steel for balance .
 
A Visitor said:
I'm not sure how much you could gain by trying to harden a poll made from mild steel for balance .
Click to expand...

You can get a little hardness into mild steel by using 'superquench'. It's a blended quenching fluid with surfactants in it which prevent a steam layer from forming on the metal. Google it or search the blacksmithing websites for more info. I've seen the formula on the web.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top