Another WIP (bearded,polled bag axe)**PICS ADDED**

[Kentucky]

We took pics for the customer of the process. Just thought we would post them..This is going to be a bearded, polled bag axe..Used mostly for hunt'n chore's..The body is 1045 and the cutting bit will be 1095fg..You'll notice in the pics everything is done by hand..I always liked doing it that way but to be honest we dont have a mill or a lathe or a power hammer so we dont have a choice anyway We'd use them if we did but we dont :grumpy:
To start: In the coal fire

Here we forgot to take a pic of upsetting the end but we have upset it and forged a very rough blade shape.The reason we upset it is to have enough mass for a bearded head..Unless the blade close to 3x as wide as the width of the eye body its not bearded to me .Then we have it in a hold hardy tool so we can split the head to accept the wedge of 1095fg..

Here is the "blade" split with the cutting bit in it ready to weld up..

Here is the first welding pass..We do two-three passes..

Here we use a spring fuller to fuller the blade between where the eye will be and the rest of the blade..Just makes it easier to control the blade forging.

Here we have measured and marked both sides of the head after cooling with a cold chisel. This is where we will hot slit the eye..

Here we have started. Go thru BOTH sides and then you can meet in the middle..

After you have done a few bucket full of these it will meet perfectly in the middle like this

Here we have a flat drift thru the eye to forge the ears on. Again here we use a spring fuller..Later when we drift it to shape we will fuller some more on the eye drfit.

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More to come tomorrow folks..Hope this might help someone :thumbup:

 

[omniviking]

Very Nice:thumbup:

am always glad when you show the how to with the finished product, ready to see more

 

[kg4ghn]

I love these in progress threads, it is cool getting to see how craftsmen make stuff out of raw materials.

 

[Dusty One]

This is Great.....Thanks for taking the time.............

 

[Kentucky]

Thanks, they'll be more pics up tonight..

 

[Pipeman]

Great WIP Kentucky, very interesting and educational. Thanks for taking the time.
I look forward to the next stage.
Best regards

Robin

 

[lakelly]

I love the work in progress threads too - I wish I had (or could develop) the skill to do something like that - great work :thumbup:

 

[RMJ Tactical]

Thanks for the pics! Looks great so far.
What is your slitting chisel made from?
RMJ

 

[jds1]

I love a good start-to-finish series of pics. Thanks for posting!

Jeff

 

[NORCAL HUNTER]

Wow!! :thumbup: thanks

 

[Kentucky]

Well heres the rest of the pics. We didnt get pics of staining the haft. We'll do a post about the maple by itself later..
Here its starting to be forged out..

Over the horn to set the blade profile..

The blade pretty muchs set and ready to clean up..We will forge the edge bevels in after the cutout is done so we can leave a forge finish..The blade has to be clean and level to do the cutout right..

The head is cleaned up somewhat and the holes set for the cut out..In this case a deer track (buck of course) after this its all elbow grease and files..

After a long time and sore elbow heres the deer track..

Stamping the poll...

Well this is it..During heat treat we did forge the bevel and left a forge finish per request..It was edge hardened and tempered and the hammer poll was also heat treated like a regular hammer..
4 5/8" wide bearded cutting edge. Hair poppin sharp..

 

[church&son]

You, Hillbilly 'HawkR, are a talented man......Randy

 

[GUN SNOB]

As always, love your work.

 

[paleosteveo]

beautiful work, thats exactly the type of hawk i want. nice beard, cut out and hammer poll. how did you go about making the cut outs? suppose a guy can do it with out special gear?

 

[Kentucky]

beautiful work, thats exactly the type of hawk i want. nice beard, cut out and hammer poll. how did you go about making the cut outs? suppose a guy can do it with out special gear?

sure man, all you need is a drill and files

 

[Chris John]

Hi Kentucky.
Great tutorial i hope this produces some
new hawk makers now .I hope
Chris.

 

[omniviking]

Kentucky, thanks for sharing the rest of the story, :thumbup: nice work Pat

 

[Loosearrow]

Thanks for the posts. Nice work. I like the cut out. Very unique.

 

[A Visitor]

Great post, I'm sure the customer will be very happy- that axe is destined to become a handmade family heirloom in this mass production age.

 

[Subterfuge7]

Outstanding work and tutorial. Would love to own one of your pieces.