axe bit question

[cckw]

My question is on inlay and overlay bits. is the bit of higher quality steel then that of a solid head? and/or is the rest of the head of lower quality then that of a solid head.

Just a general tidbit, I have a few that are made this way. mostly overlay, meaning the bit steel overlaps to the outside of the body steel. But have some the other direction. these lines stand out nicely after a vinegar soak.

I have several that are overlay double bits that came from Oregon. Some were very rusty and pitted, but will make cool looking axes in the end. The heads are obviously designed for real loggers so worth the work I think.

 

[Kentucky]

It really depends..Once upon a time most all axes were made with only steel bits for the cutting edge. If its a solid one piece body then it all has to be a quaility steel.
The whole reason by using a seperate piece of steel for the bit was to conserve the more expensive "steel" as opposed to the far more common "iron" or wrought iron as we call it today..The bit is always of better quaility than the body. Most commonly the body will be wrought iron or mild steel. The bit will be a higher carbon steel. Thats the traditional way axes were made. Hawks too..We always weld the bit between the cheeks. I have seen them on the outside. There is even a method for trade axes where the body is welded up and then the bit is slapped on one side and welded on..Heres a few pics of the construction of a traditional hawk/trade axe..
Here are straps on 1018(mild steel) and cutting bits of L-6..

Its wrapped into a shape like this..

Then welded up like this..You can plainly see the bit here as its not been drawn out yet..A notch is also forged in it here..

If its a solid body axe we'll split it open with a hot cut like this and weld in a bit..This was a piece of 1045 for the body and the bit was 1095..