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- Aug 28, 2010
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Here's an axe forged in Italy by Falci Tools.
700 gram "Calabria" model (about 1-1/2 pound head)
The eye is made large enough that a handle can be slid in from the top (like a tomahawk handle). No wedges are used. This makes it easy to remove or install the handle, just a few thumps on a stump or chopping block should do it. If the head ever becomes slightly loose, it can be similarly tightened.
Some critiques: Like many European axes, it has minimal poll and flat cheeks. The bit angle is unconventional. The finish is rough. However, the removable handle is an interesting feature for a 1-1/2 pound axe head, and it may be suitable for bushcraft applications.
Here's the handle that came with the head. It is relatively long for the head weight (31"), and it is pretty thin at the bottom, with no knob.
I carved another handle from a piece of hickory, with a normal grip size and a knob.
The knob end just barely fits through the head when the handle is installed. This is shorter than the stock handle, 27" total, effectively 25" as installed (with some extra length at the top for possibly lengthening at some point before I trim it to size).
I'll be sending this axe to ColoradoWildman for him to test for a month and do a review for this forum, and probably for his blog.
Once he's done with it, I'm open to a passaround if there is anyone who is interested in trying this out for themselves. Bladeforum rules about passarounds would apply,
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/262872-Rules-For-Passarounds
and postage costs would need to be covered to mail it to the next guy after 7-10 days, and you'd be expected to post a review (added to this thread).
If anyone is interested in a passaround, tell me in a reply to this thread and I'll make a list.
700 gram "Calabria" model (about 1-1/2 pound head)
The eye is made large enough that a handle can be slid in from the top (like a tomahawk handle). No wedges are used. This makes it easy to remove or install the handle, just a few thumps on a stump or chopping block should do it. If the head ever becomes slightly loose, it can be similarly tightened.
Some critiques: Like many European axes, it has minimal poll and flat cheeks. The bit angle is unconventional. The finish is rough. However, the removable handle is an interesting feature for a 1-1/2 pound axe head, and it may be suitable for bushcraft applications.
Here's the handle that came with the head. It is relatively long for the head weight (31"), and it is pretty thin at the bottom, with no knob.
I carved another handle from a piece of hickory, with a normal grip size and a knob.
The knob end just barely fits through the head when the handle is installed. This is shorter than the stock handle, 27" total, effectively 25" as installed (with some extra length at the top for possibly lengthening at some point before I trim it to size).
I'll be sending this axe to ColoradoWildman for him to test for a month and do a review for this forum, and probably for his blog.
Once he's done with it, I'm open to a passaround if there is anyone who is interested in trying this out for themselves. Bladeforum rules about passarounds would apply,
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/262872-Rules-For-Passarounds
and postage costs would need to be covered to mail it to the next guy after 7-10 days, and you'd be expected to post a review (added to this thread).
If anyone is interested in a passaround, tell me in a reply to this thread and I'll make a list.
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