Balisong Axe Re-handle

[Ernest DuBois]

Out of the necessity of a looming dead-line and in preparation for a summer of interesting and important work this broadaxe got its new handle just now. Just like other members I have resorted to handle wood I had that was ready for use which happened to not be just the ideal wood but something less, elm in this case, all prettied-up even with some color and oiled.

The axe itself out of Austria, probably not any older than a hundred with the traditional decorations, the cross, the tree of life bearing fruits signaling fecundity and some others I have no certainty about but that are common.

 

[jake pogg]

Great job,Ernest,love that medieval carved detail in the back...It's a neat old (sinister!Goosewing...
What do you know about those "tree of life" decorations?....(somehow i was never convinced of their recent,Wagnerian origins/connotations....want to think that they're older than all that asinine horseshit...).
Also,those two marks reaching from the socket onto the blade(often they're deep indents with blade-end rounded),are those symbolic atavisms of some forging process?
Great job anyway,hope you beat your deadline.

 

[Ernest DuBois]

Ok, thanks a lot Jake. Glad you can appreciate the integrated micro adjust mechanism design of its handle. When pressed to answer such a question, about the best I can do is speculate and have a bit of fun imagining the scene. I think of a pair of interpretations on the ToL symbol. The one, biblical origin story known and covered so well where we ground our conceptions of sin, guilt a fall from paradise and hope for redemption... which is really nothing but an appropriation and abuse of the other story pre-dating that one of fertility, renewal, prosperity, power... I mean that last one seems more appropriate to go stamping on your axe if you are a smid of the time living half way up in the Alps, if you ask me. Still, I can see the association with the timeframe and place you're referring to and the existence of these Bavarian decorated axes, right 18th-19th cent. I don't know, some of the other symbols/stamps are given Celtic origins but attributing the origins of one symbol to that other one is probably not a good idea just as the idea that movie makers come up with to dress every character in the film in the fashion of one particular narrow timeframe is a bad one. You are right, we can associate the flower symbol/stamp and the nib on many axes not only the breitbeil but bandhacke and zimmermannsbeil, queraxt, strossaxt (from again, those particular times) Here is a shot of those stamps with some clarity

I do love these axes, (and more), and yet I know some who associate them and their forms with the very dark elements you refer to and that is not a pleasant thing to think too much on in terms of the consequences. Maybe you have some redemption to offer?

 

[300Six]

Lovely old head and beautiful hang Ernest! As of yet I've never tangled with an offset handle but it's easy to visualize that shaping in 3D is much more complicated than working with a 2D axis of reference. Elm is 'stringy' stuff that doesn't readily separate (split) along the grain so I believe your choice was a perfectly viable one. Short hafts on broadaxes don't get badly stressed anyway. Typically it's overstrikes, or levering-out of a stuck blade, that exposes the vulnerability of grain runout.

 

[300Six]

Ok, thanks a lot Jake. Glad you can appreciate the integrated micro adjust mechanism design of its handle. When pressed to answer such a question, about the best I can do is speculate and have a bit of fun imagining the scene. I think of a pair of interpretations on the ToL symbol. The one, biblical origin story known and covered so well where we ground our conceptions of sin, guilt a fall from paradise and hope for redemption... which is really nothing but an appropriation and abuse of the other story pre-dating that one of fertility, renewal, prosperity, power... I mean that last one seems more appropriate to go stamping on your axe if you are a smid of the time living half way up in the Alps, if you ask me. Still, I can see the association with the timeframe and place you're referring to and the existence of these Bavarian decorated axes, right 18th-19th cent. I don't know, some of the other symbols/stamps are given Celtic origins but attributing the origins of one symbol to that other one is probably not a good idea just as the idea that movie makers come up with to dress every character in the film in the fashion of one particular narrow timeframe is a bad one. You are right, we can associate the flower symbol/stamp and the nib on many axes not only the breitbeil but bandhacke and zimmermannsbeil, queraxt, strossaxt (from again, those particular times) Here is a shot of those stamps with some clarity

I do love these axes, (and more), and yet I know some who associate them and their forms with the very dark elements you refer to and that is not a pleasant thing to think too much on in terms of the consequences. Maybe you have some redemption to offer?

Except for the third eye and what look like falling bombs underneath (sheaves of wheat?) the curve and two stars may be the origin of the 'Smiley Face'. Obviously you can tell that I'm not well versed in symbolism?

 

[Ernest DuBois]

Lovely old head and beautiful hang Ernest! As of yet I've never tangled with an offset handle but it's easy to visualize that shaping in 3D is much more complicated than working with a 2D axis of reference. Elm is 'stringy' stuff that doesn't readily separate (split) along the grain so I believe your choice was a perfectly viable one. Short hafts on broadaxes don't get badly stressed anyway. Typically it's overstrikes, or levering-out of a stuck blade, that exposes the vulnerability of grain runout.

This is then the second go at handling this axe which had a nice handle in it but which was all loose. The first try was a miserable failure. Given the particular piece of wood used here, not the species mind you, I will call it adequate and hope for the best when I go at it in a few weeks time for its trial run.

(sheaves of wheat?)

yes, I like it.

 

[jake pogg]

"...Maybe you have some redemption to offer?"

IF i do(and i just hate to give ground to Such scum...),it'd be this,a fairly simple expedient:I'd relate that symbolism of a Tree to the ancient custom of tacking a living green branch to the gable of a freshly-completed timber-frame.
And this,in turn(without getting too terribly romantic and evoking Druids et c.),i'd simply credit to a simple,reasonable and most natural Appreciation of the Woodworker(carpenter,cabinetmaker,joiner,et c.) for this absolutely essential to all of us Material-WOOD.
Tree growth,greenery,it's been so downright Handy for us humans,what could be more natural than to decorate the woodworking tools with symbolism of trees growing and blooming and perpetuating themselves?!

Thanks for the photos of all these lovely tools,neat stuff.And i agree with 300Six in his analysis of the specifics of elm structure,sure does seem like an excellent choice per application.

A silly historical side-note:A bit over 1000 years ago,these two Byzantine monks,Cyrill and Mefodii,have worked up what is now known as "Cyrillic" alphabet,to teach literacy to a bunch of new converts speaking whatever Slavic dialects.
Along with that they developed the simple methodology of teaching it,where the visual shape of the letter was associated with a concept,like on childrens' wooden blocks,B=Bee,et c.
And later,the words that kept evolving reflected that an whatever degree.
One of the letters that they made up(cyrillic has 33 letters) was Ж.It took it's shape from the "dendritic",or tree-like,branchy pattern.And the symbol- word for it became at first Живот(belly,or stomach),later transforming into Жизнь (life)
Yet later it caused a logical consequence where the old style external iron hinges on doors got the name Жиковина,for their obvious sprawling,tree-like visual appearance.
And those,located as they were on the main opening to the dwelling(where the evil spirits were most likely to penetrate),of course symbolised the Benign,Life-affirming influence of trees and all things green and wonderful.....

 

[flexo]

is that an axe for a lefty?

 

[Ernest DuBois]

No, Republicans use them also, I am told.

 

[Ernest DuBois]

Yes, flexo it's the axe I use and I am a lefty

 

[Agent_H]

That is a beautiful axe Ernest.

I followed your Holly handle from afar and appreciated the insight on the many factors to consider when putting one together for use. I have a similarly shaped thing I plan to hang and you have, in a sense, answered questions I didn't know I had at the time.

 

[garry3]

Out of the necessity of a looming dead-line and in preparation for a summer of interesting and important work this broadaxe got its new handle just now. Just like other members I have resorted to handle wood I had that was ready for use which happened to not be just the ideal wood but something less, elm in this case, all prettied-up even with some color and oiled.

The axe itself out of Austria, probably not any older than a hundred with the traditional decorations, the cross, the tree of life bearing fruits signaling fecundity and some others I have no certainty about but that are common.

I suspect that handle will have a little more curve to it over time. Is that what you are accounting for with your wedge?

 

[Ernest DuBois]

I suspect that handle will have a little more curve to it over time. Is that what you are accounting for with your wedge?

I'm sorry garry3, I don't understand. You could be right on about the reaction of the handle. Difficult to predict what will happen because I have had to shape it with little regard for the growth though luckily it is good and dry and has seasoned over many years.

Thanks AH, hopefully your handling work will be a success.

 

[flexo]

you are a lefty and a Wise man, may i call you lefty Wiseman?

can't see the wedge but doesn't seem to be a two wedges option...

 

[Ernest DuBois]

you are a lefty and a Wise man, may i call you lefty Wiseman?

Some call me Ernest du Bois, so why not?

What sticks out the top is extra handle length. The axe gets sent on ahead to France, I follow by train with the handle and when we meet up then I seat the handle. The axe will stay there then because I'm not so attached to this one. Normally a wedge is not needed.

 

[Square_peg]

Are you not allowed to take the axe with you on the train? Do they treat it as a weapon?

 

[flexo]

where in France if i am allowed to ask?

 

[Ernest DuBois]

Some years back three American heroes wrestled a guy with a Kalashnikov to the ground on this very train making it very difficult since then for carpenters.

Indre, Centre, you in the area? Flex, I got something for you, Ill be sending it up.

 

[flexo]

Indre & Loire

 

[Ernest DuBois]

You're joking!

Montmorillon, April 21 22 We are normally standing in the old center across the river, the exact spot changes so further is hard to say, not difficult to find I think. Listen for hammering on the anvil.