ball peen hawk

jiminy

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Oct 25, 2004
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(I put this in the bladesmith shop talk section ...I guess it actually goes here.)

This was an old rusty unmarked ball peen hammer. I'm guessing it's L-6 steel ...definitely a good amount of carbon with maybe some nickel and/or chromium in there too.

Now it's a tomahawk. OAL is 16 1/8", hawk head length is 4 7/8", blade length is 2 1/2", coup spike length 1 1/4". Cherry haft cut and hand sanded out of 3/4" cherry stock.

hawk1.jpg

hawk2.jpg

hawk2b.jpg

hawk3.jpg
 
Outstanding work. How did you do it? What steps are involved? Recycling at its best. I want one.

Check out the Bronk Hawk: www.bronksknifeworks.com
I handled and greatly admired one of his polished dark damacus hawks, with an exotic Australian wood handle, at the OKCA last weekend. He was asking a fair $400 while I had $40 after some other shopping there. I did buy, can you say credit card, a EdgePro Apex model sharpening system from him after seeing his excellent demonstration of it. He sold out of these on Saturday. Man am I happy with this non-frustrating sharpening tool.

oregon
 
Thanks for the nice compliments.

How?

Let's see ....First, I just let the forge burn off all the rust, then shaped the blade from the large ball, straightened it up, then shaped the blunt spike from the small ball. When finished with the forging, bring it back up to heat again, let it sit there for a little bit, then remove from the forge and let it air cool.
Next cleaned everything up on the grinder, then sanded to about 220 grit. Lots of hand sanding involved in these, as its hard to get any machine into all the nooks, crannies, and weird angles. Oh, I ground in the edge on a course belt at this stage too.
Then ready for heat treat. Warm the quench oil so it's all ready, then fired up the forge to as low as it will go and set the hawk head in the mouth of the forge on it's top with the blade vertical so that only the blade gets heated to hardening temps. Let it soak for anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes ...this one was about 15 minutes or so, then remove and quench in the oil (make sure a fire extinguisher is handy at this step ...not that I've needed it, but you never can tell). From the oil I let it air cool for a few minutes then finish the job with water so I can handle it. Quickly sand (220 grit) off as much of the burnt oil as I can within the 10 minutes I have to get it into the preheated oven. Tempered at 425 for two 1hr intervals, letting it air cool between each temper cycle.
From there it's more sanding, mostly by hand (220 grit, 400, 600, course steel wool, fine steel wool), and putting the final edge grind on it with a fine belt.

The haft was cut from a piece of 3/4" cherry stock, then sanded/shaped using a course (40 grit) disk on a palm sander. Check to fit as you go. Then it's the same sanding routine as above except skip the fine steel wool. Install*(see below) the hawk head on the haft, and wedge ...I used a copper band made from copper wire and peened it into position in the little groove that ran around the inside edge of the head with a punch, and a brass 1" screw in the center to spread the wood slightly but not split the narrow end of the cherry haft like a normal wedge would. Drill and install the thong sleeve, spread the ends with a punch. Sand everything flush and apply desired finish to haft ...this one got amber shellac.

Sounds simple enough ...but that's about 18 hours or so over three days time. This one was going to be for sale, but the wife saw it and claimed it for herself. Who am I to argue :)


* 'Install' is the technical term for positioning the head on the haft, then smacking the butt end of the haft vertically down onto smooth concrete (or other very hard surface) to drive the head fully down onto the haft ...without cracking the haft in the process.
 
Thank you kindly for the brilliant rendering of your process. I stand in awe of your skill and talent.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7313551299

Above is a link to a Curtis photo of a native american with a hawk dated about the time of Lewis and Clark Expedition. I think it is a presentation pipe hawk. What throws me is the saddled horse picture on the front belt pouch. Pretty fancy dress but the saddle seems strangely out of place on what otherwise seems authentic dress. Perhaps it was a gift. Dang but the handle is long on that hawk. I wonder what is to his left, where his eyes are glancing? Probably a fabulous babe.

All the best,

oregon
 
Jiminy what an ingenious idea and great craftsmanship. Looks like a very functional hawk and its got me thinking about what other tools I might convert. Thanks for the post and I'm glad your wife is keeping it in the family. It might sell for a tidy sum, but not for a sufficient amount to replace your effort and the pride you should have. Will make a great heirloom.
Menawa
 
Man, those are some nice words ...thank you very much. And here all along I thought I was just a rank amateur pounding out a hawk :)
 
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