Basque Axe Ongoing review ( Video ,Pictures)

Yes, MoonW. Yellow green color. The heart wood is darker and has less of this tint, though it's still visible.
 
The heart wood in ours is usually brown, but I have seen it with a yellow tint but it is not common here. Its been my experience with it that it changes to brown when exposed to sun light. I have used it for all kinds of things. I think it was first planted in this region as a source for fence posts. Best cut green and it will bend a fencing staple when cured. Not sure how it stacks up to some other woods as far as rot resistance goes but in our dry climate the fence posts I planted in my youth are going to be there when I am gone.

This is all black locust. You would think a guy that has been around it this much would be able to recognize it....



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I saw one guy on a woodworking forum describe black locust fondly as "basically hickory but with more rot resistance." There's a reason it's a traditional choice for fence posts!
 
When i researched it a few years ago, I seem to remember that hickory will not grow in Europe at all for some reason, at least not productively. Black Locust, however, which here is very susceptible to disease before reaching good size (for lumber), will grow in some places in Europe without disease problems. I think the region was south central Europe or maybe south eastern Europe. If it gets to a good size with clear grain, it would make an excellent replacement for hickory in handles or oak in timbers, flooring, etc. Dried it has a working consistency much like mild steel :).

It will last up to 80 years in the ground, and it grows to post size in just a few years. A log I cut 10 years ago is still lying on the ground against a fence across a dip. The bark is gone but the wood is hard as a rock. It does tend to check/split as it dries, which I suspect made it ideal for splitting fence rails. Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, has a plank fence made from honey locust that goes back before the civil war, iirc. I wish I could find a reference for this, but can't now--hope I'm not making stuff up...
 
It is very rot reistant, even untreated. Fence posts, all kind of pillars, boats, support for railroad tracks (I don't kow how to call these and Google Translate didn't help..."crosses"? The stuff you lay the metal on.), are or were made out of it.
 
Charred it last even longer. Fence posts were often charred black locust. The old saying was that charred black locust will last 3 years longer than a rock.
 
Square_peg said:
Charred it last even longer. Fence posts were often charred black locust. The old saying was that charred black locust will last 3 years longer than a rock.
Click to expand...

It is pretty close to petrified wood after a year or so, anyway :). It will dull chains fast when dry. Green it is fun to work with an axe, unless you get an unusually large one.

One other interesting thing I ran across at one time was putting in posts while very green. Apparently they will take root and grow into a tree. Or maybe that was hedge apple... need to try it!

Even further off topic, there was a popular brand of work boots back before my time called Locust Post, idea being that they were tough and would last a long time.
 
'Staking' - planting green limbs is a good way to start several varieties of trees during habitat restoration/reforestation projects. We have often staked alders or cottonwoods. We don't stake black locusts because its considered an invasive tree in these parts.

I've recently come across a fair number of trees both living and dead. Some have been dead for years and are badly weathered on the surface. But just below the surface is sound hard wood. I'm constantly surprised. I'm leading volunteer work parties to clear and build a disc golf course in a local patch of woods. We're making plans to use some of the locust and cedar.
 
Square_peg said:
'Staking' - planting green limbs is a good way to start several varieties of trees during habitat restoration/reforestation projects. We have often staked alders or cottonwoods. We don't stake black locusts because its considered an invasive tree in these parts.

I've recently come across a fair number of trees both living and dead. Some have been dead for years and are badly weathered on the surface. But just below the surface is sound hard wood. I'm constantly surprised. I'm leading volunteer work parties to clear and build a disc golf course in a local patch of woods. We're making plans to use some of the locust and cedar.
Click to expand...
It can be hard on an axe, even green. My hathets seem to be OK with it, but I won't swing a full size axe at it. At least not one I care about.
 
Square_peg said:
'Staking' - planting green limbs is a good way to start several varieties of trees during habitat restoration/reforestation projects. We have often staked alders or cottonwoods. We don't stake black locusts because its considered an invasive tree in these parts.
Click to expand...

Willow and (shrubby) dogwoods are popular choices for wet areas since they will root if you look at them funny.
 
I really love the straight bit, its less cheeky then the normal round bit design

But still has a great "high center" convex


This axe is just drop dead gorgeous





it shares lineage to the original trade axe but definitely a more premium product then Rinaldi trade axe replica.

what's great about this axe and the rinaldi is that they are the opposite of each other but both perform great and swing like much bigger axes
 
These past several Weeks have been a blast, spring splitting season is in full affect.



These Basque axes have been my go to for this Doug fir wood.


The straight bit on the left, and the splitting axe on the right.


I love blasting through logs with this guy, feels so fast.


I really enjoy the shorter handle since I can accelerate the head more and I don't have to slide up the handle.


Here are some more pics for size comparison




The Splitting Axe really hides it's weight in that wrapped eye and has a very cheeky bit.

Here is a comparison to a classic double bit I inherited from my grandfather.



This axe eats fir



 
You know what, I haven't been oiling them because they aren't the nicest handles lol. Just hand Grease
 
I read somewhere in this forum about how to contact the maker of this axe via e-mail to get custom made heads/handles and to buy them directly from him instead of a distributor.

As I am from Europe this would be really nice for me.

Can anyone PM me the contact details? I can't find the thread/post anymore :/
 
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