Black King Swedish Axe

Blunt Forged Edge · Jun 7, 2012

Got this today.

Interesting looking grain[ing]

The Straight

Three wedges

Under the eye

Under the eye at the poll. What's this indicative of? Not that it cannot be remedied like say re-hung.

The measurements and its weight.

The Cheek[iness] of it all.

Axe in hand.

Not a shelf queen by any means, but from what little I gathered on this Black King is that it's a working chopping axe. By the way, it did come quite sharp to say the least. This one's a keeper too!

bearhunter · Jun 7, 2012

thats a real beauty... where did you pick her up at?

Blunt Forged Edge · Jun 7, 2012

bearhunter said:
thats a real beauty... where did you pick her up at?

Thanks! I got this one from Maurice Gardy who has a Specialty Log Building and Timber Framing Tools company up in Prince George B.C.

willseeyalater · Jun 7, 2012

That looks good all around except what did they do to it on the poll side fit? Is it really wide gaps like the picture shows? I think what you could do is make up some wedges to fill it in and shoot some epoxy in there before you drive them in place. Make your wedges overlong and trim them off after the epoxy sets. Looks to me like someone was not watching when they use a premium haft but the fit is so far off. Maybe that haft was intended for another head pattern but got by them and set on yours. Even worse they let it go through QC and shipped it.

cooperhill · Jun 7, 2012

Nice lookin axe. Axe head should have been hung further down on the shoulder of the handle. That gap shouldn't be there - just a bad hang.

M3mphis · Jun 7, 2012

Nice looking piece. I agree with cooperhill. I'd just move the head down on the shoulder where it should be. Of course, that will probably put your overall length down to 31 or 30.5" which is kinda short for an axe of that weight, but I bet you'll like it. I would.

screened porch · Jun 7, 2012

That's a beautiful axe and a beautiful helve.

I would probably do the glued wedges trick underneath, because even if it wants to slide further down on the shoulder, how are you going to deal with those iron pipes they used for wedges up top? Maybe they should go back to selling just the heads and let them hang 'em as knows how.

I want to say something nasty about the fit and finish of expensive axes compared to cheap axes, but I don't know what % of Germans and Swedes are perfect ones that aren't showing up on the forum.

d762nato · Jun 7, 2012

Good looking ax, congrats and i don't think that head will ever come off.

made2cut · Jun 7, 2012

Looks to me like they messed up the eye. The back end doesn't have a smooth transition, it's wider at the sides and then does a dip in at the end leaving those gaps.

Operator1975 · Jun 7, 2012

You will be better off taking that haft off and re doing it yourself.

Put the right size haft on there, you will be good to go. I dont know anything about that maker or mark.

HandAxeProMan · Jun 7, 2012

All of the fixes above will work. Which you choose is up to what you will be OK with. Please let us know how it functions as a chopper.

Howard

Operator1975 · Jun 7, 2012

Is it somewhat safe to assume that if it has the o rings in it for the wedges, that it isnt that old, or atleast the haft is new?

Square_peg · Jun 8, 2012

Blunt Forged Edge said:
Under the eye at the poll. What's this indicative of? Not that it cannot be remedied like say re-hung.

..... from what little I gathered on this Black King is that it's a working chopping axe.

If the head is tight then just use it as is. If it ain't broke.......

scruffuk · Jun 8, 2012

This is a very familiar looking pattern for me (I have one of the same), but I've never heard of the brand.

Many of the 'felling' axes I see in the UK are very much like this, and hung just the same!

Am I right in thinking there is no high centre to this one?
Have you tried a file on it? Wondering about the hardness.

Blunt Forged Edge · Jun 10, 2012

Thanks for the comments. Yes, I was thinking of re-hanging this one, but will leave it for now since the helve appears is new. As for the axe head itself? It always can be finished.

scruffuk said:
This is a very familiar looking pattern for me (I have one of the same), but I've never heard of the brand.

Many of the 'felling' axes I see in the UK are very much like this, and hung just the same!

Am I right in thinking there is no high centre to this one?
Have you tried a file on it? Wondering about the hardness.

Interesting and good to hear that this seems to not be an uncommon axe. Don't know about the hardness of on this one and I've left the axe's sharpness as is, though it is sharp about on par with the Arvika 5 Star. Only that I feel the latter is built better. Will see.

As for the high centerline on the Black King, it appears to not have one. Here's a few shots of it with and without flash.

Notice the discoloration on the heel of this bit. Kind of suspect or maybe just (?)

Also, probably doesn't mean anything, but this one has a higher longer--if you will--pinging/ringing sound when I flick it with my finger as opposed to the Arvika. Kind of sort of like when one flicks crystal glass and plain ole glass?

Square_peg · Jun 10, 2012

Blunt Forged Edge said:
Notice the discoloration on the heel of this bit. Kind of suspect or maybe just (?)

Looked like somebody overheated it on a belt grinder. That might have damaged the temper.

Blunt Forged Edge · Jun 10, 2012

Square_peg said:
Looked like somebody overheated it on a belt grinder. That might have damaged the temper.

My thought's the same I'm afraid. But at this point, it is what it is.

snarkingturtle · Nov 18, 2023

Trying to reup the images from OP

Blunt Forged Edge said:
Got this today.

Interesting looking grain[ing]

The Straight

Three wedges

Under the eye

Under the eye at the poll. What's this indicative of? Not that it cannot be remedied like say re-hung.

The measurements and its weight.

The Cheek[iness] of it all.

Axe in hand.

Not a shelf queen by any means, but from what little I gathered on this Black King is that it's a working chopping axe. By the way, it did come quite sharp to say the least. This one's a keeper too!