Flexible handle jungle axe?

[bladerique]

Flexible axe in use in Malaysia:

[video=youtube;y78U55kBv5Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y78U55kBv5Y&feature=player_embedded[/video]

"Traditional flexible wood axe handle" vid. The reason for the strange handle is shock reduction.

[video=youtube;ROADkz8vi_4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROADkz8vi_4&feature=player_embedded[/video]

Interesting.

 

[averageiowaguy]

Wtf??

 

[averageiowaguy]

I mean really, WTF? I'm not sure where this country is. How did they get the axe heads?

 

[KuRUpTD]

Interesting.

 

[bladerique]

This is weird. Is the shock from an axe really that bad? Is there another component to this?

When I was a kid, my Dad purchased a flexible shaft golf club driver for the hell of it. It was a gimmick for beginners to gain head speed. My Dad never took it out in public.

 

[bladerique]

I googled this and found some more info:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-92311.html

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the comments.

I made the video solely because I am amazed at how much traditional craft and knowledge that still exists within Stem and his people. The Semelai tribe, according to some books have made Lake Bera their home for more than 600 years and for that I think they have adapted very well to their surrounding. They are one of the few indigenous communities in Malaysia I know that still make dug out canoes, fire pistons, musical instruments with materials from freshwater puffer fish (from the lake) and even harvest tree oil using fire the traditional way (http://www.my-rainforest-adventures...sin-extraction-by-the-orang-asal-of-malaysia/). The Semelais at Lake Bera are like my 'Myth busters'


As for the flexible wood handle, Stem refers to it as 'Mempulut'. The word 'Pulut' itself means 'glutinous rice'...'Mempulut' is literally 'to glutinous rice'.

I am amazed because he did not use rattan for a flexible handle. Rattan is something he could find easily in the jungle around the lake. He told me the flexible wood handle lessens the vibration to the hands and arm when in use. This would allow them to work longer hours. If he expects to be chopping down big trees, he would soak the wood overnight as it would allow the wood to be more 'springy'.

Initially, I thought Stem was the only one using the wood. But when I visited another village where Jamri (the fire piston (http://www.sepuh-crafts.com/tag/fire-piston/)maker) is staying and casually asks him what kind of wood he uses for his axe, he too brought out a piece of Mempulut wood. Jamri was demonstrating his mempulut wood towards the end of the video.

 

[JV3]

interesting. i don't have any shock problems with a normal axe but that's probably due to the fact that i don't have a death grip on it.

 

[Cavalry_Scout]

They bought them or bartered for them, just like you, amazing!

Eta- thought I hit quote, this is in response to the averageiowaguy

 

[untamed]

Hmmm? The way he does that overhand diagonal swing had me thinking of that Abe Lincoln vampire movie recently.

 

[gregorio]

I would be worried about catastrophic failure with a tool like that, just my two cents.

Pretty cool none the less.

 

[Grease]

I bet the springiness lets you hit harder, kind of like an old blackjack club...

Or hit as hard with less effort, maybe.

 

[DxAxN]

my luck that thing would bounce back and smack me in the head

 

[sh00ter01]

I don't think any benefits from it would outweigh the lack of control when compared to a regular wood handle; definitely interesting though.

-sh00ter

 

[mewolf1]

It is probably safe to say that there is no Hickory there. This wood makes perfect sense to me. Energy is stored in the handle and released with greater force. No "buzz" upon impact.:thumbup: One thing is for certain, indigenous people everywhere have things figured out, for them.

 

[garry3]

I bet there is no hand shock at all with that haft. How can you watch that and not want to give that set up a swing or two? Have to wonder what the negetives are to that. Not at all sure here.