Gunstock Club

W

Wkp

Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
6
Hello bladeforums,

got a couple questions about a 'gunstock club' I'm trying to assemble. I'm not actually using a gunstock but a piece of hickory.

I need to figure out the best way to attach the blade to it, and what would be the ideal steel to use for the blade and how. Might have to have it custom made by someone, custom ordered, or find a way to cut/grind it myself. But I'd prefer to have someone make it especially if I end up using some really tough steel.

I'd like to hear anyone's comments on the shape of the blade. Just trying to see what the best design is for this. And if anyone has an idea of the best way to attach this to the hickory it would be much appreciated. So far I've been thinking I would just give it about a 4x8" tang and then put five bolts through it tightened with an air hammer. (I'll put a picture of that too)

thanks
 
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Well I'm personally partial to the example from Last Of The Mohicans. I don't belive they all had blades? As for where to put the blade I'd say right where the club would go from straight to where it angles back toward you and right at that point. That's The best I can do for ya hopefully someone will come and offer you some real help. Also it was called a gunstock war club because of the shape of the club looked like a gun stock to non Native Americans. Your making more of a war club that would have animal or a shaped axe piece in place of a metal spike.
 
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thanks otter

yah, I put the title as gunstock club because I couldn't think of what else to call it. I'm not trying to stay accurate to Native American designs but... I just figured this would be a nice club to have for multiple uses... maybe a hammer edge on the back...? Could be a nice multi tool. But mostly it's design serves as a weapon. I'm not sword trained and a club is the next best, of course, after you have learned to use a spear.

it's functions could range anywhere from a fishing bat, to self defense, to preparing soil for planting... maybe an adze, gutting hook, or hammer on the rear....
 
Artful saw cut, same width as the blade, right down the center of the handle. Pinning this is going to be fun! If you really want to get nutty about this (ie duplicate the shape of the blade within the wood) drill a pilot hole and go to town with a coping saw and various thin files and chisels until the incised shape is perfect.
 
Yep, I've been planning on using a 1/4" dado blade and 1/4" steel. Getting everything exact will be difficult but no less fun, and I have plenty of time to work on it. I think I'll be drilling five 3/8" holes in the blade. Then matching 3/8" holes in the wood with a 1/4" recess above them. The bolts will be hex bolts so they can be adjusted with tools (even of you don't have a wrench at the time) and the washers will fit snugly in the recesses. I think it would be good to use a tight fitting metal tube (5/16") that will fit very through the 3/8" holes in the wood and blade to avoid the bolts from moving around in the wood at all. The bolts will just be for compression and the washers will give it a good deal of surface area to compress on. Ill use an air wrench for the first installment and keep extra handles on hand
 
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