Hello, Noob with a GIANT axe question

NitsaeKram

NitsaeKram

Joined
Jun 1, 2018
Messages
14
Howdy everyone.
I am a total noob when it comes to axes.

Recently I have acquired a few old axe heads and started learning how to hang them.
I can provide some pics, but first...

Can anyone help with ID on this beast?
It weighs 25lbs and was found in SE Oklahoma under some scrub.

I bought it and cleaned it up some.

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Paul Bunyan wants his axe back.:D It looks like the worlds largest broad axe. It is hand forged, but beyond that I can't help you. I couldn't imagine swinging 25 lbs all day.
 
A fellow okie!! Good deal! I would say it is definitely hand forged and most likely a broad ax for hewing but it could have had a specific purpose of something else. Very cool!!
 
A17 said:
Paul Bunyan wants his axe back.:D It looks like the worlds largest broad axe. It is hand forged, but beyond that I can't help you. I couldn't imagine swinging 25 lbs all day.
Click to expand...

My plan is to hang it using a Bois d'Arc handle.
I have a couple trees that the creek washed out and they have been "aging" for a few years.
I just need to get down there (with a sharp chain saw) and find a suitable piece.

EDIT: I can't imagine it was easy to forge.
 
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Brian Rust said:
A fellow okie!! Good deal! I would say it is definitely hand forged and most likely a broad ax for hewing but it could have had a specific purpose of something else. Very cool!!
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Texan living in NE Texas. Dad was an Okie from Muskogee.

Thanks for the reply.
I have no idea if making such large axes is/was even a thing.

I will swing it at least once. :)
 
NitsaeKram said:
I can't imagine it was easy to forge.
Click to expand...

No sir,it probably wasn't...As evidenced by the rough-looking weld seams...(sufficient,however,to've stayed together...).

The planning and execution of the whole is definitely competently done,someone knew what they were about,and surely had a purpose in view.
Unfortunately,i've not much to add to the above assumption that it was for hewing...
Is it possible that it was never finished,ground and actually sharpened(and therefore used)?The peening marks come suspiciously close to the cutting edge...

Also,are you sure that it's 25 lbs?I don't mean no disrespect,but it doesn't quite look like 25 lbs of material judging by photos and measurements....

Thanks for showing something This cool.With your permission,if i could borrow your photos,i may ask around on some other resources about the possible provenance...?
 
Cool handmade broadaxe. If it's truly 25 pounds it would be quite unwieldy.

Many a midwest farmer spent time in the winter hewing ties for the ever-growing railroads. A broadaxe was a substantial investment for many. And most farms had a blacksmith shop. Some fella decided to make his own.
 
jake pogg said:
No sir,it probably wasn't...As evidenced by the rough-looking weld seams...(sufficient,however,to've stayed together...).

The planning and execution of the whole is definitely competently done,someone knew what they were about,and surely had a purpose in view.
Unfortunately,i've not much to add to the above assumption that it was for hewing...
Is it possible that it was never finished,ground and actually sharpened(and therefore used)?The peening marks come suspiciously close to the cutting edge...

Also,are you sure that it's 25 lbs?I don't mean no disrespect,but it doesn't quite look like 25 lbs of material judging by photos and measurements....

Thanks for showing something This cool.With your permission,if i could borrow your photos,i may ask around on some other resources about the possible provenance...?
Click to expand...

Please share.
The more info the better.

The 25lbs is as accurate as my bathroom scale. ;)
The shape is misleading and it looks smaller than it is.
That is a full size folding chair it is sitting on.
I don’t doubt it weighs within a 1/2 lb of 25.

The edge has been sharpened with a very narrow wedge.
It’s going to need some work.
 
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Square_peg said:
Cool handmade broadaxe. If it's truly 25 pounds it would be quite unwieldy.

Many a midwest farmer spent time in the winter hewing ties for the ever-growing railroads. A broadaxe was a substantial investment for many. And most farms had a blacksmith shop. Some fella decided to make his own.
Click to expand...

I wonder if some big guy (they do grow them big in OK) decided he wanted an axe that would cut down on his work?
 
An axe for squaring-up is surely plausible in this instance in the context Square_peg has it laid out. The lack of these prominent hammer marks at the bevel on the opposite face would give an indication whether or not is was intended to be single beveled.
 
Kevin Houtzager said:
Kind of looks like 3 plates welded together? Using a electric welder? At least to me? It looks like all the pieces where cut first (around the eye is th most obvious), then welded, and by then ground into shape? 25 lb is a lot of weight, even for those dimensions? I have a very old axe with similar dimensions (wrought iron and carbon insert) weighing in at about 10lb or 4,5KG.
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It’s 2 pieces.
Not sure if the insert is harder steel or not.
I’ll see if I can get a better pic.
 
It's at least 4 pieces (I don't see another steel at the bit) and it is most definitely forged welded. The left and right side plus the front and back of the eye are each individual pieces.

This begs the question, is the bit even made from high carbon steel? It would be very difficult to make that if the whole right side were high carbon steel. The high carbon side would require a higher heat in which the low carbon side would become extremely malleable. It would be awkard to forge at the least.

And it looks like the smith didn't have well formed drift for the eye. More evidence that this was a farm shop piece (which in my mind makes it even cooler!).
 
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