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"...visited by many of the natives who brought a considerable quanty of corn in payment for the work which the blacksmith had done for them they are pecuarly attatched to a battle ax formed in a very inconvenient manner in my opinion. it is fabricated of iron only, the blade is extreemly thin, from 7 to nine inches in length and from 4 3/4, to 6 inches on it's edge, from whence the sides proceed nearly in a straight line to the eye where it's width is generally not more than an inch. The eye is round & about one inch in diameter. the handle seldom more than fourteen inches in length, the whole weighing about one pound the great length of the blade of this ax, added to the small size of the handle renders a stroke uncertain and easily avoided, while the shortness of the handel must render a blow much less forceable if even well directed, and still more inconvenient as they uniformly use this instrument in action on horseback..."
Quote above and sketch below (which was originally drawn upside down) are from the Lewis & Clark Journals, Ft. Mandan, ND, Feb 5, 1805
Anyway here is a CactusRose version of the style of tomahawk that was to become known as the Missouri War Hawk/Axe/Hatchet......
The hand forged blade of 1050 was made by Gib using the traditional wrapped and forged method - the drifted eye is slightly oval in shape - a known variant of the more common round eye - three grooves decorate the eye. The forge finished and age etched blade measures 8 1/2" from edge to back and the cutting edge is 4 7/8" high. The hickory handle is 18" long and 1 /14" in diameter. Handle decoration consists of three copper wire wrapped sections, edged with brass tacks - between are file branded sections with brass tacks. The grip section is of buffalo rawhide with beadwork on both ends. The beaded "drop" is made of smoke tan buckskin - below it hangs an ermine skin wrapped horse tail. Handmade tin covered iron tinklers, copper beads, glass beads and brass hawk bells finish off the deco.
For those going to Blade 2005 be sure and visit Tim Adlam's table - where this piece along with a couple of others, including our 1840's Bowie CR #15 will be on display.
Below is an original that served in part as the inspiration for this piece.
Thanks for looking - Gib, Chuck, & Linda......aka CactusRose....
Quote above and sketch below (which was originally drawn upside down) are from the Lewis & Clark Journals, Ft. Mandan, ND, Feb 5, 1805
Anyway here is a CactusRose version of the style of tomahawk that was to become known as the Missouri War Hawk/Axe/Hatchet......
The hand forged blade of 1050 was made by Gib using the traditional wrapped and forged method - the drifted eye is slightly oval in shape - a known variant of the more common round eye - three grooves decorate the eye. The forge finished and age etched blade measures 8 1/2" from edge to back and the cutting edge is 4 7/8" high. The hickory handle is 18" long and 1 /14" in diameter. Handle decoration consists of three copper wire wrapped sections, edged with brass tacks - between are file branded sections with brass tacks. The grip section is of buffalo rawhide with beadwork on both ends. The beaded "drop" is made of smoke tan buckskin - below it hangs an ermine skin wrapped horse tail. Handmade tin covered iron tinklers, copper beads, glass beads and brass hawk bells finish off the deco.
For those going to Blade 2005 be sure and visit Tim Adlam's table - where this piece along with a couple of others, including our 1840's Bowie CR #15 will be on display.
Below is an original that served in part as the inspiration for this piece.
Thanks for looking - Gib, Chuck, & Linda......aka CactusRose....