My baby is done!!!

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Some might remember this thread I started a while ago:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=707884

Well today is the day! I'm finally done!

Turned out to be a lot of work, gave myself tendinitis working the handle by hand, scraping it to size as it had a tendency to splinter if I tried to carve it. A few working shots

How it started:

After some profiling on the scroll saw and preliminary scraping:

Comparing it to the broken handle:

This was a great labour of love, the handle is very hard wood, and it was completed on an oblong hemicircle eye. A wood file and scraping with a variety of knives (Koyote big leukko, Spyderco Bushcraft, Dozier small FB, and my wedding necker) to turn a 1" thick board into an axe.



What is this???

And this?!?

Hmm.......

Continued below for suspense.........

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Okay so here it is in full glory- My baby!!! (otherwise dubbed "The Dwarven War Axe of Valor"- but I prefer my baby)

And as it appeared when it was just dry fit tightly:

And with the sheaths:

The spike (1/4" annealed O1) is something that I have always wanted on this axe- not for zombies, but to save my back when chopping logs. It extends 1.5" off the back so the poll can still be used as a hammer. It is held in by 3 screws and the entire head is epoxied in place.

The butt plate is for percussion, as well as being a good counterbalance- after all the head does weigh 8# alone. The handle is 28" long as is more robust than the prior one. It is taken to a 400 grit finish and has 3 coats of Tung oil. I left the butt dark on purpose to give it some extra contrast with the butt plate. The sheath is a friction fit kydex with a pull down constriction to keep it tight (see the antler bead on the kydex. The yellow spike is also Kydex, and I chose the yellow to match the handle and make others even more aware that the spike is there because nobody is used to a spike on an axe. I may attach the spike kydex to the red rope in the future in order to make it essentially one sheath. But for now it looks effective. I understand that this design won't be for everybody- but neither is a 8#/10" head hewing axe for primary woods axe!!

Please give me honest feedback and your opinions- good or bad with this design. If you like it- tell me why, if you don't- tell me what you would change (other than a good leather back harness/ sheath- I'm not quite there yet with leatherwork!)

I can't wait to get this out and work with it- trees should be afraid, very afraid!!!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

First thought:

"If he's telling me that's 28 inches long, that one huge friggin head!"

That haft really needs some decoration of some sort. Time to get that woodburning kit and go wild!

Don't really like the spike to be honest, but I understand why it's there.

 

[omniviking]

get job Kris, got a broad axe with a built in pick a roon to turn logs.

good job of making our tools making the work easier on you.

Pat

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

CPL- that is a big head (kind of like my own- 130th -ish percentile for adult males), therefore it gets a big handle. I understand what you mean about the spike- I thought it would be a bit polarizing on here (and judging by the lack of responses I guess most do not like the whole package- it is much nicer than the other one I made for the maple handle but never got around to putting it on.). It is made for work, not show and I hate bending over to pic up log pieces to be split, so it is a lazy maker, plus should work well when things are iced over. I have thought about decoration, but when I tried it on scrap wood it did not do the piece justice. Plus any decoration would be on the butt portion as the shaft is smooth for work. Plus I have to put it through its paces before anything else, just in case it does shatter like the previous incarnation.

Thanks for the replies you two- I appreciate it.

 

[coyotebc]

I like the handle.
If the spike serves a purpose then good on you
I would love to see the axe in person

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I have thought about decoration, but when I tried it on scrap wood it did not do the piece justice. Plus any decoration would be on the butt portion as the shaft is smooth for work.

That's the beauty of woodburning -- you don't have to make it any less smooth and you can have a good design.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

CPL- the major problem is that I don't have a good design that I fell would compliment it (for now). Plus all wood burning I have seen leaves grooves in the wood, and the way I used my axe in the past it would not be very good IMO- but feel free to come on down and show me how it is done the next time you are in the neighbourhood!

You too Coyote- open invite!

 

[Dusty One]

Looks like it will do the job for you...Great job on the handle !

 

[coyotebc]

CPL- the major problem is that I don't have a good design that I fell would compliment it (for now). Plus all wood burning I have seen leaves grooves in the wood, and the way I used my axe in the past it would not be very good IMO- but feel free to come on down and show me how it is done the next time you are in the neighbourhood!

You too Coyote- open invite!

Thanks, same goes if you hit the vancouver area

 

[pullrich]

Very cool, was nice following the progress on this one