- Joined
- Jan 10, 2010
- Messages
- 1,818
A lot of new stuff for me on this one. First attempt at any kind of two part hawk/axe and first time making something 'tactical' that is going into the field soon. I was contacted by a local guy (scout sniper) who is departing for Afghanistan and wanted something with a primitive/frontier feel to it but with modern lines. He really wanted me to do this despite my lack of experience and he wanted as many Northern Wisconsin elements in it as possible. Well I love Winkler's Sayoc hawks... so I kind of used that theme as a jumpstart. But the head is actually an iteration of the 'Francesca' style axe/hawk that has been around for centuries. The leading edge was excellent for both chainmail penetration as well as throwing. I thought it would be a good style for his application. The head is forged from a bar of W2 and then riveted to a leaf spring (from our local iron yard) bar with normalized, high carbon pins. I was nervous that fully hardened pins would be too brittle. I used epoxy between the surfaces to keep out moisture. The wood is Lake Superior 'underwater, old growth' timber that is salvaged by diver's and sunk a couple of hundred years ago. It's hard maple. There is deer rawhide epoxy-soaked wrap and some carving.. both right in the sweet spot for the hand and both provide great grip.
I was a little nervous about how the pins would hold with heavy use but so far, after two days of insanely brutal chopping on frozen red oak... there has been no loosening whatsoever. But the worry is still there and I'm thinking about tapping another hole and putting some wire weld in it.. some kind of insurance. Or I may file out a groove along the seam in the front and put a bit of weld in. Thoughts anybody?
Anyway... I've been so chatty on this because I would like some input from you folk that have more experience with this kind of thing. I think one point of criticism it might get right off the bat is weight. It's 1 3/4 pounds.
Well here it is... 12" handle that is 1/4" thick, 5" long blade that is 1/4" at it's thickest.
Well this is definitely a rough 'prototype'.... so help me make it better!
(by the way.. the copper pin in the handle was just something to hold it while I tapped the other holes. I will probably put another steel pin there)
I was a little nervous about how the pins would hold with heavy use but so far, after two days of insanely brutal chopping on frozen red oak... there has been no loosening whatsoever. But the worry is still there and I'm thinking about tapping another hole and putting some wire weld in it.. some kind of insurance. Or I may file out a groove along the seam in the front and put a bit of weld in. Thoughts anybody?
Anyway... I've been so chatty on this because I would like some input from you folk that have more experience with this kind of thing. I think one point of criticism it might get right off the bat is weight. It's 1 3/4 pounds.
Well here it is... 12" handle that is 1/4" thick, 5" long blade that is 1/4" at it's thickest.
Well this is definitely a rough 'prototype'.... so help me make it better!
(by the way.. the copper pin in the handle was just something to hold it while I tapped the other holes. I will probably put another steel pin there)
