Poll Ax

Bigfattyt

Bigfattyt

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2007
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Well, I bit the bullet and bought a poll ax from CS for 29+ tax and shipping. came to like 38 I think. I am planning on buying a sledge handle and fitting the poll ax head for throwing (save the long handle for mounting when I want to put it on the wall or something). I want to set it up for throwing. I will try and get my stupid camera to synk with my computer (Some how the program got deleted from my computer, and we can't find the software cd any more).

When it comes, I will get a shorter handle for throwing and see how it works. I think the head weighs like 6 pounds (maybe a bit less) I don't remember the specs right now, but It should hit with oomph. (hopefully it is built to take the throwing).

What do you think? is making a Poll Ax head into a thrower crazy? Over the top?
 
You do mean the CS "Pole" Axe, correct? A "poll" is the hammer head on the back side of an axe or hatchet. Anyway, at 6 pounds if you can actually throw it and make it stick, why not? (Maybe as a two-hander, hmmm...) It'll hit like a sledgehammer, better have a sturdy target.
 
Yes, CS calls it "pole" Axe. I have always use the older spelling (I am not sure why, maybe because that was how I saw it spelled in arms manuals when I was younger).
Wicipedia quote "The pollaxe is a type of European polearm which was widely used by medieval infantry. It is also known by the names poll-axe, pole axe, polax".

PollAxe because it was an axe with a poll on the reverse side, not because it was an axe mounted on a pole

I finally tracked down the weight 6lbs 13 oz. 71 inch handle, and 73 inches over all (I was beginning to think I made that number up)

I think it will be a bit less than 6 pounds when I put it on a shorter handle (and I won't be throwing it with the langettes attached) I will be able to throw it, and I think my tree rounds will stand up to it (hopefully) they are almost three feet wide, and 2.5+ feet thick. It should be fun to figure out. I can stick the 2 pound CS rifleman hawk with one hand easily at 30 feet (I can throw it out past 40 feet easily with one hand, but have not figured out the rotation at that distance). Even if it has to be a 2 hand throw, still fun.
 
Bigfattyt said:
Wicipedia quote "The pollaxe is a type of European polearm which was widely used by medieval infantry. It is also known by the names poll-axe, pole axe, polax".
Click to expand...

You're right, I never heard it described that way before. Learn something new every day.:) Please give us a review once you get a chance to use it. I'd love to see some video of that thing whacking into the target.

(By the way, they are being discontinued by Cold Steel so if anyone wants one it might be a good idea to move fast.)
 
$30 dollars is too hard to resist. I am just sorry that I missed the discounted Swiss Halberd. No real practical uses, but fun.

I will try and take some photos (perhaps a video) but my program for linking it to my computer got erased from my computer, and I can't find it anywhere. I really need to go to the store and see if they will give me a courtesy copy.
 
I've got one of these. I bought it just for giggles. It is a monster, but it will certainly teach you to swing correctly. Handle it wrong and you can kiss your back and shoulders goodbye for a while.
 
I picked one of these up a few weeks back. 30 bucks was a steal. I don't really have the room in my house for 70"+, so I chopped the handle down to about 3.5'. Hits like a ton of bricks, and I can't wait to see the look on my neighbors' faces when I use it to chop up wood for the back yard fire pit. Gotta love messin' with the sheeple of suburbia;)

I like the sledge handle idea. I tried drilling the holes for the provided bolts, and that didn't work out too well. I'll probably rehandle it this winter.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
I like the sledge handle idea. I tried drilling the holes for the provided bolts, and that didn't work out too well. I'll probably rehandle it this winter.
Click to expand...

The drilling was a bitch, but I finally got it. I had to drill out the pre drilled holes as they are to small for the provided bolts.
 
tedwca said:
The drilling was a bitch, but I finally got it. I had to drill out the pre drilled holes as they are to small for the provided bolts.
Click to expand...

Did you have to drill the Head? or the Langettes, or the actual handle?
 
fudo said:
I've got one of these. I bought it just for giggles. It is a monster, but it will certainly teach you to swing correctly. Handle it wrong and you can kiss your back and shoulders goodbye for a while.
Click to expand...

I saw a demonstration of how to use a pole arm. because they are so big and heavy, you don't swing them like a sword or shorter axe, you swing with less force, you don't commit totally to the swing, but because they are so heavy and long, you don't need to swing as hard, they can still break bones etc.
 
Update. The Poll Axe came today. I did not appreciate how big it would be. I knew it would be long, but did not realize how big the blade would be. I have a double bladed battle axe with much longer blades, but was still surprised.

I went to the hardware store to get a maul handle, and they were not wide enough for the socket. I bought a Pick handle instead, and have been whittling for about 4 hours. I don't have any wood working tools (I always miss living by my dad's garage with all his tools). So I grabbed some knives and started whittling. done for tonight. hopefully after all the work, the handle will fit right.
 
Bigfattyt said:
Did you have to drill the Head? or the Langettes, or the actual handle?
Click to expand...

I had to drill out the holes in the head itself and then drill the handle. The screws that come with the pole axe are designed to meet in the middle and screw together(I'm sure there is a name for this kind of screw/pin design???)
 
I might just have to skip using the factory screw/socket arrangement and simply use shorter screws from either side. I am not sure the factory set up is needed (especially as throwing impacts might simply break them anyway).

Thanks for the response, I will have to get my set out and look to see if they fit.

I am also going to have to sand/file down some spots on the inside of the socket so it fits over the handle better (kinda rough drill marks on the inside that will make it bind up while trying to get the head on).

Luckily, the one power tool I have is a power drill. Although a good power sander set up (like a bench sander/belt sander) would have saved me hours and hours of work with my knife. Heck, even a hand plane would have saved me loads of time.
 
well, i heard about the sale and sent for one myself... couldnt pass up the price and the fact it'll be discontinued. i will probably keep the original handle intact and keep it original. hopefully i can assemble it properly, from what it sounds like it may be difficult.

today i stopped in to a local army surplus and picked up the Norse Hawk as a short, belt carry hand axe/hawk, paid $27 + tax. it feels nice, good balance, and im assuming it will throw well with alot of practice.

to fill in the mid-sized axe to carry on my back i may have to break down and get the CS Battle Axe.

it seems as though the pole axe would work better if you handle it more like a spear (obviously not thrown) with a wider grip on the handle and use it to not only chop and hack, but also as a push-away tool to gain distance. also, swiveling at the hips with the blade pointed one way or the other, respective of your position, you could chop at arms, break ribs or break legs to cripple.

the one thing about this awesome weapon is that i cant help but feel that a good addition to the business end would be a 4" spike pionted out from the tip of the pole sticking out of the end of the sttel axe head. this would be good if you had the chance to do a quick spear type thrust.

Actually, i said earlier that i would leave mine stock, but i reconsidered. i will be drilling the tip of the handle end and epoxying in a large, solid black bolt with the head exposed and i may use a 2" lenght of copper pipe to reinforce the other end .

- Eric
 
My thumb is blistered from whittling on the hickory pick axe handle I bought. I am getting closer to done. The pick axe handle is longer than 30 inches, so I might have to cut it down to get the balance right for throwing. I will keep the long pole for mounting later.

Eric, you are right about having a spike on the top for thrusting. You can still thrust with the upper edge of the poll axe, but unless you get a good face/neck hit it won't be lethal (assuming an imaginary armored foe of course).

I wish I had jumped on the super cheap swiss halberd while they were still available.
 
At least I can say I found a very good use for the secondary bevel on one of my tanto's. it works great for shaving wood in a very uniform way. I have been able to keep the head very round.
 
got my pole axe , was waiting for me when i got home for work. took a few of trials to figure out everything but i finally got it put together. oddly enought, i wasnt sent a set of destructions.

probably the most helpful thing i did was use a dremel with a stone to flatten out the insides of the screw holes in the axe head. the metal was built up inside from the drilling. after that just a little sanding got it right on. then i was able to drill the holes straight through to the other side fairly accurately. after a few trials of that, i learned that it works better if you then remove the head and drill a larger hole than is required. i had to find out that one side set of holes is for the female screw and the other for the male. with the larger holes drilled through the wood only, it makes it easier to line up the two screw tips.

the langettes (?) were easier to put on, but in a real fight or practice type situation, im doubtfull that they would hold with those tiny screws. Also, as with my Norse Hawk i will need to reshape the blade with a file. but , all-in-all, im pleased with it, especially for the price. - Eric
 
I hope they'er still in stock over the next week or so. I've got one of the war hammers from CS, I used it for demo work (plaster and lathe, wood beams and what not) The size and weight were a bit light but for the price it was a huge advantage over shorter handled hammers. Fun to break up palets as well.
I've got a bunch of other axes....this one seems like it will be a nice addition if I can get one before pumpkin season is over.

Patrick
 
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