what type of axe did the frisians use (sorry for the repost)

(Edit- cross posting , more of a responce to T430's handle wood thread, but still applicable here I think?)

I find it amusing the way "Europe" is used like it's a country, not picking on this thread alone as it happens a lot it's like using America to include everything north to south on the land mass (& more).

The culture, time span & diversify of Europe could make a huge thread about timber/wood alone besides anything else.

It should also be pointed out that seasoned wood from the local hardware store wasn't readily available for hundreds/thousands of years, often a limb/branch from the nearest tree made a handle (without knowing the exact Latin sub species name), it either worked or it didn't, if it did great, if it didn't it was replaced with another from a different tree.

I have plenty of evidence of limbs/ braches being used for tool handles, something that's frowned upon & doesn't seem to be mentioned, they are the most obvious choice for someone with a axe/hammer head that needs a handle without any monetary outlay (which would been important to say the least), by what I' ve seen a branch can be functional & long lasting. But it's not in keeping with the Amazon/eBay life we live where it seems something can only have "value" if it is payed for, usually the more the better............

 

That's an interesting site unto itself Steve.

 

Thank

Thank you,Steve,what a brilliant stroke of research!

That was exactly the point that i tried to make(so clumsily,without this clear example...).

The marks left by the tools really tell a much fuller story than even the tools themselves,about the general culture surrounding the time in question,and much,Much,that will help us in some way to understand,or even to re-create the tool of the time.

That's a beautiful,classic German "goosewing" broadaxe.Arguably,the most elegant and complex axe in the world...They say that you can't really call yourself a carpenter till you've framed a dormer,similarly,i don't think you can be called a blacksmith till you've forged a goosewing......(i haven't,though a friend and i have tried to haze one another into trying for many years now.....
They're still made,and are available new in Gemany,as well as many a classy old ones on German ebay(surprisingly inexpensive.....).
A German friend told me that he'd seen one among the bunch of tools belonging to a fully modern construction company,staged by the side of the road among wormdrive saws,nailguns and compressors......alive and well,after all the centuries...

 

I think there are still some guys using what ever they have on hand. Not numerous, but that mind set is not quite dead.

 

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If you want it to look more "rustic", though...just make one out of wood. Check Ugaldie's posts...

 

Here's a wooden axe sheath that came with my Craftsman single oval boys axe. I thought it was kinda clever.




It uses 2 softwood wedges (so they don't split from nailing) and 2 pieces of 1/4" plywood. But you could substitute 1/4 plank wood and have something that easily could have been made in the period.

 

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