Big axe project

[Avery P.]

Some of you may have seen the teaser pic I posted of this in another thread, but I thought I wouldn't derail that one and start a new thread.


I started this one for a custom order but the axe went off specs and so I'm back to the drawing board for the customers axe. But, in the mean time, I have to finish this one. It's the largest one I've done yet, 7 3/4" from peak to peak with a 4 1/4" back spike. I still need to finish a bit of the polish, blend some of the lines and do the heat treat, but here are some early pictures.



A couple of shots next to a Hanwei Large Bearded Axe for comparison.





One of the spine. It's a little out of line in the pic, but that's since been fixed.





More to come so stay tuned...

[Kiriana]

UMMM ERICH!! No hehehe

[Peter Remling]

That is sweet !

[Ringulf]

Well then that means this one will be looking for a good home then eh?

"You got my attention!" (famous WOW dwarf line)

A few questions.

As I have never held the Hanwei but have had it described to me, do you feel this axe would work as a one handed axe for the purpose of axe and sheild work?
And without a shield do you think it would still fall within the minimum size to work with two hands?

That is kind of the versitility I was looking for and I know it is more a factor of the haft than the head, but too large a head will kill it's one handed performance and too short a shaft, and two handed usage is not effective either.

In my experiance an overall of about 34-36 inches is about right for me. What do you think about this one fitting the role?

I certainly love the shape, if you would want to shoot me a pm we could discuss timing and price should you feel it was a good fit and you are willing to part with it.

(it would also make a fine big brother to my Tsikourion pair! )

[Peter Remling]

Scott, with the dimensions Avery lists, by approximation, that would make the length from spike tip to front edge 10 1/2 ". You might want to sketch it out on paper. My impression is it would be a heckuva axe mounted as you describe.

[Avery P.]

Oddly enough, I have pictures with a measuring tape in the frame as well.




In the first pic, the tape is past the tip of the spike a bit, but it gives a good medium.

@Ringulf - I already have the handle shaped for this axe. Let me get this quenched, tempered and mounted on the handle I have first. If you still like the look, you get first dibbs. The hande I have is only 28 1/4", give or take. It'll be 28" when I'm done, which gives it a good deal of presence in the head. Right now it's fast to swing but slow to recover. Shoot me a PM and we can talk about what you're after in more detail.

[Avery P.]

So, I haven't gotten the head tempered yet, or even finished blending the lines. But I did get the handle done. Bear in mind, the finish on the axe will be closer to the fantasy axe I did instead of what it looks like now. Anyway, here are some photos of the handle, which is pretty much done.






I had this idea to make the butt of the handle in the shape of a shillelagh, it's something I've had in mind for awhile now. I think it turned out fair.






Now all I have to do is get the head polished and heat treated and she's done.

[RangerKellen]

That looks really nice!

[Peter Remling]

" Sweet !!!"

[Ringulf]

Beautiful handle the concept for the pummle is a great touch and I love the richness of the stain and varnish. Is that a mohagany stain?

[Ernildir]

I love the shillelagh idea. Looks great.

[Avery P.]

Thanks all. I did get a bit of time last night and I re-profiled the edge a little. I just didn't like the way it looked. I hope to get this tempered in the next week or so, if the weather holds and I get some more coal.

@Ringulf - the stain is cabernet blend, made by Rust-oleum. I did three coats and then two coats of polyurethane, light sanding between each coat. When I make handles I get a bit O.C.D., lol. I go over the handle sanding it till I can see no rasp marks or teeth marks from the saw. I start with 40 grit and go all the way to 220 grit.

Again, thanks for the compliments, much 'ppreciated.

[Willrett]

Looks great.