Many thanks, Willrett.
The axe haft was carved with my usual horse and wolf theme with a stylized horse head carved on either side of the butt of the haft and the knotwork on one side terminates in a stylized wolf head. The runes are Anglo-Saxon with my initials RDM on the bit side of the haft and the axes' name "Biter" on the poll side of the haft.
On the practical side of things the head was fitted first and wedged and the handle shaped from there. The grip of the axe is is shaped for a comfortable grip with a swell for the palm and narrowing for the fingers in line with bit,for an accurate stroke, and is 12" long blending into the butt contour the top half of the haft is a rounded square with a bit more wood left up there for more heft in the cutting stroke.
The wood was finished with oil and topped off with beeswax polish, the pics really dont do this wood justice, this is truly a beautiful piece of New Hampshire curly maple
and it was a pleasure to see it come to life
I was really proud of this one because not only did the wood really come alive, it was completely done by hand and eye, no power tools, and the artwork free hand.
The frontier moves with the sun and pushes the Red Man of these wilderness forests in front of it... until one day there will be nowhere left. Then our race will be no more, or be not us.
My Sword Is my Troth.
~Iron Wolf Forge~
