Bronze Age Axe Head Maker?

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Big Steve

Tenderfoot
Jun 5, 2006
55
0
60
Gloucester
I wondered if anyone could suggest any UK-based custom blade/axe maker who would be able to produce a steel version of a Bronze Age axe head for me? I'm not talking about about the more elaborate socketed or flanged type, but the basic type of BA axehead which would have originally been cast in bronze from a stone mould. This style of axehead is still seen in use with African hunter-gatherer tribes today. What I want is a simple, small, light, rugged (but sharp) axe head which I could carry on my belt or in my possibles pouch, but which I could haft using local material when required (as axe or adze). I don't want to fell mighty oaks with it, just be able to keep the fire fuelled and the camp looking spiffin'. Without a haft it could also have many other bushcraft applications. Any suggestions gratefully received.
 

chrisanson

Nomad
Apr 12, 2006
390
7
60
Dudley
icould probably make what you are looking for. As could a couple of folk on here! But could do with some more info. Size and shape , do you want it to look like a bronze age axe or doe you want to design something similar?
Chris
 

sam_acw

Native
Sep 2, 2005
1,081
10
41
Tyneside
I did a course with the bronze age craft guy. He's pretty good but I think strictly into bronze casting. There is another caster of axes etc. at Bronze age foundry. Let me know how you get on with this, maybe via PM, as I had often thought about bronze age bushcrafting!
 

Dave Budd

Gold Trader
Staff member
Jan 8, 2006
2,895
321
44
Dartmoor (Devon)
www.davebudd.com
Yep Neil is a top bloke for the Bronze casting but doesn't touch the ferrous :D I'm working on an early Iron Age sword project with him ATM, he wants me to make the blde for a customer of his ;)

had I seen this thread before I would've put my name forward too, bit late now I guess :rolleyes:




Dave Budd MA (Experimental Archaeology)
Handmade Tools, Primitive tech courses,Archaeological repros and skeumorphs

:cool: :D
 

sam_acw

Native
Sep 2, 2005
1,081
10
41
Tyneside
I've recently been thinking of tomahawk heads for a very similar reason. I like the idea of a hand tool which could be hafted quickly for use as an axe.
 

Big Steve

Tenderfoot
Jun 5, 2006
55
0
60
Gloucester
Thanks for the interest and advice folks. Further to Chrisanson's comment; I had thought of a steel replica of an example of the Bronze Age flat axe found in the Pass of Ballater in Aberdeenshire shown =Ballater]here

Like the original, a type which served its masters well in a far more demanding environment than ours, it would have a thin rounded butt with curved, angled sides that diverge to a curved blade which has been further splayed by hammering so the tips are turned outwards. As per the Ballater original, the overall dimensions would be kept compact: 155mm in length, 95mm in width and 9mm thick. If it's something that Chrisanson or other BCUK members thinks is feasible, practical to produce and reasonably affordable, I would like to here from them.
 

Big Steve

Tenderfoot
Jun 5, 2006
55
0
60
Gloucester
Chrisanson; no, I'm in no hurry mate. This one has been echoing around the grey matter for a while now.

As for the ulu; It could indeed be used without hafting as a purely handheld tool. I'm not sure that fitting a small handle as seen on the Alaskan ulu would even be necessary, or that easy. This is a field expedient design, the beauty of which [in theory] is that in the morning it could be hafted for use as an axe for general fieldwork, in the afternoon rehafted as an adze for more specialised shaping or thinning jobs and in the evening for preparing meat etc a la ulu.

Our Bronze Age rellies managed to clear huge tracts of British wildwood with this simple tool design, setting the foundations for the pattern of our countryside today. Like Dark Side of The Moon... it's a classic.
 

JohnC

Full Member
Jun 28, 2005
2,624
82
62
Edinburgh
Would it have a squarer base, so it could be bound or socketed in the "axe" position and then the "adze" position? Would both sides be beveled the same?
I think it sounds a good idea... following the thread with interest
 

sam_acw

Native
Sep 2, 2005
1,081
10
41
Tyneside
Trouble is he is looking for a steel version of the same shape. I'd love to see a steel version of a flint handaxe too!
 

lou1661

Full Member
Jul 18, 2004
2,179
196
Hampshire
Ahhhhh, that would be me not reading the entire post before jumping in at the deep end :twak:
The moral of the story is to read what it says not what i thought it did

oops
lou
 

Big Steve

Tenderfoot
Jun 5, 2006
55
0
60
Gloucester
Aye JohnC, there's the rub. As the Bronze Age (BA) progressed, the design of the axe underwent radical modification, starting with the addition of flanged sides to strengthen the hafting by creating ridges at the edge of the axe's body: then adding a stop ridge across the axe to further hold the axe to the haft: then the design became far more sophisticated such as palstave types with loops, such as shown HERE and then socketed types. However, the evolution of a design is not always the sole result of the introduction of a superior design. Changes in technology also drive changes in design. The introduction of wax casting replaced simple stone moulds and were replaced in turn with two piece stone/fired clay moulds and so on and each time new technology arrived it was eagerly taken up by those wishing to have the latest. Keeping up with the Joneses is nothing new. If I said to a MP3 digital downloading contemporary that I still only listened to vinyl records played on a record player, many social perceptions about me are immediately made. However, that doesn't mean there is or was anything wrong with the design or use of a record player and vinyl discs. It's just technology driving change, although admittedly quality of the listening experience probably does improve. Nothing new under the sun then.

Initially, I really want to try the most basic 'flat' style of BA axe head to start with. I want to avoid flanges and sockets as it seems to constrain the method of hafting. It's going to be a bit of an experiment whatever the design; hence the reason for putting this thread up to invite observations, ridicule, suggestions for improved design or practicality (such as bevelling etc ) from the BCUK community. The issue of hafting is also a bit of an unknown which only trial and error in the practical application is going to resolve.
 

Gailainne

Life Member
I dont know if Cegga (member here) has noticed this thread but if he has'nt it would be well worth your time sending him a PM, his work is exceptional (Yeah I'm biased so sue me), but he may be just the man you are looking for, send him your sketches, Ideas, and I'm sure he'll come up with something.

Ps interesting idea, I remember seeing the bronze axe found on the "iceman" and at the time thought it was a very beautiful piece, function and form, nicely balanced.

Stephen.
 

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