[B]Bronze age axe head[/B]

[sharp88]

A while back I forged a broze age axe head. I hadnt thought about using it till recently, as a love for the old struck. I thought it would make a good rough shaping tool, more suitable for travel than a Gransfors axe.

However the edge on it is quite dull and I recently purchased a Gransfors axe stone. Does anyone know whether using the stone on bronze would damage the axe atall (apart from honing the edge of course!)? Or the stone?

 

[ESpy]

Well, bronze is going to be a lot softer and will probably load the stone with metal particles...

ISTR something about sharpening some blades - bronze, for example, but might have had something to do with scythe blades - by peening: Essentially, you'd be thinning the edge & work hardening it at the same time. At the moment it is nothing more than dim recollection, so if I find anything to back it up I'll let you know.

 

[Bardster]

Your quite right peter. Scythe blades are traditional honed with a stone, but when they get too blunt for honing the cutting edge is indeed peened. details can be found here http://www.scythesupply.com/workshop.htm

 

[Toddy]

I've got bronze knives that I use in period kit on historic sites, and if peened ( thanks folks, I didn't know the name of the practice) they are good tools but they will clog up any stone used to sharpen them It seems better to hone them sharp on a piece of rough leather and occasionally re-set the edge than keep aiming for razor-like.

Cheers,
Toddy