bronze age gear dilema

[Elen Sentier]

By all means - help yourself
Or I could send you a disk with the pictures on if you like.

I've got 'em, ta John. The president-woman is most impressed! I keep trying to get them to have one of our super-makers come and do a talk/workshop ... all too wretchedly WI at the mo . I'm sure people would be fascinated if only we could get away from the boring old academe and into the "stuff".

 

[John Fenna]

Hey nice work John! Looks great .

If you have another one ... I have more to trade!

 

[Everything Mac]

I agree with Toddy, if it is fir demos John then it should stay as an adze.

But ultimately if another cannot be sourced, I'd convert it to an axe. Especially if it will see more use.

Andy

 

[bikething]

So I sharpened the blade by hammering it a bit thinner and then filing to a good convex edge.

Am I right in thinking that Bronze swords (and probably other edged tools) have their edges beaten to work-harden them? In which case would the filing not remove the harder edge resulting in the edge not lasting as long?

or is it copper I'm thinking of

 

[Goatboy]

Hi john
Have a look at these.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110598...key=Gv1sRgCKaG3bKgt7nQ_gE#5376231858475580674
These are them in use a few years back up at Loch Tay
https://picasaweb.google.com/110598...AndBoatBuilding?authkey=Gv1sRgCKaG3bKgt7nQ_gE

Bob

You love popping these up Bob, 'cause I couldn't get to it.
Good pics though.
GB.

 

[John Fenna]

Am I right in thinking that Bronze swords (and probably other edged tools) have their edges beaten to work-harden them? In which case would the filing not remove the harder edge resulting in the edge not lasting as long?

or is it copper I'm thinking of

Both (from what I understand) - so I hammered the edge to a reasonable thikness then put the final edge on with a file, not removing too much metal ... it seems to work

 

[boatman]

Did you whip the rawhide onto the adze please?

 

[John Fenna]

Did you whip the rawhide onto the adze please?

I started the rawhide whipping on the naked metal and finished it beyond the full depth that the blade penetrated the wood - it should be clear in the photos.

 

[robin wood]

Nice thread and good looking tool. I never expected bronze tools to perform well and was frankly rather surprised.

 

[rlh2]

Wonderful stuff. Great job.

 

[John Fenna]

Thanks for the comments fellows!
All I need now is another axe head ... to make the axe.
Anyone got one going cheap or for trade?