Gotlands axe

[Cegga]

Hi
I start and see if the axe can be done and I think that it will work.
This axe are only a prototype axe only to have a master to make tools and for some test with weigth and size .
Hope you like it and it´s not ready some work left on it
Cegga

 

[Mesquite]

Very nice Cegga... look forward to seeing it completed

 

[British Red]

Whoa thats gorgeous Michael...looks spot on to the original to me!

I have about 12 tonnes of wood to render at the moment (going down fast though)....I can promise a good workout

Red

 

[Cegga]

Here you have it with a ruff surface have to forge it in a air hammare that´s why it have some mark on it.
Cegga

 

[_scorpio_]

wow. well done! how hard are they to make?? got to be a bit fiddly to get them to that shape.

 

[Wayland]

Looks like you might need a Viking to test that one...

 

[British Red]

I think from my readings Cegga we should be looking for a head of not more than 1kg.....

 

[Trunks]

That looks great, cant wait for the feedback from testing

 

[Celt_Ginger]

Nice one Cegga. That looks great.

 

[Matt.S]

Looks like it has a bottle-opener under the poll. Luckily I have 'some' ale on hand for axe-testing purposes. Do you want to send it to me now or later?

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

stunning !

 

[Trunks]

Just out of interest, does the rear of the head taper to an edge too? The illustration seems to look that way & is slightly more pointy.

 

[British Red]

I think we are guessing here - working from pictures of the original

I do wonder if the cutting edge has a piece missing at the bottom (rusted away) and should carry on further down. What Cegga has made is totally faithful to the black and white picture, but we must remember that that was a very old and corroded piece of steel

Thoughts?

 

[TeeDee]

I think we are guessing here - working from pictures of the original

I do wonder if the cutting edge has a piece missing at the bottom (rusted away) and should carry on further down. What Cegga has made is totally faithful to the black and white picture, but we must remember that that was a very old and corroded piece of steel

Thoughts?

I have to admit Red I prefer the other photo you placed up , a little more refined shape? Just an opinion.

 

[Trunks]

Red, I have played around in Photoshop & show in this pic what the cutting edge would look like without the notch.

Personally I'm not sure, i think i prefer it "notched", but what purpose would it serve? Perhaps to use as a lever to ease the axe out of wood (or a body) when stuck.

If you look at the above picture, specifically at the shading, the axe seems to widen where the red arrow is, presumably to accommodate the handle, but the whole back seems to taper - not to a cutting edge - more like a froe.

There seems to be sharpish points at the top & bottom - this whole section reminds me of some of the poll axes I've seen at the armory in Leeds - chop with the front - bludgeon & spike with the back

Is there an actual photo of the Gotland axe? All i can find is the illustration

 

[British Red]

Thats very interesting James. I believe the helve should be further back in the head; The lugs shoud protect and cover the helve. I believe the poll (back) of the axe head would have wrapped around the head slightly too

Something like this


Gotland by British Red, on Flickr

Red

 

[British Red]

This is interesting though - look like the "notch" might well be intended

 

[Wayland]

It's also worth remembering that the Vikings were certainly not adverse to adding decoration just for the sake of it.

Beautiful work...