more Axes, in my stylee

[Dave Budd]

Well, having got the axe bug recently I felt obliged to make some without the use of excessive grinding so in keeping with my preference for a forged finish I have stuck at it and am beginning to get the hang of forging these to finished

Here are a couple of commissions for members here. I s'pose I should let them know that these are done now I've got a couple more hawks to finish next week too.

Edge Length……. 3 ¾”
Head Length…...6”
Head weight/ Total weight…...560g (ish)/925g
Handle Length…... 24 ¼”
Blade………1055M, forged finished
Handle…………..English Ash (from my woodland)
Furniture………...Yew wedge
Sheath…………….Brown leather mask

Edge Length…….3 ½”
Head Length…...5 ¾”
Head weight/ Total weight…... 550g (ish)/ 816g
Handle Length…... 21 ¼” (total length)
Blade………1055M, forged finished
Handle…………..English Ash (from my woodland)
Furniture………...N/A
Sheath…………….Brown leather mask

I've left the handles a little long so if the new owners feel that they could do with shortening, then they can do Another advantage of a straight handle there!

 

[markheolddu]

Nice work Dave I like the natural finish. The top one has a similar profile to the Norlund hatchet i did up. Any chance of a end on view, i love axe porn

mark

 

[Nat]

Nice work Dave, didn't realise you made axes

 

[Dave Budd]

Nat,

Axes are something that I've done on and off over the years, but due to the hard work involved I've not made all that many. Recently though I needed a procrastination project (that didn't focus on my other work) and with the flypress it's not quite so bad anymore There are a couple of other threads that I put up recently on my axes (one is a tutorial on making one)

They are still a lot of work and I doubt I'll sell many partly because they won't be cheap. Unfortunately people think axes should be cheap yet knives are allowed to cost a fair price, despite the fact that making an axe is harder work, costs more in materials and takes the same amount of time!


Mark, just for you...

the wedge in the top one was a job to get in as the head was such a tight fit to begin with, but that's a good thing

 

[BushEd]

thats a really really nice looking pair of axes. Look like total users!!! Straight handles are definitely in

 

[markheolddu]

Thats a nice profile thanks Dave.

Mark

 

[Cap'n Badger]

Stunning' davey.....Now......where's the boardin' axe?

 

[Chris the Cat]

Thanks mate!
Can't wait to get my hands on it!!
( I feel a beer at your local and a night in their camping barn comming on!!)
My best.
Chris.

 

[maddave]

Stunning' davey.....Now......where's the boardin' axe?

***sigh**** Tippikal

 

[Dave Budd]

Thanks mate!
Can't wait to get my hands on it!!
( I feel a beer at your local and a night in their camping barn comming on!!)
My best.
Chris.

you're always welcome mate You not going to the cornwall RV then?

 

[Chris the Cat]

In Lewes, Sussex.
Lending a hand with my niece who has Cerabal Palsy.
Shame to miss it but needs must,anyhow it is always great fun and she is a smasher!
Give my regards to the chaps!!
Speak soon.
Chris.

 

[Peter_t]

doubt I'll sell many partly because they won't be cheap. Unfortunately people think axes should be cheap yet knives are allowed to cost a fair price, despite the fact that making an axe is harder work, costs more in materials and takes the same amount of time!

i don't understand either, making knives from stock is fairly simple but most people wouldn't have a clue how to make an axe!

i really like the smart and workman like look about them
very well done

i was chatting to a blacksmith once and he said that making and fitting the handle takes longer than the forging is this true? it takes me ages to make and fit a handle from scratch but surely the forging is harder?



pete

 

[British Red]

Super job Dave - loving the Hawk

 

[Dave Budd]

i don't understand either, making knives from stock is fairly simple but most people wouldn't have a clue how to make an axe!

i really like the smart and workman like look about them
very well done

i was chatting to a blacksmith once and he said that making and fitting the handle takes longer than the forging is this true? it takes me ages to make and fit a handle from scratch but surely the forging is harder?



pete

To a point yes, that's true. The head is a lot of physical hard work (unless you have a power hammer, which I don't), but is technically quite simple compared to forging a proper knife (ie not a flat bar that you then grind an edge onto). I reckon that a head like on the axes above (that sort of size and shape) takes me a bit over two hours to forge (but I can't do it all in one go coz I don't have that kind of stamina anymore! so is done sporadically during the day) then I have to tidy up with a grinder and heat treat it, post heat treat grinding, sharpening, etc. So each head still has 4 or 6 hours of labour (plus tempering times, etc). A handle if cut from scratch as I do will take about the same I reckon, though it varies depending on the shape: straight is more like 4 curvy more like 6 to get from the cleft log to the fitted handle. Incidentally, I also to fell the trees, cleave, season and select my ash

To be honest I think I would rather just sell the heads. Fitting handles to axes is a real ballache for me. People want things to be straight and in line, when realistically if it's a bit out nobody would ever know in use! Certainly none of the axes I use myself are bushcrafter right! okenest: Of course, it very much depends on what you want. MY own axes probably take me the shorter end of 4 hours for the head and maybe an hour and a half for the handle, but that's because I don't care how it looks, or if the edge is not perfectly in line with the handle and if the handle breaks after 6 months of students wrapping it around trees. I just need a tool that works!

The hawk in the picture is my first attempt at one, so I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the handle came together, thus cost less at the end. Of course that could've been beginners' luck and the next one will take twice as long! I've left these handles with a carved or scraped finish just as I would do my own. It feels a bit rough if you are used to shiny Granny B's but you get much better purchase on the handle so is safer and less tiring to use; with use it smooths out anyway. It also saves a couple of hours and sheets of abrasives

 

[Dave Budd]

Super job Dave - loving the Hawk

cheers Red Btw, I've got another head here and a handle drying in the cupboard

 

[Jaysurfer]

Can't wait to have a play with the Hawk....
Very very excited! Although it does look to precious to throw! Decisions decisions...

Gonna have to out some leather on the handle and tie some feathers to it i think just to make it authentic!

Cheers Dave

 

[Hedgehog]

They look smashing Dave. Very tidy all round, nice work sir!

 

[Jaysurfer]

Got the Tomahawk this morning...

WOW... it is amazingly crafted and looks even better in the flesh Dave.
Am thrilled with it.

Thanks

James

 

[Paganwolf]

Superb Dave !

 

[Dave Budd]

I'm glad you like it James

I really should make one for myself to see how it performs I like the idea of hawks for throwing axes certainly (thicker easily replaced handle) but I wonder if the wide eye would get on my nerves in normal axey use?

Anyway, have fun with it and try not to cut yourself