Recent course: Blade and Axehead

[Dave Budd]

The show and course season is back on, so I thought while its just busy and not manic that I would post some piccies from the most recent courses

First up my good friend Steve, a member here infact. He booked a long weekend with me a long time ago, but has only just made it down. Not content to make a blade or an axe, Steve wanted to make both. To add to the epic task, the blade was a blooming monster! It was an ambitious undertaking and we had to burn the midight oil so to speak.

I'm afraid I didn't get many pictures along the way. So missing out the boring blade forging and then the blade grinding and the heat treating. Here is a snapshot of Steve tidying the profile of his blade...

The axe head got a bit more attention though I provided a lump of mild steel with a slot cut in the end and Steve welded a high carbon edge in..

After that Steve punched a hole in for the eye...

Some time later...

and here are mine alongside Steve's at the end of the course.

Good Work Steve!!


Mine after a bit more work. The axehead is the bearded one mentioned in my axes for sale thread and is now in the posession of Plastic Ninja, who I'm sure will be showing us all his handle-handiwork soon I've not decided whether to sell the 11" blade or finish it up into a knife

 

[Albus Culter]

Wow. If they make a new Rambo film, can I vote for that as his EDC

Your on my wish list for one of your courses

 

[Mesquite]

Mick Dundee, eat your heart out... THAT'S a knife

 

[Elen Sentier]

Mick Dundee, eat your heart out... THAT'S a knife

My thoughts perzacktly

 

[plastic-ninja]

My course with Dave was wicked.I'd do another one tomorrow even with the humungous drive to get down there!
The axe head is stunning in the flesh!I'm not sure how long a handle to put on it.My instinct is to go for short and chunky
in ash as I want to use it for carving.About 12 to 15" maybe?
Not sure about that zombie-splitter though : what on Earth did your mate have in mind for it?
Cheers , Simon

 

[Dave Budd]

He has some very nice smaller blades that I've done for him over the years, so he wanted a large knife to add to the kit. Just as so many folk go for leukos and parangs, so the bowie is just another big blade shape that can be used to chop and slash. They are pretty light for their size, but being sabre ground (the blade is flat for the top 1/4-1/3) it is still heavier than a full flat version would be. I think they are around the 12"x 2 3/4"x 1/4" region.

I think I might've suggested that it was a monster/beast of a blade once or twice at the time You should've seen his face when I presented him with a bit of steel measuring 14x2 1/2" at the start of the day

 

[Tony]

cool, stuff, I'm going to have to come down some time and have a go