... so, depending on what are you are going to use it for, this is (or not) a valid option.
Or the Hans Karlsson carpenter's axe for that matter (even more expensive!). HK are known for their carving tools, which make me wonder if that is what this axe is really intended for?
(actually left-wind for the reel, left-side bevel for the carving axe).
This is like the dilemma that faces purchasers of baitcasting reels (left handed or left-hand wind, and is that with reel up or reel down!) - and I am beginning to think the correct answer may be similar:
a) it depends on personal preference (you can make anything work if you try long enough!) and situation
b) right-handers should normally use the "left-hand" model
But, as ever, I might be completely wrong on that.
). Many reels these days allow you to put the handle on either side, so not such an issue. I keep the fishing rod in my right hand: always cast with my main arm (right) and leave the rod in that hand for reeling in (left-hand wind). So I am guessing that you also cast with your right arm but switch the rod to your left hand to reel in. I guess neither is right or wrong, I have a friend in Guernsey that does that too (I've seen it done both ways in baitcasting videos on youtube ).
Decided to take the plunge & order a GB carving as my main/big axe - gulp. However, I recently found a cheap small hatchet that has a curved face and that upward curve extending above the top, viking-style. Top brand (it says something about Lidl & China in Polish, I think
). I haven't tried it for carving yet, it came very blunt but I finally got an edge on it this weekend. I am quite hopeful. It is a little smaller than I hoped/expected (I already have a very small Kent pattern that is too light for all but the most delicate tasks) - it has a 600g head (the weight is stamped on it) but it is thankfully between my two existing hatchets in size and weight, so hopefully "just right" as Goldilocks might say. I thought the design rare but have started seeing this design all over the place now (new and "vintage" axes) - in slightly different weights too, including a 700/750g one. Here it is:
, as you say:
). So may be worth checking out Whettlings. I was quite taken by the Husqvarna carpenters axe too - although hopefully won't need one now - but presumably that is no longer made by Whettlings either, but here is Husqvarna Carpenter's & the Whettling equivalent product too:
. I bought some el cheapo but large diamond stones (£8 for a set of 3 in a plastic bench box), some wet and dry paper, glue and a rubber sanding block. So I will be trying British Red's sharpening techniques [see: excellent sticky thread on sharpening]. I've also made a strop from an old, hole-filled pair of the red pig-skin gauntlets that I use for carving and with my chainsaw. I glued this suede to a flat piece of wood, Ben Orford -style, and covered it with grind/polishing/AutoSolv pastes. I use this strop on my blades when I swap knives when carving and it seems to help (at least it reassure me that the blades remain sharp). (but probably weight less than 600g now). It is hard to believe sometimes that this little axe was sold in Lidls for less than £5 (made by oppressed communists), while the carving axe is now selling for 15x that, £70-85 (made by free Vikings )! Both offer excellent value in their own way.I don't think Jogge is using the Svante Djarv Little Viking axe in the DVD - I just compared images as I too liked the look of the axe he used (which might be from the N. Carolina workshop, where the DVD was shot, rather than his own?). To me it looks much more like the Woodcraft Carving axe mentioned in a .PDF here but apparently that is no longer available from www.woodcraft.com
- the axe head looks the same although the handle looks different (the Woodcraft axe & adze both have a prominent knob at the end). The Little Viking looks somewhat broader between the handle and the cutting edge/bit and the beard is a little more conservative, the handle a little shorter/thicker. Similar idea though.
and expect to carve your own handle . I guess we'd all like one and Stefan can only make so many, presumably by hand. Perhaps somebody at Gransfor Buks (or Whettling or Hansfor Buks...or Spear and Jackson or some entrepreneur in Sheffield) should do a deal with Stefan and/or Jogge - or come up with their own variant e.g. a lighter (~1.6lb/700g?), more radically bearded & upswept version of their classic Swedish Carving axe/a traditional/historical viking Skeggox. Or perhaps Stefan will take on apprentices? Get the price right and we'll be queuing up for them .
