Armored farmer
Member
This is my latest 'hawk.
I think it's a cold steel brand.
I think it's a cold steel brand.
Axe and Hatchet thread
- Thread starter Kingcreek
- Start date
borrowedtime69
Member
Yes, vikings used axes more than swords. They were cheaper and easier to make, used on every scandinavian farm and homestead so was readily available. As they used them a great deal they knew their balance and how to effect solid stikes. They would use the bearded axe to hook a sheild, pulling down and strike with a knife or another axe. Or, for instance, if there were swept points for both bottom and top of the axe blade they hook and pull the sheild down, then from that position drive the upper point into their opponents face.
Also, an axe is more likely to shatter a sheild, crush under mail, and hack through armor, not to mention being able to be a blunt weapon to capture and ransom prisoners.
I highly recommend the YOUTUBE channel scholagladitoria for all the weapon history and use you could ever want, that guy knows his stuff and it's his profession.
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Hatchet Hawk...?I was bored on a rare day off and forged this ball peen hammer into a tomahawk. I did not re-drift the eye to take a friction fit hawk style handle so it actually has a wedged handle like a hatchet. Takes a surprisingly good edge, although I haven't done much with it to see how it holds it.
Kingcreek
Member
Very nice!
I gave a 2-1/4# ball peen hammer head to a blacksmith friend a couple weeks ago. He said he might make a hawk out of it.
I gave a 2-1/4# ball peen hammer head to a blacksmith friend a couple weeks ago. He said he might make a hawk out of it.
It is. Swords were highly specialized weapons where axes were everywhere. Spears and small (and not so small) axes were the principal weapons with swords more for the wealthy and those trained to them.
Exactly what a lot of bladesmiths do. Find old ballpeen hammers and forge them into hawks, hatchets, and small axes. Nice job!
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mcb
Member
I think the one on the right could probably be saved and made useable again. The left one maybe too but it would take a lot more work.
Kingcreek
Member
Try soaking them in white vinegar overnight and take a wire brush to them first. Looks like to one on the right could be made useful without a lot of work. Not sure about the left.
Thanks for the replies and tips. I use diluted Muriatic acid to de-rust car parts...i'm guessing that it would be ok to use on the axe head too.
entropy
Member
Yes, not everyone could afford a sword, or hadn't acquired one on the battlefield yet, and had a spear and/or axe. Axes were useful in shieldwall battle, as they are short, (except Dane axes) and many had the skegg, (bearded axes) useful for pulling a shield down (or up) so the guy next to you could slide his scramsax (single edged long dagger/short sword) into the neck or belly of the guy on the other side of the shieldwall. Swords were actually harder to use for this. (Same reason the gladius was used by Roman infantry, not the spatha)
Swords were the primary weapons for open melee, if one had one, otherwise spears. It is popular on TV for a Viking to have a sword in one hand, axe in the other, but I have the feeling this would only be the case if his shield had been shattered. Viking individual (as well as group) tactics were built around the shield. They were a major part even in the duelling form, Holmgang. Each man had an equal number of shields, spares being held by their seconds. If the duel was not to the death, (being decided beforehand) whoever lost all their shields to shattering was declared loser, and the matter was settled.
Kingcreek
Member
If anybody was curious, I bought the armload of axes pictured in post #2 at an estate auction for $10. certainly one of my best auction deals.
A good axe is worth saving and will outlive us. Of the two exhumed heads, I would try to neutralize the rust with naval jelly or something similar, then surface with a flap sander or wire wheel. If the pits go on forever, it's probably an art object. Fill with a contrasting color and haft it for display or flea market. If you get a good working surface, sharpen, weigh and haft it accordingly for truck, grubbing and other service. We like to look for familiar or sought-after brands, but there are some good axes out there whose maker may never be known. It doesn't take long to sort the wheat from the chaff.
I once had a dandy little Plumb cruiser that was perfect for limbing and kindling. The guy I loaned it to apparently thought so too, as I never saw it again. Rusty old hammers and bayonets in the shop were dubbed my rust collection by my daughter, hence my handle.
I once had a dandy little Plumb cruiser that was perfect for limbing and kindling. The guy I loaned it to apparently thought so too, as I never saw it again. Rusty old hammers and bayonets in the shop were dubbed my rust collection by my daughter, hence my handle.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
I've been cleaning and rehafting axes and hatchets for years. My wife's uncle would gather up the heads at barn sales and give them to me.
Got a box of them still that will probably be at my estate sale.
It's the "Circle of junque..."
Got a box of them still that will probably be at my estate sale.
It's the "Circle of junque..."
1976B.L.Johns.
Member
Counter with a question like Larry Potterfield hinted at.........Shoes?
Anyways.......
I wish I could post pictures, but my phone and computer still are fighting one another. I too have restored a few axes and I think I picked that obsession up from my Dad.
My most recent rescue was a BARCO USA FSS, discovered at a rummage sale.
I think those were used by the USFS patrolling the BWCA(W).
Turned out okay, one side badly pitted but is now sharp, rust-free and ready for use with some "character".
There is still a double bit axe hanging in my Mom's basement that scares the crap outta me.
Dad had sharpened that one razor sharp and demonstrated it!
(He passed over 30 years ago)
Which reminds me of a guy in Duluth, Minnesota.
He had a segment back in the sixties during the local news.
Outdoor related.
Rocky Teller was his name, had a store in Duluth and he would occasionally fillet a fish on live TV with an axe!
Cool!
Speedo66
Member
Nice axe!
When I travel in Sweden, usually every other year or so, I find with the MOMS (25% value added tax), I can often find Swedish items for less in the US. Don’t know if they import that axe here though.
I think if you buy an axe in Sweden and take it back to the US you should be able to get the moms back at the air port. The Arjeplog axe is made by a smith in the north of Sweden who also makes knife blades. I can't seem to find any address and very little info about him on the interweb.
Gränsfors Bruk have not exported their last historic axe collection to the US and their website shows no historic axes for sale. Unless there are new models in the pipe line it may be the end of the historic axe collection for a while.
Speedo66
Member
Sometimes customs wants to see the purchased item at the airport to be sure it’s actually leaving the country.
I wouldn’t want to be exhibiting an axe in that type of environment, it might not be so good for my well being. lol
Tack så mycket for the info on that axe and the Gränfors Bruk.
A couple of years ago I went back to the UK to shoot in a charity rifle match. I bought a Gränsfors axe for a prize in said match. When I booked my rifle and case in at Landvetter, Gothenberg air port the cases have to go through the Xray machine. The rifle went through and then my suitcase with hunting knife, axe and ammo, 50 rounds .308 and a couple of hundred .22. As the case went through the machine the young lady said she could not see the ammo. I told her it was all at one end of the case. She then spots the ammo but never blinked at the knife or axe in the case. I've never had a problem with Guns or sharp things in my hold lugage the many times I've gone through Swedish or Danish airports.
WestKentucky
Member
I have been browsing yard sales and such looking for a good head to buy. I really dig a nice hatchet and would love to have three or four of them to actually use. I doubt I would pretty them up, just a light polish with a wire wheel and a fresh haft to put it in service once sharpened somewhere between scary and ridiculous.
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