Something a bit different for me. My First

[bldsmith]

A good friend and customer had been wanting a hunters/bugout axe. He had been planning to make one for himself but since I was forging yesterday... Well there was this piece of 4140 forklift tine just laying there begging to be made into this.



Head is 5" long, Bit is 3" Length 11"
weight 22oz.

Blade is parkerized. Handle is black canvas micarta, left rough sanded for grip. Pins have been peened and domed. Nice little package if I do say so myself.

This is a gift for this friend. I think he will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[armoredman]

Can I be your friend, too? In all seriousness, a very nice looking businesslike piece of equipment.

 

[Brin]

Bldsmith, I like it. This winter, I plan to make axes for Christmas presents. Are you set up with a mechanical hammer or are you hand forging?
:banghead:

 

[WestKentucky]

Pretty slick setup. I would like to see the workshop where the forging takes place.

 

[bldsmith]

It started life as a 4" chunk of this..



Brin, Yes I have a 100lb power hammer and press. Where in Oregon do you live?? Or have we spoken before. Don't recognize the handle.

WestKentucky, Come on over and check things out. Goes for Brin also.

 

[Sam Cade]

Mr.Richards is something of an overachiver these days.

 

[JShirley]

VERY nice.

 

[Valkman]

I like it - very nice work!

 

[bldsmith]

Thanks all,

Sam, been busy doing shows and filling orders. Have a few more to go to get caught up. This was a whim and not really planned. Gotta have a little fun now and then. This one turned out so well I will be adding them to my normal line-up.

 

[blarby]

Ok, now THAT is something I need.

 

[buck1032]

I HATE this message board . Now there is something else that I need. LOL That looks awesome, bldsmith.

 

[hso]

The critical question is how does it perform?

 

[bannockburn]

bldsmith

I like it, a lot. Very nice design and one extremely solid build.

 

[bldsmith]

Thanks all.

HSO Since this was made from 4140 it is not as hard as a knife blade. Most hammers and axes are made from 4140 or 4150. I did some testing after heat treat and it cut through a 2x4 no problem with no damage to the edge. I also chopped up a 1" diameter pine bough. Cleaved right through with no problems, all 4 feet in 4" sections. I also did some chopping on mild steel. It dulled the edge but did not damage it, ie ding or chip. I sent it off to the final recipient so I cannot do anymore testing. I am going to make more out of different types of steel. Probably O1 and 52100. Would get a bit more performance with proper HT. Also with good bit design could be used as an ULU in a pinch.

 

[Brin]

Bldsmith I live in Grants Pass and would love to talk knives and axes some time. I make knives for a hobby and do most of my forging in the winter when it is too cold to work out side. I enjoy making the tools I use for knife making as much as making the knives and axes. So far, I have made three forges, a 72” belt sander, a 75 pound Kinyon style air hammer, and a hot steel rolling mill which is very handy for making knifes or swords.
52100 is my favorite steel for knives even though it is more tricky to work with and time consuming to heat treat but it is well worth it.

 

[bldsmith]

Brin, Sounds like you have a pretty good setup. 52100 is a great steel. Finicky but great if you nail the HT. I found some large rounds of it up here at the scrap yard. I mean 6.5" and 4.5" dia. Picked up a few hundred pounds of it. Will be forging a hatchet from some shortly. Also some O1 and a large spring off a D9 cat. Not sure what the steel it on it but it made a great hammer and hotcut.

 

[philobeddoe]

Wow. Great work.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Nice work brother.
I am envious of folks like you who have that kind of skill and patience.