The underrated axe

[Cosmoline]

Boy, that's an old thread! I still have that axe, too. Just got through cleaning her up and putting on a new coat of BLO.

 

[FilJos]

I just took my wife camping for the first time. On our way to the trail we stopped at an outfitter that carried a whole range of Gransfors axes.

When she saw that they were made in Sweden (she is half swedish) she informed me that if she enjoyed camping with me that she wanted her own Gransfors hatchet, or more likely, the Swedish Carving Axe model, since I got to have my tomahawk.

 

[JShirley]

I like tomahawks. They're useful tools and weapons. I have a small hatchet I considered taking here to Afghanistan with me, in my Tec-Lok sheah made by our very own Tom Krein (he does GREAT work, btw).

That said, a decent spearman can take a good axeman. The spear has both distance and speed, and can be quite deadly with a very simple manual of arms.

I haven't heard it yet, so it MUST be said: With this axe, I RULE!

John

 

[Gordon]

Check this one out! These was an article in SWAT magazine this spring about his axes!


http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bin/tacticalubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=001780

 

[Pax Jordana]

Speaking of 'manual of arms', can anybody point me to a good axe/tomahawk fighting resource? (that isn't by lynn thompson?)

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Pax,
I've been looking around and haven't been able to find much that isn't Cold Steel related.
I'm curious to see what anyone might come up with as well.

I've started taking my Tomahawk deer hunting and camping with me. Now that Mountain Hardwear is making packs with Ice Axe mounts, it's a piece of cake to keep it where I can get to it. And, the more I carry it, the more I'd like to get some education on how to use it well H2H.

 

[geim druth]

For a long-hafted axe you can't beat this:

http://www.the-exiles.org/Article Le Jue de la Hache Lesson.htm

You really need a haft that's at least 5 feet long, but some of the techniques work with shorter handles. The important thing is to remember that you can use the haft and the butt as well as the axe-head.

 

[Cosmoline]

Wow! I have to confess I've never seen a true combat grade pole axe of modern construction for sale, anywhere. They're said to be the ultimate weapon--the combination of battle axe, spear and war hammer. If you have room to operate one and know what you're doing I don't think anything but a bow could beat it. That sucker could cut a katana half in two.

 

[.45Guy]

It's not pretty, and certainly not tactical. Though I suppose it could ruin someone's day. However as a tool it is unsurpassed. I suppose I should mention that my "survival" supplies include a butt load of 16 penny nails and Hay-soos spikes.

 

[Steve499]

This home made tomahawk has become my constant companion when I'm hunting. I got started carrying one, an earlier effort, years ago while bowhunting. It was useful for chopping misses out of tree trunks! The narrow, long thin blade will work just like a chisel on wood. And, after I used one a few times on deer to remove the head or cut the ribs from the backbone, there remained no mystery why they were so popular in days gone by. A backbone the size of a deer's doesn't even slow it down.

Steve

 

[.45Guy]

Steve, have you considered a limited production run for sale?

 

[Steve499]

I've made around 15 of them, no two alike. I use car springs, fold the eye on my forge and weld it closed, then make the handle from osage orange. I've never thought about selling any. I always thought the expectation for quality one would have if something cost money wouldn't be justified if they didn't cost anything. Not that they aren't very functional, but sometimes they end up kind of rough looking. All my friends and most of my nephews have one by now. The little guys will probably get one someday, too, if they are good to old uncle Steve!

 

[.45Guy]

The roughness is part of the allure. In fact they look like something I saw in an iron age display at the natural history museum. I'd certainly lay down the cash.

 

[SeanSw]

I think the hawk looks good too. I'd be interested in one of the rougher models

*edit*

Reminds me of the axe seen here. Sorry for the bad picture but photographs weren't allowed.

 

[hso]

Steve,

Looks like a good hawk.

I just attended a seminar by Alan Longmeyer where he demonstrated making a frontier hawk head. He used a blacksmith's drift for the final forming of the eye. Do you insert a piece into the center to weld in place or just weld the halves together to form the blade?

 

[Silvanus]

My Gränsfors Bruks double bladed axe and hunting hatchet, I love them!

Believe it or not, they are both sharper than any of my knives

 

[Silvanus]

Some more and a sword

 

[Steve499]

Thanks for the compliment, hso. I have been meaning to make a drift to even up the eye after I weld it closed but just haven't ever got around to it. I just thin the strip of steel some along the end I'm going to form the eye from and bend it around. I cheat big-time on the weld too. Wire welder! I have burned up a lot of tool steel trying to forge weld it so I pretty much gave that up as a bad idea. The eyes are tear drop shaped, often with a little curl toward the point but since I make each handle to fit the eye, it hasn't mattered a whole lot.

I think the REAL blacksmiths used to fold a strip of wrought iron over on itself leaving the eye open and then forge welding a smaller piece of higher carbon steel between the ends of the lap for a cutting edge. Since I'm making the whole thing from high carbon spring steel I just go with easy! I'd love to get to go to a seminar like that sometime. It's pretty amazing what can be done if you just know how!

Steve

 

[Vairochana]

I was involved in medieval reenactment and martial arts for a long time, using metal weapons, not SCA.
I have sparred using axes with 'opponents' using a variety of combinations and found them to be very effective. An axe blade on a 4' shaft is fast, on a 6' shaft it is amazing how fast you can move it, anyone who has used a quaterstaff or naginata will know what I mean. Typically though your Viking or Anglo Saxon axe is lighter with a longer cutting edge than your wood axe.

 

[Silvanus]

Sounds very interesting, Vairochana. I've only used swords (one- and two-handed) so far...I might have to get a new (blunt) axe now

 

[carebear]

Many war axes I've seen have "beaks" or spikes on them so they can be used to thrust as well. Adds a whole nother dimension of attack and defense.

Speaking of 'manual of arms', can anybody point me to a good axe/tomahawk fighting resource? (that isn't by lynn thompson?)

Other than ARMA the only other resource I know was already mentioned.

Yeah, I'm working on getting James Keatings Tomahawk Tapes. They are good from what I hear. http://www.jamesakeating.com/instructional8.html

 

[Third_Rail]

Walking along the road a few days ago, I found a "Collins" axe... looks to be about a 3lb head on it, chipped paint finish, the head itself was loose, handle needed refinishing, etc.

I just finished the last coat of "old style" stock finish (don't remember the recipe), already painted and restaked the head, sharpened it, and there it is, ready to go.

Does anyone know if these axes are worth using, or did I pretty up a junky WalMart axe?

 

[MD_Willington]

Being from an area of the world where there are plenty of large trees to test the "Theory of Gravity" with, the Gränsfors Bruks is a tool I'm familair with though I've never owned one. I've seen some "shakers" with the Gränsfors Bruks Carpenter's Axes and Froes.

They are very nice tools.

 

[logdogsmith]

It is difficult to describe the feeling one has when teaching Cub and Boy Scouts to throw a tomahawk. And the look on their faces when they not only hit the target, but the hawk sticks.

Note: We would use rings cut from palm trees for targets. Amazingly like a boars hair dart board.

 

[Stickjockey]

Third Raill-

Collins made the axes that went on military vehicles like the MB/GPW in WW2. It should be decent, at least.