2nd box of three from Germany arrived today with lots of goodies including this monster:

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd481/Weaverofduart/2012-06-07171240.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd481/Weaverofduart/2012-06-07171215.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd481/Weaverofduart/2012-06-07171201.jpg

I have assumed that it is an old felling axe. Very similar in shape to Japanese felling axes and pictures that you see in Medieval woodcuts and illuminated manuscripts.

Hello,

Could you point out if it has an insert and if so where the weld is? That would be interesting as well.

Greetings,

Don Wagstaff

I cant see any lines or other features that would indicate an insert on the bit but the eye has definitely been formed by wrapping a piece of steel around a mandrel and I would imagine that a piece of tool steel would then have been inserted between the two ends of the steel that forms the eye.

Having another look there is a fault about halfway between the edge of the bit and the eye which may indicate an insert. I'll get a photo in the morning light. It is hard to see any detail because the surface is rather pitted. Since it is a double bevel axe this does not concern me but it does obscure any features that would otherwise be visible.

Hi Stuart,

You would also notice the line on the bevel when you go to sharpening it with an 800 grit waterstone but before you hone it with the 6000.
I guess that fault line at the half way is an extension piece which then would contain the insert.

Greetings,

Don Wagstaff

Well I sharpened the french axe head today and started roughing out a handle havn't got too far because i have been busy doing some other things.

View from kids bedroom:

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd481/Weaverofduart/2012-06-09092624.jpg

You can't see the insert but you can feel it based on the different way the sharpening stone bites the steel depending on whether you are working on the cheek or near the edge of the bit.

Something I noticed when I went to sharpen the axe head is that the bit is not symmetrically shaped. I drawn a quick line drawing of how I think it would be once it has a handle:

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd481/Weaverofduart/abit.jpg

Is this how it should be shaped? Should the hang be less closed because of the shape of the bit? Or is it just an old axe head that needs to be reshaped so that it is more symmetrical?

Hi Stuart,

I see it's November down there where you're at.

You get those with guns or the way my old compagnon Ricky Fornaro from Victoria would, with the dogs and a bowie knife?

Or so he said.

Greetings,

Don Wagstaff

Definitely guns. There are a few people around hear who dog and knife hunt but they are all crazy. Years ago when new gun laws came in to ban semi automatic rifles I had no problem with it because I couldn't see the need for civilians to own them.

Unless they were pig shooters

These are actually free range farmed pigs from my mums place. I say farmed but they were more like wild animals that coincidentally stayed within the boundary fence. No other fence mind which led to their demise in a hurry.

Yup, that sounds like good old Ricky.

Greetings,

Don Wagstaff