Viking Mortising Axe

[RobertG Burns]

So here is a fun project I was working on while hanging out at Dave Delagardelle's this past weekend, this axe head was greatly exaggerated from one of his sketches but I think it came out well. Dave was kind enough to give me some wrought iron he had to use in the axe body and to kindly let me use his press. I welded up a 16 layer mini billet of 1095 and 15N20 to make the edge and wrapped it in the body of wrought iron. Having almost no experience working with wrought this certainly was interesting and I will definitely be experimenting with it in the future. I also decided that since this axe head was a bit over the top I might as well go all the way in making it crazy. So I pulled out my wood encyclopedia (no joke it's very handy) and looked for exotic woods that have similar properties to hickory so that I could laminate the handle to give it character without really sacrificing strength. And this is what came out of it: 21 inches long of laminated rosewood and hickory, a 9 1/4 inch long head with a 4 3/4 inch long edge. So thanks for looking and I hope you all enjoy a laugh at least at this viking goofiness.

[Shawn Pixley]

Very interesting. I like impromptu projects like this.

Did you forge weld the billet? Is the damasquene only at the cutting edge or does it extend to the handle? Is the copper through riveted?

[RobertG Burns]

Shawn, this axe was made using the wrap and weld method, so I first forge welded the billet for the edge and forge that to shape and then I forge welded the body of the axe onto the edge. The edge piece of pattern welded material extends back approximately 2 inches into the body and yes the copper is through riveted.

[Bruce Page]

That’s something you don’t see everyday. Very impressive!
Is the copper true to the period? What is its purpose?

[Shawn Pixley]

Shawn, this axe was made using the wrap and weld method, so I first forge welded the billet for the edge and forge that to shape and then I forge welded the body of the axe onto the edge. The edge piece of pattern welded material extends back approximately 2 inches into the body and yes the copper is through riveted.

Very cool Robert! I never thought of simply "wrapping back" the softer iron on the damasquene forging. The reason I don't make more damasquene is the slowness of cutting and sharpening very hard steel. I may have to try that.

[Charles McKinley]

Great piece Robert.

I can picture Ryan chasing villagers with it!

The laminated handle definitely catches the eye.

[RobertG Burns]

Thanks Chuck...it's an easy image to conjure up isn't it.