HOME | DD
sgainbrachta — pole ax front view
Published: 2012-02-17 02:47:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 1638; Favourites: 28; Downloads: 41
Redirect to original
Description
Pole axe head, complete. Ax head is 7 1/2"/192mm edge to point, ax edge is 5 5/8"/142mm. Top spike is 7 3/4"/200mm, and the long langets to spike tip are 24 3/8"/616mm. The handle is ash- and is octagonal, about 1 1/2"/37mm by 1 1/16"/27mm, overall length is 73"/1855mm. The edge of the ax and the spear point ar spring-steel, hardened to be tough, but they will take an excellent edge. The rest is mild steel.In this view, you can see some details- file work on the feather, and the front is actually a 'key' that holds the axe blade to the weapon. All nails are "crossed" inside the wood, so they cannot work loose.
Related content
Comments: 72
Someday! The next one is moving along well, too. It'll have all the refinements I think the first led me to~
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is certainly a thing of beauty! I love the elegant and simple design, and the holes in the ax head add just enough flair. Very cool, dude!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks! I find that sometimes the less you do, the better. Often with weapons- the little things are ignored, and despite the function of it being good- that weapon will somehow "lack" for something. This on was (al;as) not my original idea, but rather an interpretation of a museum piece in Holland.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well hey, sometimes history is the best inpsiration!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Indeed! Why re-invent the wheel, right?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Whoa...this is fantastic! I've wanted one just like this for a long time! Did you make this, or did you but it somewhere?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks you very much! I made it- and am making 2 variations now- one is sold to a friend (well, traded, really~) and the other is for another fellow who wanted a hammer head on the back instead of the spike. When the MK.II is getting put together, I'll post it- probably the next day or 2, with a small amount of luck, anyhow!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh, wow! Nice! It seems very well-made. How long have you been making weapons like this?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks again! Umm... like this? about the last10 years, although I've been making for over 25... My skills in the last few years have improved markedly- mostly due to greater patience! Well, and some better tools, too...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well, perhaps I shouldn't have said "like this", because I didn't necessarily mean poleaxes/halberds. Anyway, that's quite some time! I'd like to try my hand at making knives soon, myself. Maybe work my way up to swords and axes, if I get good enough. So how do you make yours? Do you forge, use stock removal, or a little bit of both? And what kind of steel(s) do you prefer?
Sorry if I'm asking too many questions. I hope you don't mind.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well- by "like this" I meant well-made, rather than the particular item... Some of my earlier work was sub-par, at least to me. Always functional, and usually indestructible, but not as good- in a general sense. I use both, but mostly for knives it's stock removal, as I live in a housing development, and don't want my neighbors to be upset! I tend to use a lot of 1080 and 1095 and O-1 ("oh"-1) steel, as I prefer the non-stainless types. My main reason is the ease of tempering, followed closely by the fact it behaves better both under the hammer and on the grinder. I have a note I wrote to another fellow, I'll dig it up, if you like- it had the books and such I recommend to use to get going in this hobby- and the investment is not as great as you'd expect. If you'd like that send a note, rather than a reply to this~
Bestens!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Alight then, I'll send you a note.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
got it and replied (twice, even!)
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
whoops. hit a smiley thing.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
it's aint often i fav something here on DA but this one deserves to be on my wall!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you very much! A lucerne hammer and another slightly different version are currently in the shop...
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Well.... that's a really nice piece of work !
I rather not think of the time you've spent on it....
Bravo !
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you very much! As for time- not as much as you might think- and more than I like to admit! The next ones will go a LOT faster, as I've figured out a few ways to do it better AND faster, too. I just wish I had a real forge, as it could be more hammered than ground...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
This is your first attempt for making a pole-axe ? If that's the case, the time spend doesn't count !
But... wait a minute... you make all your pieces without a forge ? All is made by stock removal ? Wow... it seems that you have alot of courage ( and good earmuffs ;o) ) !
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
No- I do have a forge, but it's very small- it called a "one-brick" forge. I form some knife blades in it, but I cannot get the assembled ax and spike part into it for hardening and tempering, as it's too small. That said- I'm pretty much stuck with stock removal (for a while, anyhow~)- if you look at this picture- [link] you can see my self-made grinder in the back ground. It's 1 1/2 horsepower, and has a 2", 4", and 8" (51mm, 102mm and 230mm) wheel, as well as a flat plate I can change out to do the grinding. The plate has a piece of fireplace glass on the front- so it is as flat as possible! It is not loud, like a hand-held grinder, in fact- unless it's a plate of steel, it's rather quiet!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I agree, a onebrick forge is limited for large pieces ! But for heat treating blades and litles things it's just good !
Okay so you built yourself a belt grinder ! Those are veerryyyyy usefull tools for..well... everything !
Good idea the fireplace glass ! I'm currently using a piece of ceramic (floor tile) but I think glass would be better !
How fast goes the belt ?
Here's the one I built for me, the Tank as some call it ^^ [link]
But I don't have contact wheels yet... :/
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Biggest difference between your and mine is that I have stepped pulleys. The motor is 1.5HP, 1725 RPM, and the drive wheel is 5". I have not yet done the math for the speeds, but I have 4 speeds, and usually do most at the 3rd highest. It feels like about 3800SFPM~
For the contact wheels- you might want to look here- they are so much cheaper- [link] I have the Poly wheels, which are less than half of the rubber wheel costs- and there really is no difference in performance. I have an 2"/51mm, 4"/102mm and 8"/203mm wheels, in addition to a 6"flat glass platen- all bought from this website. Great service and really great prices.
The nice thing about the glass plate is that it is fireplace glass- and so is very stable. I have about 400 hours on the grinder most on the glass plate- and it is only now showing and wear!
Also- it would be a good idea to get spare bearings for the wheels you get. Most bearings are rated to run only about 400 hours- so having wheels t5o use would be very, very handy. Also- these use a 1/2" bolt to mount on, and machine bushings- all are sold through USAknifemakers. If you needed any other items like 1/2" bolts or drill bits- I'd be happy to help.
Bestens!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes, I noticed that ! But the inverter drive is just a "gadget" for the comfort and giving the posibility of sharpening on the belt !
~19m/sec ? That's about the same speed I use ! Not too fast to allow little mistakes
What kind of belts do you use ? Ceramics ?
Thanks for the link ! As you say, the prices are really great ! Maybe when I'll have a bit more money, I'll buy a wheel or two !
For now, my -soon to be- heat treating oven is a pit of money ^^
You convinced me, Ill try to find a piece of that ! But I don't know if it exist in 50mm large.... ?
Yes, spare ball bearing... that good thing to have... that I don't have ! That's the problem I have with my grinder, all the bearings are beginning to make a lot of noise because of their age :/
Anyway, thanks a lot for your proposition ! I keep it in mind if I order something there !
And it works the same for you if by any chance, you need something from France !
Gabin.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
50mm is 2", so the folks at the USAKnifemakers site have what you need- I always run the belt to the edge a bit, anyhow, so I don't get too sharp a plunge- unless that's what I'm trying to do! It's attached with an epoxy called "JB Weld", which I can send you, I believe if you can't find it in France.
I use both 3M and Norton- all are a ceramic of some kind, also I use some structured abrasives, too- up to 2500grit, for sharpening. Those belts look like spiderwebs shining in the light- and boy, do they work!
As to speed, I wish I had an inverter- but to do so would need to get 220 power- remember, here in the U.S., for some reason- we run 110volt power. We HAVE 220 to the house, but only for our clothes dryer, so it would cost a lot to get it run into the garage/shop.
Yeah bearings are a good thing! I have a company that carries a better quality one than the wheel come with, and for only $2 each- I plan to but a box of 50... These are supposedly good for about 400 hours, rather than about 200 for the ones in the wheels now. heh. Right now I'm at about 400 hours...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Your plate comes from this website too ? I thought that you recover one from an actual fireplace !
As I have recently dismantled a kitchen oven I will try first to cut a piece from the inside glass, which is supposed to sustain heat variation... if that doesn't work... I will order a plate from USAknivemarkers
I didn't knew that brand of epoxy, if the one I have don't work, I'll order some of that (I found it on eBay for 10€ shipped, dunno if that's expensive ? )
You're speaking of the 3M "Trizact" belts ? I love them too! They are so effective and extremely durable !
The only thing I don't like with them is the finish they offer, which looks more like a satin finish than a real polishing. :/
Well... I didn't thought of that...
I always found that this was a really strange thing for a country like yours to still work with 110Volts !
2$ per bearing ? That really cheap ! Is that from a known manufactured ?
This time, I'll buy SKF bearing, not some generic brand, hoping that they will do better because the ones I have for the moment didn't last long... may be 300h hours top with a lot of noise at the end !
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah- they carry a lot of oddball items of use to us knifemakers, and are just plain old nice folks, too. As to the epoxy- it has to handle high temperatures. According to my tempilsticks, I was at about 400 degree F at one point... JB Weld is good up to almost 600 degrees F, so it's been working a charm! Funny thing- I made a "ramp" of steel to the edge of the glass, so the belts won't catch. The ramp- AND the edge of the glass are showing wear now! JB weld, enough to do one of the 150mm plates of glass cost about $3, U.S.
I also use the 77m belts- a green color belt for my 36 grit. They work amazing on carbon steels, and last about 3 times as long as the blue trizact belts. And for only a little more, like 10% more cost~ Belt costs are about $5 U.S. each, for the better ones, and for the non-woven finishing belts, about $25 each. Of course those last a long time unless you tear it... My belts are 2"x72", so like 50mm by dunno- just under 2 meters?
Yeah. For being the "world leader" (Well, in the past~) for industrialization, we are rather behind in so very many things... Again- we do have 220 to the house, but the circuit is dedicated to our clothing dryer. To get another one to the garage, done right and legal (for selling the house later~) it's really expensive. I'm going to do it, as my motor will then be a 3.5 HP (it's convertible~) and we will also be able to put in a hot tub, too. Eventually. When I make a lot more money, of course!
I cannot recall the company, but yeah- about $2/bearing. Sometimes less- it's a Japanese brand, and extremely high quality. I need to go get a bunch soon- I'll send you the info when I do. And the noise lets you know it's done, at least!
I have found that you folks in Europe pay about 2 times what we do- for almost everything manufactured. Seems odd, because food prices are lower, in general... And then there are some things that make no sense at all, like antiques which cost nothing. I spend a great deal of time confused about these things...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well... another reason to buy some products from their shop then !
I didn't thought it will go so hot... well, during intensive grinding maybe...
Then I might need to look after some of that Jb weld !
The little ramp is a good idea ! ( if you don't want a belt flying at you anyway ^^) Do you have a picture of it so I can see how you did it ?
3$ ? that's about the price I found it on ebay... + the 5/7 $ of shipping...
What brand make those "77m" belts ? They seem to be extra and very cheap !
In France, the standard size is 50*2000 mm so a bit longer than 72" but the grinder can use them without any problem !
I think next time, I will look how much it would cost me to buy my belts in the US... my last order cost me about 170€ for 36 VSM ceramic belts (40-60-120 grit)
So 220 volts is still rather usual in the new installations ?
Yeah, I do believe that making a new line as it could be for selling the house could cost a lot... :/
But...3.5HP ?? Really ? don't you think it's a bit to powerfull ? I have a 2HP motor and I never manage to stop the belt at full speed !
A hot tub after a hard day of work.... hummmmm
Well, that's really a good deal then ! The sort of thing we won't find here in France/Europe ^^
I'll be waiting for the info then... thanks!
If that can reassure you, I'm confused with that too !
A part maybe for the antiques, as Europe -The old continent- is full of such treasures so it may explain that ^^
But it is true that anything manufactured cost a lot in France ! That a reason why ebay is a great thing for buying at good price the same products in the UK or US !
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'll try yo post a couple of pics once I get back from the helping of a friend move.
And yeah- I've had the paint actually blister from the heat, so a high-temp epoxy is really the way to go. JB says it's good to like 600F~
I'll go find all the belt info. I generally pick them up locally, we have a industrial supplier which is not cheaper, but t IS local- and they are nice folks, soo... I get 36 grit belts, and 6 cost me about $30 U.S. Heck- if it'll be cheaper, I can get them here and ship them to you in an international flat-rate box for less than you get them there, it sounds like! If your grinder can accommodate the 72" length, it may be a better deal, and I'd be happy to help you get cheaper, better belts! Heck- I'd love to get a couple of those casting spearheads- maybe we could work out a deal!
As for the motor, it's the same motor, but when rigged to run 220- it goes from 1.5 HP to 2.8, so almost 3... I won't argue with that kinda power!!
I'm sure I'm missing another answer to a question... but I'm tired. I cut out and punched the holes in 15 leather water bottles today. I'm brain-dead...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Cool ! Thanks a lot !
Wow ! Next time I have have some serious grinding to do, I have to see if the plate goes that hot... I have some doubts because the tiling piece is only fixed with double face tape.
You are lucky to have such a supplier not far from home !
Anyway, your proposition is interesting ! We just have to know what would be the cost of the shipping.... :s
Can you tell me more about those "casting spear heads" ? A picture maybe ? I don't really see what it is...
Okayyy ! That a really interesting gain of power !!
Hard day...I am willing to believe that !
15 water bottles ? You are preparing for a meeting of some kind or that's just the "usual" ?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
We have an event called "School of the Renaissance Soldier" which is not for the public. A lot of folks come out to it- and I'm one of like 3 vendors, so yeah- I want to have a LOT of stuff for people to buy. Thw website for the SRS is simply www.renaissancesoldier.com and the specific event is "Action in the Low Countries" or just "SRS-ALC 2012"
You had made a spear head some time ago- it was a gorgeous tanged, narrow-bladed piece, for a fellow near to you. Umm- it's your javelin point. I'd prefer one with a socket, as getting shoots of a tree long enough to make a tanged piece work is hard- all we have here are pine trees...But ypur piece is gorgeous! I love the proportions~
As to shipping- a fairly large box, which should hold a large number of belts is only about $20 US to Norway, so France ought to be a bit less... Thing is, belts are pretty heavy, really- as you know!
I'll see if I can find the links to the specific products, and the prices from my supplier. Heck- they may be able to ship to you direct, from the East Coast, too. We'll just have to see!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
This event seems really nice ! Is there a lot like them where you live ?
Okay ! I understand better this large production then ! I imagine your items will be sold really fast and easily looking to their quality !
I see what your talking about now ! I really love their shape too, I found it in a viking archaeological findings and just was "I need to have make one !"
Take a look at my last deviation, I believe you might like it then...
Only 20$ ? I would have bet twice as much so...
Yeah, those belt are really more heavy than they seems !
Cool ! Many thanks !
(Btw, I found you on FB by looking at the event, and I saw that you are a firefly fan ?! )
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes- it's a really great event. This year we get to have horse again! Yay!. Only issue with selling is that, well- nobody has work, soo....
Yeah- that firse one you posted was the most gorgeous shape. I agree- I have a couple of friends that want to assemble a set of "non-Birka" vikings. Mostly because everyone does Birka. And yeah- I noticed a little set od socketed javs, there...
Well- it was pretty light- so belts would likely end up to be more. I'll see what my next set costs to both buy, and then I'll weigh them, too. What city and post code you are at will determine the total cost, of course- but it's not horrible, really.
Yeah. I've helped to make guns and props for some fan-fic films that'll be out in a few months. I'll keep the worls posted if they aren't crap... I have a friend that has worked with Joss, and has been chatting him up on the whole firefly universe thing. Joss has considered joining up with the actors to acquire the rights, and then creating a sort of "open" world, kinda like the way the old "twilight Zone" and "Crypt keeper" series's were- with main story line and characters intermixed in it. So you'd have a major series, but different people associated to the Serenity crew somehow- all in different stories at the same time! What excites me is the simple fact that there are some great writers out there- and they have some rather neat ideas within the universe.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Horses ? you're some lucky guys !
Oh ? You mean that finding a job is hard too where you live ? :/
Okay ! Speaking of reenactment troupes, is there a lot of them in the us ? I mean, people who does quality early European)
I live in Marck, 62730. (France)
Wow! What you're telling me here is really great news !!
I'd really love to see some more things from the firefly universe !
(btw, having a friend who knows Joss is really something ! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, horses! Yay! This year there is a conflict in scheduling, so we will be short on the numbers, but I'll get to see some old friends, too- and that'll be worth it!
Yeah- Nevada, where I live (In the North, mountains and all that, NOT Las Vegas!) unemployment is pretty bad~
As to "quality", no sadly, much like LARPing, many here in the U.S. are cheesy. Over there, you folks have all of the primary resources, and I think it helps a lot. Here, so many are kind of stuck on the 1960's "hippie" version of renaissance faires, rather than history- and a LOT of the research is old and now known to be incorrect~
Yeah, she's awesome, and Joss seems to really want to make more, but Fox owns FF... We'll just have to see! I've pledged about $500 to helpNatahn buy FF. So maybe? Eventually?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I think that's gonna be a really nice event for you ! (Could I see photos of it ? )
I believe that Las Vegas has some part in this, no ?
That's what I feared... But if that can reassure you, we still have a lot of "medieval event" that hardly pass the level of "evocation", with synthetic "shiny" fabrics and all... And I find that really sad... because they still gather lots of people :/
Hopefully, there are some reenactors which are trying to give a good image of our passion and offer good quality prestations ! (like the bunch of friends I do camps with 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'll try to get pictures, but may not be able, as I'll be in middle of it all... Having non-period items is somewhat frowned upon, really. Especially in the ranks!
And yes- I have seen some rather bad event pics from there- but I still think in the realm of "cheesy/scary" stuff- our faires have most of Europe beat. Except maybe the Netherlands...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Cool, thanks, but if you can't i imagine there would be pictures on some website, no ?
So there still some checking on the quality and all ?
You think that Netherlands are a bit more sloppy ?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes- on this site, on the lower part are 3 photographers' pictures [link] if you go down, there's 3 different links.
And the checks vary, event by event. Some are much more accurate, such as this- the inaccuracy is the fact that we have people from 1636 (St. Max, my guild, the earliest~) up to the English Civil War & 80-years' war periods. However- within each group, standards are pretty high. Sometimes we have other guilds that come out, and they may be somewhat less accurate, but all in all, this event is one of the better ones.
And no- I just have to pick on my Dutch friends. It's kinda like picking on you because your French (said with a really bad fake accent~), or me because I'm American (or better yet " 'Mer'can~, said like a Texan~). It's just for the fun of it. The few events I've seen in the "Low Countries" have been amazing...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks !
So thats a kind of a multi-periods event ?
Well, one more reason to enjoy the weekend !
Okkaaayyy !
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah- SRS is a learning event for us reenactors. I'll be talking on leather, and possibly even teaching foolks how to sew it. The actual talk will be on leather items in archaeology. During the day, we'll be doing pike drill, and learning how it is much more "interesting" when there are horses...
We'll see- this is the first time they've had horse when I've been able to attend. I'm really looking forward to it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That's nice to allow visitors to do some activities !
With all that, I eager to go to the event of the battle of Hastings this fall !
I believe you might enjoy it !
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I bet I would! I love to share knowledge, especially the little things we think we know better than our forebears... Sometimes it's hard to believe how simple something can be- and work better than a more complex answer!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I totally agree with you !
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Looks really nice and came together well. You can be proud of this!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you very much! Mk. II is in the works, and I am making a few minor changes- and cleaning up my welding a bit, too... I really wish I had a forge I could do welding in!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
| Next =>