Forging an axe with The Village Blacksmith

**Everything Mac** · 05-11-2012, 07:47 AM

Good morning all - I've got some pictures from an axe making session the other day that I figured you devils might like!

A good friend of mine Ian Thackray is a qualified Blacksmith and runs a forge based in Dorset, UK.
https://www.facebook.com/IanThackrayBlacksmith

I'm more of an amateur bladesmith these days - certainly no pro. Anyway we have been meaning to have a crack at an axe for a while now and a couple of weeks ago we got the chance.

No early pictures Im afraid. We used a mild steel body with a forge welded steel bit.

I'm not all to sharp on forge-welding so my main job was heavy hitting

It took numerous heats and pounding sessions to get the general shape we were after. Though the process was actually quite quick when we used the big hammers

We formed the back part of the axe first, then flared the front to the general axe shape.
Again no pictures here either sadly.

Once the bit had been flared enough we used a grinder to cut a wedge out so we could open it up accurately.

At this point Ian took over, he rather expertly forge welded a piece of 01 into the mild steel body. Despite our banter - Ian is a very talented smith.

Then we formed the eye of the axe:

Here we had switched roles so I could have a break from hammering, and Ian wanted a go. We punched a hole through the steel and then opened the eye up to the right shape.

To be honest I cant remember if we did the eye first or second. So don't quote me.

So once the eye was finished the axe was left to soak in the forge:

We only had 4 hours to do this in. So all in all about 3.5hrs work to get to this point.

At which point we had to leave for the day and I had to go back offshore.

So Ian was left to finish it off.

The finished axe: By all accounts it has taken a wicked edge.

I've been offshore so Ian has finished the axe off. The handle looks pretty good to me!

Hopefully we will have another session like this in the near future and I'll walk away with an axe.

Hope you enjoyed

Cheers
Andy

**Stabber** · 05-11-2012, 09:13 AM

Looks like you had a great time building your axe. Nice work and pics.

**BenDibble** · 05-11-2012, 09:46 AM

So, what you are saying is despite your foolery, Ian kept you on track?

Looks like you had a fun time.

I have a friend here in Minnesota that lets me play knife maker every so often. Tis a hoot.

**bfm** · 05-11-2012, 10:07 AM

Very nice.

**Everything Mac** · 05-11-2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by BenDibble

So, what you are saying is despite your foolery, Ian kept you on track?

Looks like you had a fun time.

I have a friend here in Minnesota that lets me play knife maker every so often. Tis a hoot.

I suppose you could say that.

Yeah it was fun. Puts my forge to shame.

I've got a real hankering for a 200kg anvil now - my 62kg one just doesn't cut it now.

It was nice to have to work with someone else who knows what they are doing.

Not used the axe yet as I had to go back offshore. But I'll let you guys know how it is when I get back.

Andy