I received my latest copy of The Hammers Blow and saw the axe head article and had to try it!

 

For my first attempt I am happy with it.

 

1018 body with a O-1 bit.

 

 

 

Thank

Russell

 

Russell,

that is one nice bit of work. How long did it take from start to end?

This may be a silly question but do people do the 1018/tool steel combos because the mild steel is easier to work or because it is cheaper?

It's very historically accurate.  In prior times high carbon steel was a scarce resource, so a high carbon bit was often welded to an iron or mild steel body.  So, the answer to the question is yes - it's easier to work with low carbons steel, it's usually cheaper, but for the most part, it's the historic way of doing it.

If you go far enough back you can find ones that look like this.

 

My best guess is that it was picked up when the Presidio La Bahia  or Mission Espiritu Santos in Goliad Tx were rebuilt in the 1960's (originally built around 1749). 

 

In the pic of hatchet head  standing up you can see the forge weld.

 

 

Thanks

Russell

Eseeman,

 

 

    it took me about 4 or 5 hours spread out over a week to get it this far.   I still need to do some shaping and sanding and heat treat the bit.

 

 

 

RWD

I got to tell you a second time that it is one good looking work, 

 

Thanks for the info. 

saw the article to, haven't had time to attempt it. I hope i can achieve as good of results ;O)

Nice job on the axe!   Did you make the drift too?

 

 

 

In the pic of hatchet head  standing up you can see the forge weld.

 

 

Is that weld line visible on both sides?   It looks more like an asymetric wrap weld rather than a bit weld.

Yuriy

 

I did make the drift also.  I only had 1" bar to start with so my eye is a little small.

 

 

On the old hatchet head you are correct.  The weld is on one side just forward of the eye with no bit.

 

 

Russell

Thanks for jumping in Gerald, and please accept my apology for not noting you in my first post as the author of the article in The Hammers Blow!  I am working on my second axe head and drift now. I learner the hard way to spend a little more time on the drift :)

 

I figure the asymmetrical weld was done because the smith had no high carbon steel to make a bit out of and by doing it asymmetrical he used the least amount on iron to accomplish the job at hand.

 

 

Thanks

Russell