Last year, forum member Sean Flynt and I made a trade. I gave him some stuff, provided a Windlass warhammer and a GDFB poleaxe head and he made me two completed polearms:

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You can read about some of the details direct from Sean in this topic: GDFB Poleaxe head.

This topic is merely a means to show you the final result. I'm extremely happy with these two pieces. Who knew that with just a bit of skill (as Sean would describe it) and a couple inexpensive parts, one can have a top-notch set of polearms? Somehow I think Sean might be underestimating his skill-set!

The pole hammer is about 64" long and the poleaxe is about 66.5" long.

Have a look:

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Click photos for full-sized versions

The pole hammer started out as the Windlass spiked warhammer. See below.

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Warhammer as made by Windlass Steelcrafts

They look suitable for sparring! :lol:
Then again, perhaps they're too good to use for that.
It is amazing what some people are able to do.
*sigh* One day, one day.

Yeah I had followed Sean progress with great interest on these. Congrats Nathan they both look fine and I'm sure well worth the price (don't know what you gave away for these though :) ).

I have been tempted by the GDFB poleaxe head for quiet a while, but was always looking elsewhere because I find it too thin in section (the head lacks thickness at the base of the "hammer" and axe blade), or so it looks on the picture. Sean's assembly really makes the most of it no doubt.

The windlass conversion is a simple affair and the end result is top notch. Again I wanted to give that a go as well. Never got the chance to grab this hammer at the "right price "though, and the temptation to make one from scratch on the anvil is too great (which will delay the all thing by at least a couple of years if not more :) ). I have this naive idea that making a hammer head from scratch should be relatively easy (compared to a sword blade). I can't wait to give it a shot and be proved wrong :)

Cheers,

J

I too have followed this project :cool: I'm amazed of the quality that these came out to be. Great inspiration and instruction to help me get started on my own similar project :D

Thanks for posting those, Nathan! Of the two, I prefer the fussstreithammer. It feels more responsive to me and it's a much easier build. Yes, the GDFB blade is pretty thin. There are finish problems that have to be resolved before mounting (or there were in this and at least one other case). The WS hammer head, by contrast, comes off its original haft neatly and drops right onto the new haft without any additional metalwork. Woodwork is another story. If you want the proper ash, you'll have to cut down a wheelbarrow replacement handle ($15,) octagonalize and taper it, and cut it to match the head socket and pommel/que. Still pretty easy.

A quite nice pair of weapons! :) What a envy, I've been myself looking somewhere to buy the GDFB pole axe for a while, but I've been unable to find a shop that doesn't charge me over 200$ for shipping it to Europe, where nobody seems to have it on stock. :(

Looking good. I always find it cool how a little work can make a simple piece into something really special. Good stuff Nathan!

Great work, as always, Sean.

It looks as though you replaced the screws on the warhammer with rivets. I've been having a hard time finding the right kind of rivet for a Lutel halberd that my wife got me for Christmas. Perhaps you can point me in the right direction?