Recently I was inspired by this thread to get off my duff and do something with my poleaxe head lying about the shop collecting dust.

The GDFB Poleaxe, Head Only (XB0099) is a nice piece for the money, although some minor file work was required.

An ash wheelbarrow handle from the local hardware store was used for the haft. I ripped it down to 1.25 inches square on my table saw, then used a spoke shave and hand plane to give it a moderately octagonal shape below the langets.

I decided to not inset the langets into the haft as I had been told “this is a special kind of hell”. Maybe next time. I did sand it lightly while leaving some "flaws" as I will be distressing the piece. The haft was liberally rubbed with boiled linseed oil several times.

As Sean Flynt mentioned, “There's a shocking lack of proper langet nails these days.” I resorted to peening standard 8 penny nail heads, which gave a less manufactured look, then cut the nails to length. I cut them so that they would just barely poke through the other side of the haft. As this piece will be for decoration only, I did not cut them long enough to protrude from the haft in order to peen them over. I did cheat a little and added epoxy into the head mount just to be safe.

The hammer head has a simple waffle pattern. Wanting little pyramid shaped nubs instead of little square ones, I spent a quality evening with my trusty files.

Attached below is a progress shot taken a few days ago. It should be obvious that I am no photographer. :blush: I decided to have a little fun and took a moderate strength stab at an old shield leaning against my work bench. This half-hearted stab with an unsharpened point protruded 2 inches through 0.5 inches of laminated plywood! :eek:

Currently the poleaxe is undergoing “forced aging” using techniques in the The Instant Antique feature article. I will post photos of the distressed poleaxe when the process is complete. :)

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I've managed to correct the picture issue. :)

A special thanks goes to Sean Flynt for advice, inspiration, as well as many well written articles and posts. :cool:

Thank You,

-Scott

That looks outstanding, Scott! So you have, what, $50 invested? :D I'm especially impressed by your work on the hammer face. I wish I had your langets! Mine are rather thin.

I have a total investment of $63 USD and several hours in this project. :)

Thank you for the filing compliment. I wish the hammer face had more "meat" to it as there wasn't enough to get the pyramid heads to a sharp point. I had to settle for a Mayan-like flat topped pyramid as a Snefru shape would have looked rather silly.

You are correct, the langets are very hefty. Because I didn't inset the langets into the haft, some minor filing was required at the ends to prevent injury to my hands when changing guards. It is worth noting the langet-to-head welds are very suspect. I was liberal with epoxy in this area because it scared me a little.

I dished a stop-guard last night and rolled the edge. Mounting will have to wait until next week.

Your aging tip regarding salt and vinegar in a spray bottle was spot on. There’s been some serious corrosion after just one night!

Yeah, I slightly beveled the edges of my langets with the file, too. I hope I didn't forever turn you off insetting langets :lol: I inset langets for a couteau de breche many years ago. The result was nice but not necessary or even appropriate for many polearm forms. Mainly, with a long, broad and thick pair of langets, by the time you get them marked, chiseled out so cleanly that the langets lie flush and bevel the haft accordingly you have almost as much time invested as you'd need for an historical scabbard core. To me, it just ain't worth it for an inexpensive head. Those with better shop skills, sharper chisels and more time would offer a different perpsective, I'm sure. But if I could buy an unmounted Arms & Armor pollaxe head and langets, you bet I'd invest the time.

I'm eager to see your rondel!

Hey, I recognize that shop and the shield in the background? Nice work on the poleaxe! You could always bore through the head and langets and put in a larger pyramidal rivet to hold them better together in case the poleaxe is used on a ham or turkey at our next gathering.

Hanns, thank you for the compliment. We'll have another group feast around Thanksgiving. Let's roast a turkey on the spike and tenderize the steaks with the hammer. ;)

Progress has been made. 5 days after applying the "aging spray" the poleaxe was well oxidized. An initial cleaning with 0000 steel wool revealed some nice results. There's still work to be done...

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Being a new guy around here.... Are the heads of warhammers and poleaxes inlet for the handle or are the langets all that hold it on?

Looks great by the way.

I think you could reduce it to 4" if it bothers you. It seems to me that it's meant only to prevent a blade from sliding down the haft and cutting the forefinger and thumb. I don't think it's meant to offer much protection to the rest of the hand. These seem too small for that.

Good work Scott.
You confirm my theory that you don't have to spend huge sums to make a good kit to parade, and not even a great deal of work. Now if only I could convince the rest of my company...

Nice thread ! I've been considering this very same project.

Has anyone tried the ash shafts that Kult of Athena sells? My metal working skills are adequate, but my wood working totally stinks.