I finally got around to finishing up a couple blades I've had sitting around for ages. The first is a 1084 steel blade with a solid mastadon ivory handle with rosewood and black fiber spacers and wrought iron fittings. I left some of the grain in the iron gaurd. I can't decide if I want to etch the remainder of the wrought or not. I was going to, but I kinda like the polished finish now that I see it. The sheath isn't finished yet. It's padouk and will have some twisted-iron loops added to the leather for hanging on a belt.

The blade is differentially hardened. It has a 400 grit satin finish and I purposely rubbed out the "hamon". It just didn't look right on a Saxon blade!

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The second one here has a pattern welded section down the upper center section...a double/opposing twist. I ground deep into the design, so it results in the opposite lines of "stars". The main blade steel is 1095, with the pattern being 1095/1018. The handle is stag with ebony front and rear caps. Ebony isn't exactly the proper wood...but I love working with it and looks really nice next to the white of the axis stag.

[ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ] [ Linked Image ]


Next up for August is another seax with a "proper" chevron pattern down the spine. I also have some short, hanger and hunting swords started. Hopefully I'll get the time to finish them up this Fall. The new job eats into the playtime, but glad I made the change from the university!

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You'll have to excuse the ferric chloride spills on the sketches! Nothing is safe from splatter in my shop!:)

Nice eye-candy, Don! Beautiful work!

Call me a freak, but I'm highly addicted to seax. :p No, really! Of all the variations of the utility/small fighting blades throughout history, the seax (in it's many forms) is really my favorite. The blades here look really nicely done, and the cutlery work is fantastic!

Looks like some other sweet pieces in the works, too...

Thanks. They're by far one of my favorite types of blades. I have a collection of small originals as well. Eventually, I'd like to make a reproduction of each one and display them all.


Did I post this in this forum, or did it get moved here?

I started to put it in this forum, then put it in the other. I thought I was losing my mind!

I started scanning in the originals with dimentions and such, but never finished. I have several large axe heads as well. I'll be sure and forward all the files to Nathan when I finish.


The best thing is...you can have multiple seax...all in the same day! :lol:

Beautiful work, Don!