This weekend I made a little more progress on a project of mine - another 18thC boarding axe.

It started out as one of those camp, Conan-esque Hanwei Hero's Axe - the unlikely fantasy double-headed ones - which turned out to be very good steel with a lovely ring to it and really well tempered. A bit of severe grinder work (carefully done, so as not to heat it up too much) and it was cut to a more appropriate shape. I still need to finish the polishing to get it down to matt steel, but I'm almost there.

I made the spoon-ended langets from 16 gauge half-round mild steel stock. The 28" English ash haft is one of my stash of cricket stumps, suitably shaped and sanded.

I still need to inlet the langets into the haft, stain and oil the wood, then put it all together (and through rivet/peen the langets to the woodwork) once the head is polished.

I'll post pics when it's all done (can't say when that will be.....).

Enjoy, and be inspired,

Julian

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Here's an example of a blunt version I made for re-enactment, along similar lines to the above, just to show where I am headed (eventually) with this project. The method of retaining the head via the langets (as well as the friction fit on the haft) makes it extremely secure and permanent. Should there ever be any looseness or rattle, over time, a simple steel wedge hammered in to the end would solve that issue.

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And, to continue the theme, this morning I also completed a batch of 18thC grenados.

These were made using 2.5" diameter hollow steel balls (with a hole in) which I encouraged to get really, really rusty. Once cleaned up and stabilised, then blackened, the pitted surface closely resembles cast iron (instead of smooth steel).

A carved wooden bung fitted with a length of blackmatch completes the look.

Seen here alongside another boarding axe (made by Nick Johnson)........

Julian

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Hello,

Your way of attaching the langets on the second one you made seems rather unusual. Weren't langets on the sides of the grip *opposite* to the blade and spike, rather than under them? Not a criticism, just want to see if this is a historical variation or your own concept.... it looks like you did great work there :)

In this case it's good for overstrike protection.

Having langets front and back is historically correct. Below is a period example. Not only is it protection against overstrike, but for parrying purposes (against a bladed weapon) it protects the haft from a straight on 'true edge' strike. The 'wrap around' nature of the langets also prevent deep cuts into the haft from the sides. The best of both worlds, so to speak.

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And another period example from the 'Gentlemen of Fortune' website.

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It's interesting to see how that goes together. Nice work!

I appreciate seeing a good boarding axe. Since a ship has limited resources, I can see where making this tool/weapon extra durable would be a bonus. Thanks for sharing.

Several kinds of issue boarding axes - espcially British and US - had side langets (sometimes integral with the head), which are, to my opinion, an anachronism from the middle ages when pole arms must had side langets for protection agains cutting off the heads.
http://www.cowanauctions.com/itemImages/fff6849.jpg
http://www.swordandstone.com/weapons/weaponimages/br_axe.jpg
I agree that fore-and-aft langets are better for the nature of work with an axe. Some models of the French baording (and fireman's) axe had swelled, wrap-around langets that formed almost a full socket to protect the haft.
http://i22.servimg.com/u/f22/12/32/54/44/dsc01013.jpg

I realised, looking through my previous topics, that I have commited the heinous crime of starting a DIY topic but not finishing it off........so here we go:

Below are some pics of the finished axe. I left a very light 'spattering' of the forged surface marks on the blade flats, to give it a more 'hand-forged' or even 'antique' look, but it was mostly taken down to a smooth semi-matt finish. The ash haft was stained and given a couple of coats of Danish oil then waxed.

This method of fixing the head is extremely solid and safe (you will never lose the head no matter how roughly you abuse it, because the langets lock it in place). It really is beautifully balanced, and as said before, the wickedly sharp blade has lovely 'ring' to it.

All told, it was around 4 good days in the workshop, but well worth it, in my opinion, especially when you consider its origins.

Julian

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Excellent job!

I would like to post in this thread my own 'privateer boarding axe'. It is the Spike Axe offered by Cold Steel, stripped off its black paint & etched, while the haft charred & stained.

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Corey,

The steel balls I got from a guy here in the UK who specialises in blacksmithing supplies for reenactors, but also does a nice line in cannon balls, chain shot, bar shot etc. and goes by the unlikely name Dave the Iron Dwarf. Here's his tool site, but he can also be found on various UK living history/pirate forums:

http://www.medievalmade.co.uk/tools/

His finished products (including grenados) can be found on the Letters of Marque site:

http://www.lettersofmarque.co.uk/index.php?ma...dbe5daf026

although the originals would have had a rough-cast finish rather than the smooth steel of the LoM ones.

Don't know of any US source for this type of product.

Julian