Hello everybody,

I felt that I needed a really nice type M Danish Axe in my collection- to round things out in my interest area of 1050-1300 c.e.

I'm pretty picky so I was concerned that there wasn't anyone up to the job in the market right now. I wanted an axe made "from the ground up" in smelted iron and steel from a smith with a deep understanding of the form of the originals.

I have a few items in my collection in which Owen was the maker of the blade and I am super happy with them. I sent Owen an email and through that became convinced that he was the guy for the job.

So just 3 MONTHS LATER I get these pictures of my finished axe head and I can say I'm impressed- really impressed.

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I like that Owen has achieved this finish through simple abrasives and no etching (per my request). We commonly see etching applied on modern reproductions and I am convinced that aside from viking pattern-welding smiths would have had no reason to etch their blades- but that's just my personal opinion. Due to the condition of originals I don't believe we can say with certainty. I believe that the finish on this axe is pretty close to what we would have seen in period.

Now comes the hafting and shipment and I've got to admit some nervousness about that due to Covid and how it may affect the process. I have had some crazy shipment adventures from the IK and that's without an international pandemic.

Anyway, thought you guys would enjoy. I'll post up pics of the axe once it is hafted and have more to say when I have it in hand.

Congratulations! That looks terrific! Can't wait to see your impressions of the finished axe when it's in hand!

Wonderful axe - Owen does fantastic work.

Good luck with shipping - things seem....not great right now. I'd choose a private shipper (UPS, FedEx, etc.) over regular postal.

(Currently waiting on something from Norway. Where is it? When will it get here? Will it get here? Who knows.)

I notice that Owen did offset langets (if that's what we call them). I'm going to have to ask him about period examples featuring this- if there is a specific regional thing.

That's a beautiful axe Jeremy. I need one in my collection.

That's lovely. He does great work. Congratulations[/list]

That is indeed. beautiful axe and like a couple the projects I have completed for you, I like the way you choose expensive materials (in a modern sense) and then choose to not highlight them. I tend to agree that for plain steels like this I doubt they etched.

Aaron Hoard wrote

Quote:

Good luck with shipping - things seem....not great right now. I'd choose a private shipper (UPS, FedEx, etc.) over regular posta

For anything expensive we tend to avoid USPS as I hate to say, but I have not found them great and often rather slow, but particularly not great at putting cards through peoples doors when they are out. Shipping in a general sense from the UK and I imagine Europe to the US is fine, just a bit slower than before but yes a courier everytime for this.

Enjoy it when it comes

Tod

Beautiful axe! Is the edge welded on?

Yes Paul, the bloomers steel head is welded onto the iron body.

Owen is hafting the axe for me at 4 ft. I think.