My new dane axe -- myArmoury.com

Luka Borscak · Posted: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 4:19 am Post subject: My new dane axe

After a long research and waiting for the smith to have some time for me, she is finally here. Big Grin

The maker is Alojz Krišto from Croatia. The head of the axe weighs about 800 grams according to Alojz, but I don't know exactly how much it is overall. Anyway, it is very fast and agile for an axe, especially in two handed grip. The construction is historically accurate 3 piece construction, eye and main body are two pieces of some lower carbon steel, unhardened, and the edge is hardened D2 tool steel. The axe head is left black from the forge, except the edge, and I'm still undecided if I want it polished or not. I know polished might be more historically accurate, but I really like dark grey and bronze colors produced by the heat. Haft is at the moment short, 30" ash haft, but as soon as Alojz gets a longer piece of ash, it will be replaced with one of about 4 feet. Here are the pictures:

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David Huggins · Posted: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 4:32 am Post subject: New Dane axe

Very, very nice Luka, and congratulations to Aljoz too. It looks great.

Elling Polden · Posted: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 5:06 am Post subject:

Very nice weapon!
I would really like to have a sharp broadaxe to play with; Earlier test cutting experiments have show them to be quite devastating, even with short, fast blows...

Carl W. · Posted: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 8:12 am Post subject:

Luka - (very) nice axe! Please give a measurement, maybe from point to point or other.

fwiw I'd leave it unpolished, especially if you like the colors. Why do you say it might be more historically accurate to be polished?

Luka Borscak · Posted: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 1:07 pm Post subject:

Thank you people... Happy

I will do some test cutting when I can and post videos here. Length from tip to tip is 22cm and also about 22cm from top back point of the haft to the edge.
Carl, about the polish vs black finish, I think the consensus is that we can't know exactly what the finish of these axes was, but since they were high status weapons it seems reasonable that they were bright polished to show the capability of the smith and since high polish was valued in that period.

Tim Lison · Posted: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 2:15 pm Post subject:

That look great Luka! I really like axes like this and one with a historical construction is a real treat! I look forward to hearing your impressions of it's handling when you do your cutting! Enjoy it!

Jeremy V. Krause · Posted: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 6:03 pm Post subject:

Very nice Luka,

This really looks like a fine weapon. It's great to see accurate dane axes being made!

Luka Borscak · Posted: Sun 01 Apr, 2012 7:26 am Post subject:

I got a longer shaft, 120cm long. Now it feels perfect.

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William P · Posted: Sun 01 Apr, 2012 8:12 am Post subject:

it really is a great axe, the haft as well looks really good, nice annd smooth

Johan Gemvik · Posted: Sun 01 Apr, 2012 2:12 pm Post subject:

Perfect head and edge shape
Excellent shaft wedging
Heat treatment dark colours of the head in contrast to the honed edge look really good like that.
-Simply a perfect axe any collector or museum could be proud of!

I agree, the longer shaft suits it best. Now all we need is a chopping demo video. Can any melon face that beast and live?

Luka Borscak · Posted: Sun 01 Apr, 2012 2:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks! I hope to make some cutting experiments soon, I didn't have time to do it yet and it was a late winter here...
About the wedging, it looks different now, same style, but two wedges crossed in a shape of a cross.

M. Livermore · Posted: Sun 01 Apr, 2012 2:57 pm Post subject:

That really is a nice axe, Luka. The geometry of it is very pleasing.

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Wed 04 Apr, 2012 1:51 am Post subject:

Yes very nice axe and too many people focus on only swords. Wink

Sword are great but they always seem to me to be the backup weapon on the battlefield or the weapon one carries for general purpose self defense when in civilian gear. Also, the prestige weapon with symbolic value as the badge of the professional warrior or noble/knight/rich man, and also a sign of wealth with the better quality weapons.

Looking forward to some test cutting results with the axe. Big Grin

William P · Posted: Wed 04 Apr, 2012 2:10 am Post subject:

Luka Borscak · Posted: Mon 21 May, 2012 8:53 am Post subject:

I finally weighed it... It weighs 1.40kg, so about 3lb2oz... Ounce more or less...

Luka Borscak · Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 8:53 am Post subject:

Here are some of the results of cutting with my axe:

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There was more but I don't want to fill this thread with pictures of bottles cut. This is a good sample. Anyway, it was very enjoyable, I think cutting with this axe was the most effortless cutting I have ever done. Only cutter I have that comes close to this axe is Hanwei Tinker Great Sword of War.

Jeremy V. Krause · Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 9:08 am Post subject:

WOW Luka,

That's great! I am, for some reason surprised, you were able to get such clean cuts. I must have really been underestimating the devastating power of this type of weapon. I thought, due to the shape and weight distribution it would make a cut into such medium but then get stuck and knock it off the stand.

What kindo f grip did you use, far back on the shaft or a bit closer in?

Really impressive

Johan Gemvik · Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 10:04 am Post subject:

This is turning into one of my favorite threads. That is one very nice axe.

Johan Gemvik · Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 10:12 am Post subject:

Luka Borscak · Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 11:28 am Post subject:

Thanks for the compliments guys. Yes, the reinforced edge plus thin body makes for very smooth cutting. I hold the grip about the middle with a right hand and left hand low towards the butt end...