Greetings! I think it could be interesting for some blacksmiths. In Lithuanian archeology for sure 95 % of medieval (3th-13th C) battle axes was forged in smart technology. If You'll look at the upper shape of an axe You could see different kinds of metal. Outer layer is made from simple iron (it gives stability for the construction) and the inner layer is of steel (a steel "sting" that makes an axe blade strenght).
Here are some of my axes.

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A battleaxe from Curronian cemetery at Laiviai.

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Iron/steel "package" by the butt

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"Package"by the blade

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Battleaxe from the same Laiviai cemetery

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Iron/steel "package" by the butt

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"Package" by the blade. The blade here consists of 5 layers.

Nice job on that rider’s axe, it looks great! :cool:
Are you familiar with Kolcin’s “Ferrous metallurgy and metalworking in ancient Russia?” (Колчин Б.А. Черная металлургия и металлообработка в Древней Руси (домонгольский период).// МИА. № 32. 1953.) He sectioned a bunch of axes (and many other artifacts), including some of the Baltic style, IX-XIII centuries, and these are the construction methods he found when looking at the bit, he goes into reconstructing how they were made in the text.
Iron is rendered white and steel shaded to indicate carbon level…

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very cool.. I just recently forged an Early American 'wrapped eye' belt axe that way..and am very interested in applying the method to some medieval axes.

Thanx Jeff! We often miss russian articles cause of still unoficial existing "cold war". In Your picture there are stuff only from Russian findings. It is really interesting information what is worth to try in "live".Thanx colleague!