[Radovan Geist]

Boris, I really like the way you took on the decorations. Did you follow some specific example? It looks like filed decorations one finds on knives.

[Boris Bedrosov]

Well, although I didn't follow any specific example, it's quite possible unwillingly to have replicated one as a lot of historical pieces were taken into account.

[Boris Bedrosov]

My PC was out of order for about ten days - so, we have some delay in posting the progress of this project.

The next critical step was the heat-treatment. But before doing that, I needed some additional work on the spikes of the crown.
First, they were heated to bright red



and then, before the steel cooled, were expanded with a make-shift wedge.



After repeating this several times, I got them flaired out, as drawn on the initial sketch



The heat-treatment itself proved to be quite tricky, while the result - relatively succesful.
After heating



the details were submerged in water in oreder to be quenched, and then - tempered.



Saying "relatively succesful" I mean the result was inferior than I wanted. Although the hardness of forward spike is OK, I got softer head.
Well, for a man in the beginning of his experience in heat-treatment this could be quite normal result, especially when combined with "mean" steel (as my friend with 25+ years of experience in such deals describes it).
Anyway, the knowledge I got with this project is of a high value, not only on the heat-treatment process, but also on steels in general. And for the future works of similar kinds the steel would be different and better, as St45 steel is not the best option.

After sanding I feel I'm getting closer and closer to the finale of this project (only the head is shown)

[Boris Bedrosov]

With the forward spike riveted (well, and brazen also) to the bracket





finally we could make some test-assembly of the weapon







Looks awesome, isn't it?

[Mark Moore]

Awesome is an understatement! That's gonna be a lean, mean, armor-smashin' machine! ....McM

[Radovan Geist]

it really does look good. I wonder how it would handle - with such a massive head it must strike like the Thor´s hammer...

[Boris Bedrosov]

To answer your question, I'll go fast-forward for a while posting a picture of the already finished piece



Well, it's indeed a little bit heavier (better steel and lighter head are both main conclusions for future pieces of the kind), but although heavy it feels quite good in my hand. But to achieve this, I must grip it closer to the middle of the pole - most precisely, in the forward area of the "mesh" of crossing leather strips. Gripping elsewhere results worse feeling.

Of course, this is personal - someone might feel comfortable gripping on other place.

[Daniel Sullivan]

Boris,

Don't always post comments, but always look and admire. Not the best artist (?), well working in a medium that allows little latitude for mistakes, you come very close.

Like the way you carried the langet decoration to the butt of the piece. The style/culture and whence it came look familiar, but can't put my finger on it. For something that would lift one out of their boots, it remains elegant looking ... in a heavy sort of way..

Will never happen, however, if I ever get in a "real-knock down-dragout altercation" I hope you and this weapon are on my side!
Thanks for posting your work, all beautiful. Very informative and even entertaining.

Regards,
Dan

[Mark Moore]

Now, seeing the whole weapon completed, everything about it just screams. My only words are: Deadly Decadence. A truly functional work of art from truly talented hands. SUPERB. ....McM

[Boris Bedrosov]

Back on track - let's assemble the weapon.
The shaft was made of beech - the cross-section is rectangular with smoothed edges; the holes for the rivets are already drilled.



After mounting the head, it was immobilized with a steel wedge



As rivets I used ordinary nails - forming good heads after annealing, they are quite suitable for this purpose; the washers beneath the heads also got some decoration with blunt chisel. As the hole in the washer is with similar size as the head of the rivet, I use another small one, which sits between the head and the main washer.



One ready, three more to go.



The whole forward assembly - head, spike/bracket and langets - after riveting



And closer to the one of the rivets

[Boris Bedrosov]

For the back end of the handle I made a butt-cap with matching decorations and semi-circular endings.







My wish has been for something different with more "edged" back surface, but this smoothed one is also OK.

And mounted - note one of the rivets has no proper head. Instead it ends with a hook - it is for the wrist strap.

[Mark Moore]

The level of detail that has gone on this piece is absolutely amazing. It *LOOKS* hand-made. Yes, there ARE tiny little irregularities in it. That is what makes it unique in all the world. Boris---This is YOUR hammer. May it grace your hand for many years. You have truly outdone yourself. ....McM

[Boris Bedrosov]

Indeed, Mark!
For sometime I'm trying to incorporate these little imperfections in my works as a part of my own style - a strike from a hammer here or scratches from the filing/sanding there, or some asymetricity - stuff like that.
Well, they all are not made on purpose - they are left by one. Because there is a real difference in these two ways - one gives a feeling of something artificial, while the other looks quite natural.

Anyway, this gives some spark of life to the item; as the difference between the machine- and the hand-made.

[Boris Bedrosov]

And finally, to prevent slipping of the hand, I added a "mesh" of crossing leather straps, glued and nailed to the shaft with tiny copper nails.
Well, strictly speaking, I'm not sure if this feature is historically correct, but at least it serves its purpose very well.

[Boris Bedrosov]

And with this, the warhammer is ready

[Gregg Sobocinski]

I love this piece, and enjoyed watching it come together. Thanks for sharing that process, Boris!

[Boris Bedrosov]

And some constructive self-criticism at the end:

We talked about the steel already - it definitely needs to be changed.
Steels of U7 or U8 line (US standards 1070 and 1080) would be quite more appropriate; even relatively low-carbon St50 (1050) or Chromium-alloyed 40X/45X (5140H / 5145H) would do better job than St45.
About the heat-treatment everything is clear - I have a lot to learn; there is a long-long path in front of me.

The weapon of such size needs a lighter head - this one is too heavy.
This could be achieved with reduction of the dimensions of the spike and crown - as seen on most of the historical pieces; and sacrificing some of the decorative cuts. Some additional grams would be achieved with shorter and thinner langets.

If speaking about the final price - it could be reduced not only by smaller head, but with lesser decorations on the langets.

Well, feel free to comment - it's possible some of the flaws were simply skipped.
Also, I hope you liked this journey again.

[Mark Moore]

It is the journey that counts...not the final destination. Did you learn? Yes. Did you enjoy the trip? Yes. Did you wind up with something spectacular? YES. Maybe with the exception of the choice of steel, I would not change a thing. This piece is absolutely epic. I would carry it with great pride and confidence...even on a modern-day battlefield. Solid 5-star effort in my book! .....McM