British Belt Axe from Ragweed Forge any good?

CitizenQ

CitizenQ

Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
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Do any of you guys own one of these?

I like the lines and look of this head and I'm thinking about getting procuring one from Ragweed Forge...

A-23C; The British Belt Axe is very similar to those issued to British troops during the American Revolution. The pattern was used by both sides, and examples have been found in the camps of both Brittish and American forces. The head weighs about 16 ounces and has a 3 1/2" cutting edge. It has a pronounced poll, which was coming into favor at this time. This improves the balance for ordinary chores. It comes with a 18" handle for $43.

23c.jpg
 
Say nothing but nice things!...I will know soon enough...just ordered one and has the pleasure of talking to 'ol Ragnar for 15 minutes...he's a good guy. :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Ragnar is a prince, i have heard. - i have never had the pleasure of dealing with him directly.

an Investor sent me two of those to put Gen 1 handles on.

i think you'd want to wrap the grip area - the handles are really slim - i also worry about the wood breaking if over-used too - so did the Investor evidently, hence getting it composite-hafted. - the guys who depended on them knew not to over-use them though.

what we now know as a proper tomahawk evolved from trade axes very similar to this, i reckon, from the old, old diaries that i have read.

a very pretty little hatchet though. i'll try to get a kit handle out for one next year.

vec
 
As I understand it the head is manufactured using a casting process and it is not hardened (as a result of the type of steels which was used for the casting which Ragnar said would require a commercial process & oven for hardening). As a result, I wouldn't invest too much into one of these puppies...however...Ragnar mentioned that he'd be getting some other British Belt Axes in which would be cast in another metal which he would harden. This first piece will allow me to see if I like the piece and then I may invest in one of the other (hardened) pieces.
 
CitizenQ said:
As I understand it the head is manufactured using a casting process and it is not hardened (as a result of the type of steels which was used for the casting which Ragnar said would require a commercial process & oven for hardening). As a result, I wouldn't invest too much into one of these puppies...however...Ragnar mentioned that he'd be getting some other British Belt Axes in which would be cast in another metal which he would harden. This first piece will allow me to see if I like the piece and then I may invest in one of the other (hardened) pieces.
Click to expand...

good to know.

i presume the ones that i have are hardened, as the Investor tested them to his satisfaction.

thanks for the intel, brother 'Q.

vec
 
I really like the shape and weight of this hawk head. The haft suQs. But it is an excellent excellent head. Chopping pictures coming soon! :thumbup:
 
I like that poll and look better than the Th which looks a little to modern to my eye especially the hammer.
 
Yes...and it's significantly heavier than the Trail Hawk which I always thought was too light. It also has a wider blade. :thumbup:
 
As I mentioned previously, I L*O*V*E the shape, lines, and the weight of the A-23C British Belt Axe hawk head. However, I do not like the haft: it's too thin for my hands...and not quite long enough).

I guess the A-23C British Belt Axe is a traditional design from colonial times? Does anyone know anything about this particular British Belt Axe design?

Also, I am trying to obtain several A-23C British Belt Axe heads from 'ol Ragnar...but made of a different steel and heat treated and hardened.

In addition, can anyone tell me why the poll is not cast vertically straight? Is this a manufacturing defect or is this by design? Please refer to the pictures below and give me some answers if you got any.

Thanks!

brittaxe02.jpg
 
i think your poll misalignment is actually a misalignment of the eye on the slip handle, brother.

vec
 
I think your right (in so much that the eye is vertically misaligned)...however...put a square on the head and you will also see that the poll is not vertically straight either...

brittaxe03.jpg
 
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i respectfully disagree with your findings, brother.

it's straight with the back half of the eye, which is as it should be IMHO;

the top tip of the bit is riding high in the photo - something hawk tossers love, but really pretty useless for a proper hawk, which will continuosly hit on a 3/4" zone even with the top of the eye - this is why the Cold Steel Trail Hawk works so well when you get it mounted respectably-well.


dunno tho', bro - i might be missing something from the picture's limitations.

the best way to get a flattened image is to back way away from the object and zoom in - it's a photography trick that gives folks with huge honkers more charming facial geometry.

then the distortion of the hawk head will be less, and we will have a clearer view of what's what.


a lot of wood mallets are tipped thusly to great advantage...;

an experiment is probably in order.

vec
 
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