CS Norse Hawk + 25" haft = Viking Battle Axe Perfection

[Wolf_1989]

I had bought it a while back and recently got back to my project.

Originally, it didn't impress me so much. My first CS was/is a Rifleman's Hawk I bought in early 1994 and put through many years of heavy duty use bordering on abuse. When I bought the Norse Hawk it felt a bit... puny.

But that impression immediately changed when I mounted it on a 25" haft. Yes Indeed.

The result is a very very fast viking-styled battle axe. It's light weight but the velocity gives it the ability to strike with some significant power. I'd dare say this one wouldn't have much of a problem competing with most swords.

I usually make my handles out of sledgehammer handles. This time I bought a couple 30" handles from Cold Steel to experiment with. "Experiment" being the key word here because I had to do a bit of fitting on the handle so it would fit flush to the axe head. The result was the head finally fitted right...almost at the very end of the handle

So I drilled into the handle through the set screw hole and epoxied a brass rod into it, then peened the brass rod into the threads in the set screw hole. After letting the epoxy cure for a number of days, I tried it out, and was pleased with the results. VERY solid! Time will tell if this holds up, especially if the wood shrinks, but I feel good about it.

I patinated the head with a mix of H2O2 and salt. Look at that nice temper line!

No decorations yet because I haven't decided on any yet.

Looking back, I see the error of my ways. The CS Norse Hawk should have been the one I started with instead of the Rifleman's Hawk.

:thumbup:

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Is there a reason you wanted the haft flush with the top of the head?

 

[crossada]

Is there a reason you wanted the haft flush with the top of the head?

by my understanding i think that was all the handle he had left time he got it properly fitted, not what he set out to do.

once again love your traditional looking mods Wolf. can't wait to see what you do to the handle.:thumbup:

 

[longfletch27]

that looks good with the longer handle.

 

[raybateson]

I did the same damn thing a few months ago, but wedged it, too. Gotta love it.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Is there a reason you wanted the haft flush with the top of the head?

I didn't.

When I first tapped the head into place, there were large gaps in two spots where the wood wouldn't fit against the steel. It took some work to get it fitted right but the result was the head was in position almost all the way at the end of the handle. I think I'll go back to using sledgehammer handles; it gives me more material to work with so this won't happen again.

I don't think it would slip up the handle much more if at all. When I install handles I used a good sized ball peen hammer to do most of the work. When I get it on so tight the ball peen hammer can't do any better, I give it some wacks with a sledgehammer to be sure. I did this with my CS Warhammer and my Ft Turner Iroquois and the heads haven't moved at all.

I wasn't going to use the set screw so I drilled a hole in the handle and epoxied a brass rod into it, and peened it into the threads.

 

[InfidelShootist]

Love it.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Ok, I misread, thought you were going for a certain look with it. Their hafts must be inconsistent, mine have a lot more wood at the top taper than the rest of the haft.

Looks good, though, and with the pin, I doubt it's going anywhere.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Ok, I misread, thought you were going for a certain look with it. Their hafts must be inconsistent, mine have a lot more wood at the top taper than the rest of the haft.

Mine are the same way. I think it's more likely there's an irregularity with the internal dimensions of the head.

Looks good, though, and with the pin, I doubt it's going anywhere.

I hope not. I tested it down at our fire pit by wacking it as hard as I could against some hardwood blocks. It's very solid. I drilled the hole through the set screw hole about 2/3 of the way through the handle and epoxied the brass rod in. Then I immediately peened the dickens out of it before the epoxy set. There's no noticeable movement.

I'm going to make another one of these. I like it that much. Next time I'm going to try a different tapering technique to see if I can get some extra wood at the top of the head.

As for the cutting power...

I was able to smack it so hard against a maple log segment it buried itself to the eye. It took me about an hour to chisel and pry it out of there.

 

[Wolf_1989]

I like it so much I just bought another one

 

[vector001]

oh hell yeah.

proper hawks are great, but sometimes ya gotta get yer viking on....


this is my personal Norse - i can't hold it for more than a minute, or large numbers of things have to die.

vec

 

[Wolf_1989]

Interesting.

Your set screw hole is on the side, mine is on the back.

 

[longfletch27]

oh hell yeah.

proper hawks are great, but sometimes ya gotta get yer viking on....


this is my personal Norse - i can't hold it for more than a minute, or large numbers of things have to die.

its something about those norse hawks that makes me want to split a few helmets and shields

 

[PayetteRucker]

I'd like to try a piece this size with the HB Medieval War Axe, a Norse style bit with a sharpened spike.

 

[hawkhead]

How 'bout a mace?

 

[Zander131]

Those things look sweet! You guys have me wanting to buy a hawk and a longer haft of my own. I just have one question... How would you go about carrying one of these monsters into the woods with you?

 

[Wolf_1989]

Those things look sweet! You guys have me wanting to buy a hawk and a longer haft of my own. I just have one question... How would you go about carrying one of these monsters into the woods with you?

Considering it's only a few inches longer than the usual length tomahawks (22" - 23") I carry, it's no problem at all.

It helps to be a bit larger than most elves too.

I'll have to mention again how remarkably light and agile this axe is.

 

[vector001]

longer hawks are easier to carry than shorter hawks anyways.

they are better balanced than shorter hawks with the same head.


there are too many ways to carry them to count, but i like keeping mine i my hands.

vec

 

[Zander131]

Considering it's only a few inches longer than the usual length tomahawks (22" - 23") I carry, it's no problem at all.

It helps to be a bit larger than most elves too.

I'll have to mention again how remarkably light and agile this axe is.

I was meaning more along the lines of having on a pack/hip sheath/ect.

Vec, i thought it might be a little annoying to have to carry it around in hand, even though its lightweight.

 

[Wolf_1989]

I have two means of carrying them on my belt. One is an "axe ring" I bought from Museum Replicas many years ago. The other one is a leather tomahawk frog I bought on ebay from 7 Shots Trading Post IIRC.

Vec is right though, with the longer ones, it's just easier to carry it in your hand. This is also makes them useful when you're going through thick brush or steep terrain.