The Armour Archive

OK, for the heck of it, i wanna make a housecarle axe (a danish beared axe if you will...) Im wondering about the dimentions of the blade in general, and the kind of wood used for the shaft. And would the shaft have been straight like a broom handle or would they have been crooked? would they have attempted to straighten one? thanks.

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-Azommin-
"What profit is there for a man, if he gains the whole world, yet forfieghts his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
-Matthew 16:26

I'd think around 10" for the blade, tip to tip, and probably ash for the helve ( hickory if you don't mind going New World ). Straight haft, 4 to 5 feet in length, depending on your height and preferences.

I agree, I according to my research on the subject of axes, the Haft would be straight I would say ash is a likely choice for the handle, ( I make axes and this is what I use )I have a few pictures of axes including a danish war axe, I didnt make them but here they are http://www.therionarms.com/reenact/weaponry.shtml

Best of luck,
~Richard Livingstone~

STUPID SCHOOL! they won't let me go the link you put up.... i'll visit it at home though.
With the haft, would the bark have been removed, and stainded in some way, or left as is?

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-Azommin-
"What profit is there for a man, if he gains the whole world, yet forfieghts his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
-Matthew 16:26

i know why you want to make housecarle axe its becuase you just saw that one episode of Conquest.
~willhelm~

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mcrs(medieval chivalry reenactment society]

If you just have a plain Junk of wood that you chopped out of a tree I would reccomend letting it dry and then once its dry ( Dry wood planes eaiser than green or wet wood ) putting it into a vice and with a plane or spokeshave taking the bark off, then making it level and straight with a plane, rounding it with a spokeshave or whatever, if its all rounded and dry then you should sand it down to its finished, if you want to stain or paint it then its up to you.

Hope my mindless ramblings have helped you

~Richard Livingstone~

yes it is because i saw conquest, thankee sai very mutch! I like axes though. my good pal jim can handle a weapon like that, so i'll let him use it. Im a small fry, so it'll be hard for me, but its ok.

Would it have been period to stain the haft? it so, what sort of colors would be typical?

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-Azommin-
"What profit is there for a man, if he gains the whole world, yet forfieghts his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
-Matthew 16:26

ah dont worry about your size put your body into your moves as well as mucle and keep movin lol thats whatn i do with my axe 36in handle 7in blade 8 in wide at 5lbs heavy but i can use quite quickly and acuretly lol

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by azommin:
STUPID SCHOOL! they won't let me go the link you put up.... i'll visit it at home though</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is the second time this week that I've heard my site has been blocked by a school or corporate firewall, and it's quite disturbing. Azommin, can you tell me what web filtering software your school is using, or at least what school you attend? It's okay to answer privately - therion@therionarms.com


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Hal Siegel - TherionArms
http://www.therionarms.com

Bearded axes are early Viking age, while those long Housecarl-type axes are later. I think, historically, a bearded axe on a five foot pole is unlikely. Good luck with your project though.

~Wil