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Post by paranger on May 3, 2020 8:57:48 GMT -7
Just completed my take on Henry Bouquet's enigmatic ca. 1764 "battle axe" for my PA Light Horse impression.  |
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Post by paranger on May 3, 2020 9:01:47 GMT -7
And the documentation...(from Bouquet's orderly book):  |
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Post by hawkeyes on May 3, 2020 14:32:24 GMT -7
Did you forge it? I'm completing a double burner welding forge that runs off a 40lb tank for such work where I'm able to forge weld tool steel bits to softer iron. Will make pieces like your axe above much easier and opens a new realm for my work. Beautiful piece, well done.
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Post by paranger on May 3, 2020 14:43:38 GMT -7
Did you forge it? I'm completing a double burner welding forge that runs off a 40lb tank for such work where I'm able to forge weld tool steel bits to softer iron. Will make pieces like your axe above much easier and opens a new realm for my work. Beautiful piece, well done. No, wish I could. I outsourced the blacksmithing. I just made the haft from a pignut hickory stave. Let me know when you get that forge up and running...I will have work for ya!  |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on May 3, 2020 16:28:25 GMT -7
Well done, nice looking axe.
Keith.
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Post by hawkeyes on May 3, 2020 17:55:24 GMT -7
Did you forge it? I'm completing a double burner welding forge that runs off a 40lb tank for such work where I'm able to forge weld tool steel bits to softer iron. Will make pieces like your axe above much easier and opens a new realm for my work. Beautiful piece, well done. No, wish I could. I outsourced the blacksmithing. I just made the haft from a pignut hickory stave. Let me know when you get that forge up and running...I will have work for ya! Absolutely, will certainly be willing to accept it. |
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Post by artificer on May 5, 2020 5:07:16 GMT -7
Not a criticism, but a question. That blade design with the seriously dropped lower edge looks Norwegian/Viking to me and/or possibly Frankish in origin. May I ask where you documented the design of the axe head?
Gus
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Post by paranger on May 5, 2020 10:55:04 GMT -7
Not a criticism, but a question. That blade design with the seriously dropped lower edge looks Norwegian/Viking to me and/or possibly Frankish in origin. May I ask where you documented the design of the axe head? Gus The design is commonly referred to as a "bearded axe." As you suggest, it has been in use since antiquity in multiple cultures, Vikings included. In our period, one often sees a similar design in specific carpentry applications, such as the broad, or hewing axe. Still, due to its light weight and long cutting edge, it persists in military applications even in the 18th century. The attached picture is of a Seneca-attributed war axe in my collection which was picked up after the Battle of Oriskany by Captain Jacob Gardinier (1st Co., 3rd Bn, Tryon County Militia).  In writing his treatise "Reflections on the War with the Savages of North America," it is generally acknowledged that Bouquet was drawing upon his knowledge of the Roman campaigns against the "barbarians," further reinforcing this classic design choice from antiquity. |
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