Decided to have a little axe fun

So I had this hatchet from HF and decided I wanted to make it a little more me. Being of Scandinavian decent and loving the Norse era here we are

started with this(forgot to take an actual pic) but it’s a fireman’s hatchet 20” overall with pike

a started by cutting the head off and extruding the handle. Then laid out the shape of the beard I wanted and began hacking it out with the angle grinder

After the rough cut was done started the refining of the beard with drum sander on the drill and flappy
Decided I wants to age the head some I put some “knicks” in some edges to make it look older

sanded off the paint from the head and handle
Then recut the base of the handle a bit and took the shine off the blade by etching the metal overnight in vinegar (hate the chrome shine)
Once that was done got to work on engraving the handle a bit with some runic and gave her a burn with the torch a light sand and stain. Then finished it with satin arm r seal.
:says wolf of Odin in younger furthark:
Also decided I wanted the metal darker and let it soak in tea overnight to darken the metal. Then used mustard to etch the metal to give it a little more character. I left it on for about 4 hours and wiped it off. That’s it so far. Need to put my wedge block in to secure it. Then a lily toe leather wrap for handle and maybe the collar. Not sure and of coarse I’ll be making a sheath as well out of raw leather.

So from a ugly cheap 20” hatchet to what I think is badass 16” bearded battle/throwing axe that I can use around camp etc. i

 

Nothing like making something your own!

 

Was fun and free since it was laying around. Looking forward to some leather work and of course little target fun

 

Awesome Christmas gift HAHAHA wink wink

 

Vinegar, tea, mustard, and fire.
Noted.

What'd you use to darken the engraving in the wood? Was that burned in with a soldering iron? Or engraved with a Dremel/knife and darkened with something afterwards?
Nice work! Hand made leather sheath next?

 

handmade leather sheath and belt loop coming up next yes haha
i actually used a chisel and knife to carve the runes then filled with dark stain let sit to soak in and then sanded. a Dremel tool would prob be a lot easer but i wanted to go a little old school

 

Nice work!

 

Can i Axe you a question?

 

Color me impressed!

It's awesome!

 

Shoot

 

Now I want 1

 

i got the fist rendition of the sheath done with scrap leather. once i get some more im gonna have to refine it