Seax (n) - A large knife with a blade length of 18cm (7") or longer possibly used in combat.
For longer Seaxes over 30cm (12") see Langseax and for Scandinavian combat knives see Norse Style Knives.
This piece I built replicates an old viking age mastersmith technique called a Wolf's Tooth Pattern.
Even on wood, this still involves fire, but it's significantly easier done here than its authentic origin. I just slap a stencil on some aluminum tape and stick the tape to the side of the blade, acting as a resist to the flame I use to char the edge bevel. The result is a crisp line between what is torched and what is not.
To a smith, this was much more serious business. It was a process of binding two different steels, mated together by a zigzag which was either cut, ground, or hammered into the shape of rows of teeth. When made to fit and welded together successfully, the completed blade pronounces this divide as if the jaw of a wolf.
So I named this viking langseax (long knife) the Fenris.
Now with the blade complete in its shape and detail, progress continues at the handle.
Stacked blocks of walnut and lacewood make up this, fit to the tang of the blade with chisel-chopped mortises.
Kinda sorta like a real knife.
Tools used:
-scribing knife
-calipers
-combination square
-marking gauge
-0.5mm lead pencil
Here glued and given a very rough form, this clunky mass goes on a date with the belt sander and the rasp for fine shaping, and on its way to actually fit a human hand.
And after all is smoothed, there only remains one step.
Now this wolf's ready to do some howling.
A previous build featured a handle made from walnut and ash.
Commentaires