Blacksmith makes an African Axe

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Here is something a little different.
I have always been curious about the tanged axes used in Africa. I believe this design came about as a result of the scarcity of iron in this part of the world. The authentic axes use a heavy forked branch or tree root, and set the head in the strong knotted portion which is not not likely to split. The head can also be turned sideways and used as an adze.
I made one so that I could experience how an axe of this variety 'feels'. It feels very good in the hand. The weight of the wood behind the head balances the whole thing well, it does not feel clumsy, as I suspected it would. This axe will not be used because the handle, being made from board wood, would split fairly easily.
Total weight is around 1lb12oz. The head weights 8oz and is made from a truck leafspring. The handle is 20" long. It was made form scrap sugar maple pallet wood, hence the splits.

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Prelude No. 8 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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Divertimento K131 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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