tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post7396871990389931016..comments2023-10-11T01:10:45.514-07:00Comments on Northern Wilderness Skills and Traditions: Headhunting Billnäs "12" AxesMarcus Lepolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05839519090063941336noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-32106198961290127942022-05-13T11:53:34.336-07:002022-05-13T11:53:34.336-07:00I don't know the answers to most of your quest...I don't know the answers to most of your questions and perhaps many have been lost. On some of the things I can speculate based on experience and what is shown of the manufacturing process. <br /><br />I'm no experienced blacksmith but I've forged many simple woodworking tools and hardened and tempered them satisfactorily. A few years ago I got a hold of a newer production Billnäs (1133) like those on picture 6 in this blog post. The temper on my axe was ruined since I dumbly burned out the old broken handle in a wood stove, but I recently managed to reharden it by heating it in a forge and quenching in old motor oil (there are of course better quenching oils than old motor oil).<br /><br />What I can tell you from this experience is that this type of billnäs axe can be (re)hardened in oil and they get very hard. My files wouldn't even touch it. In this case it is a really good idea to only harden the axe blade, not the eye, lest it could crack. The axe blade also remained a little difficult to shape and sharpen with a file after tempering in the oven (250 deg celcius for an hour). I should temper it back even further but I don't have access to a warmer oven or forge. I think these axes are made from very good steel.<br /><br />As for the question about lamination I saw a brief video showing some of the forging process of Billnäs axes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwx_2p1AJDw. <br /><br />Around 2:10 they forge this newer style axe, like mine, and from the process shown I would speculate that they are not laminated by forge welding. Forge welding would also take a lot more time and processes.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11063234027163114000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-10376873136214394602021-07-09T07:24:28.186-07:002021-07-09T07:24:28.186-07:00good day. you could only buy the heads of a classi...good day. you could only buy the heads of a classic Finnish ax through you and send them to the Czech Republic. ThanksZakazkove Sekery od Honzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08475007526558500087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-88405975063668107322020-11-07T16:44:01.736-08:002020-11-07T16:44:01.736-08:00Do all vintage Billnäs and Mariefors axes come wit...Do all vintage Billnäs and Mariefors axes come with inlay toolsteel bit? Like Japanese knives and swords? If so what type of alloy for the bit was most widely used? And what was the hardness after tempering more or less (HRC or other scale)? Fiskars axe blades nowadays temper between 50-55 HRC. Fiskars aquired Billnäs many years ago. Should I put these questions to Fiskars? I have a background in metallurgy and in welding. And I love just the shape of the Finnish axe very much.stendalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18375615722403353750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-42665480404787799402020-07-26T01:14:53.373-07:002020-07-26T01:14:53.373-07:00This article clarifies that working through any fe...This article clarifies that working through any feelings of dread that surface with respect to Ascension is entirely of the procedure that causes <a href="http://www.forging-process.com/advantages-of-forged-steel-over-castings/" rel="nofollow">advantages of forging</a> you climb your cognizance. Working through your feelings of trepidation revamps your mind - which is the thing that encourages you rise. <br /><br /> Forging-processhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13711677394287378216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-51742737763351126132020-04-09T13:30:43.857-07:002020-04-09T13:30:43.857-07:00Thanks! That's an interesting idea to open/clo...Thanks! That's an interesting idea to open/close the socket a little. I may try this.Petr L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11339672865081152195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-89465914741538252742020-04-09T04:33:51.026-07:002020-04-09T04:33:51.026-07:00Petr L. check the video https://youtu.be/qVSIT5W7Z...Petr L. check the video https://youtu.be/qVSIT5W7Zqg at about 8:10 mark, it shows the recommended method for collared axe haft securing (in this case it's the Billnäs 12/2).<br />Overall this is a great video (the images are enough, even if you don't get the Finnish voice-over) for the re-hafting methods, sharpening and care of these wonderful tools.Atlashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14352440838963882634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-62089129765916997922019-11-23T17:59:54.875-08:002019-11-23T17:59:54.875-08:00I forgot to mention that I became so interested in...I forgot to mention that I became so interested in this axe type that I actually bought a vintage Kellokoski head on ebay and restored it. The poll was just very lightly beaten, so I easily touched it up with a file, then I drew the worn blade back to shape and good edge profile and did new heat treatment. I made great effort (at least I thought so!) to make the shaft fit correctly. Despite that and despite the fact that I've made and fitted dozens of shafts for other axes and tools before, the head flew off the shaft twice during work! First time it luckily missed my friend's head. I improved the fit some more and tried it again...second time it flew off and missed my car's front window just by couple cm. I really don't know what's the trick to make it hold right. I mean, hey, the socket is smooth and conical. All that holds the haft is friction. And as the tool is used, it receives a lot of impact and vibrations, which can knock the friction fit loose...I would love to see what's the catch. I really understand why did people drill a hole for a screw/nail to secure the heads. Even medieval socketed axes were secured that way. But apparently, it seems to have worked well for the Finns even without the nail and I fail to understand how. Petr L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11339672865081152195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-85907801027635277152019-09-07T20:51:04.783-07:002019-09-07T20:51:04.783-07:00My trusty 12:1 is so sexy and has so much characte...My trusty 12:1 is so sexy and has so much character she's hard to look at! like a beautiful Roman coin, but one U could wac a town out of virgin Forest with. No problem.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08125577306121370139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-30587206346686458632018-07-29T00:56:14.704-07:002018-07-29T00:56:14.704-07:00I found your this post while searching for informa...I found your this post while searching for information about blog-related research ... It's a good post .. keep posting and updating information. <a href="https://5productreviews.com/best-battle-throwing-axes-for-beginners/" rel="nofollow">best-battle-throwing-axes-for-beginners</a><br />Linda Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368157596364247271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-82666181301157449412018-02-13T08:18:58.123-08:002018-02-13T08:18:58.123-08:00Hi Peter, I seldom have the time to reply to quest...Hi Peter, I seldom have the time to reply to questions asked on the blog and on my youtube channel. Image 8 and 12 in the article you commented on are valid litterary sources, Image 8 is page 18 from Metsätyökaluopas 1940. The comment next to the photo of the axe head states that an worn axe like this has to be replaced or sent to be resteeled. The other image is an ad for Kellokoski offering to resteel worn axeheads.Marcus Lepolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839519090063941336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-74665780581681052572018-01-25T20:40:19.425-08:002018-01-25T20:40:19.425-08:00Thanks, I know that video. I'm well aware of h...Thanks, I know that video. I'm well aware of how it's done (I forge as well), but I wanted to know more about the fact that a factory actually offered to fix their old axes. You know, some literary source that could be quoted in a text. Petr L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11339672865081152195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-85911637424418078962018-01-24T20:56:19.406-08:002018-01-24T20:56:19.406-08:00Sorry,Petr,it's a very interesting subject,but...Sorry,Petr,it's a very interesting subject,but here's all that i,personally,have came across in a great while....:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvAsktFTvgMAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07743197219579512716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-18847278236111386382017-12-27T19:31:16.288-08:002017-12-27T19:31:16.288-08:00Hey, great article, really enjoyed reading it. Is ...Hey, great article, really enjoyed reading it. Is there any literary source for citation about the factory re-steeling of worn axes? It would be very handy for my dissertation. Thanks!Petr L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11339672865081152195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605335955806740208.post-48845962610830065002016-12-14T15:24:27.425-08:002016-12-14T15:24:27.425-08:00THANKS,Marcus,EXCELLENT article.
A quick question,...THANKS,Marcus,EXCELLENT article.<br />A quick question,if by chance you'd know:You mention that "... At this time the Fiskars company modified the manufacturing process of the ”Twelves”, which were now made out of cast steel...."<br /><br />Do you mean by that Forged from Cast Steel(as in many Sheffield tools,et c.,meaning the fairly new then steel-making process),or actually Cast of Steel(of whatever composition)?<br />Thanks in advance,and really do appreciate your contributions to the spreading of Kirves knowledge.<br /><br />Best regards,JakeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07743197219579512716noreply@blogger.com