Gotlandic style seax

We all make stuff other than pipes, so here's a place where "anything goes" as far as showing off some of your projects and other hobbies.
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Alan L
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Gotlandic style seax

Post by Alan L »

Here's one that may appeal to the Ostrogoths among us...

My attempt at a circa 800 AD working knife, known throughout the Germanic speaking world as a seax or sax, as in Saxon.

It's got a composite pattern-welded blade composed of two five-bar laminates of 1084 carbon steel and wrought iron, twisted in opposite directions, with those bars welded onto a blade edge of 1084 carbon steel.

These were typically worn hanging from a belt at the small of the back, edge up.

The handle is red oak treated to make it look kinda like bog oak, aka morta. Didn't really succeed on that one. :roll:

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I deliberately left the etch at a low contrast, since that's the accepted idea of what the originals looked like when new.

Alan the archaeologist and knifemaker, who dabbles in pipemaking... :lol:
tritrek
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Post by tritrek »

Respect! This is one piece of art! Congrats!
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ToddJohnson
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Post by ToddJohnson »

tritrek wrote:Respect!
I rarely break out the "Ali-G speak," but I agree, this is a really fantastic piece.

Boo-ya-kisha,

Todd :D
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flix
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Post by flix »

Sweet piece, dude! I esp. like the etch, so very Saxon.
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Alan L
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Post by Alan L »

Thanks, guys! :D

Shameless plug time: if you want to enjoy it in person, it's available here.

It's interesting how many pipemakers also do knives, and vice-versa.
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KurtHuhn
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Re: Gotlandic style seax

Post by KurtHuhn »

Alan L wrote:Here's one that may appeal to the Ostrogoths among us...
The Irascible Ostrogoth approves! And wants!

I have a project in my head to do a seax, like the one J.Aurthur Loose posted to Don Fogg's forums about 6-7 months ago, but my blade time is being spent on assembling my electric heat treat oven so that I can do stainless and more complex alloy steels properly. I have to find time to get to Providence to the refractory supply place to get IFBs, and the local salvage yard for mild steel angle.
Kurt Huhn
AKA: Oversized Ostrogoth
artisan@k-huhn.com
MrChurchwarden
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Re: Gotlandic style seax

Post by MrChurchwarden »

do you have your own website by any chance?
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Alan L
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Re: Gotlandic style seax

Post by Alan L »

MrChurchwarden wrote:do you have your own website by any chance?
No. I'm just a part-timer and hobbyist. I am a moderator on the Bladesmiths' forum, http://forums.dfoggknives.com if you want to see a lot of seriously cool stuff. 8)
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