Hand forged double bit axe

[Akoostek]

Hey guys, i dug up this axe head a few weeks back and just ran it through electrolysis and it seems really old. Looks blackish on the blades - both sides. Almost looks like a resin Any info on this guys? just wondering if anyone knows about this stuff?

Thanks in advance

HH

Electrolysis video: https://youtu.be/JO0M-OIg0Vg

 

[pa plateau hiker]

Neat looking axe head, but you should take a small ballpean hammer and knock that loose metal off the side of it.

 

[Tpmetal]

the blackish part is the result of the high carbon "bit" thats forged into each side for the blade. Oxidizes differently

 

[cooper1841]

I use a battery charger for heavy iron, and put the neg. to the object, like it said in the videos I watched

 

[trapperart]

Congrats

 

[Davers]

Def, look's like an old well used piece. 'resharpened ' many times.

 

[Geobound]

After your electrolysis you should have scraped the metal clean when it was still in the bucket, as I think that's why it is still that black colour.

I would soak it again and give it a try.

You will also have to treat it properly when done, or else it will rust apart........although I sure there are many people here that can tell you exactly what to do.

Nice find though.

 

[villagenut]

Most all of the hand forged iron I preserve remains stable after treatment, it is the cast iron that is the real buggar to get stabilized. Your axe is gonna be fine once you finish it up, and the different looking parts of the two ends are most likely the deteriorating effects on two different materials that were Forge welded together as Tpmetal said. I love old forged iron, great piece.

 

[gunsil]

Not to raise a storm here, but most of these are not hand forged. They are drop forged in machines and made of two types of steel for at least over a century. Very few double bit axes are actually "hand" forged, in the axe world the design is not as old as other patterns. Such famous axes such as the Kelly Black Raven axes have been made for many years and none of them were hand forged, and they haven't used iron for over a hundred years when steel became cheap and easily available. Yes, many quality drop forged axes used mild and high carbon steel, not iron and high carbon steel.

 

[against the wind]

Nice job on the electrolysis.
I used the vinegar bath method.

 

[sutphin]

YOU HEARD THE MAN , HE SAID HAND FORGED THEN HAND FORGED . I HAVE ONE THATS LOT BIGGER SNAPPED AT THE WELD BUT I GOT TO TRY THIS ELECTROLYSIS THING. NO DISRESPECT TO ANY ONE , NOT A SERMON JUST A LITTLE LAUGH.