My Supremely Viable survival axe / spear thing project.
I made this using an 8" blade from a survival knife, and four feet of 1"x.25" steel. Overall, it is 31" long and the blade edge is about 7.5" long. The handle portion (the thinner part) is just over 7" long. It weighs about 4.5lbs, given or take a few ounces. I decided to use the "back strap" method of construction largely to keep the weight centered behind the grip while still keeping the blade almost in-line with the grip (as opposed to several inches forward of the grip axis). This allows for straiter swinging, more stability on contact. Think of when using a hatchet to chop wood, and sometimes the blade will flip to the side on contact. This design should prevent that.
I was going to weld along the entire length, but I ran out of Acetylene. Still, all the stress points are well-covered so I think it will be just fine as is. For a handle I can't decide if I want to physically add something over it, or wrap it with rope or some durable fabric (with glue to hold the wrap in place).
I "hardened" it by heating up the blade portion and quenching it in whater. Its resonant frequency (the "ting" you hear when you flick it) rose noticable after doing this. Also, I noticed that the blade was slightly bent (by probably 1mm) from the heat of welding, and it took a hell of a lot of pounding to get it back strait, so I think it is hard enough for what I want to do. Next time I chop wood, though, I'll use this, and see how the blade holds its edge. If it dulls abnormally fast, I will probably take it somewhere to have it professionally hardened. At that point I would probably put a nicer finish on it. I still need to sharpen the blade (spent a few minutes on it, but its got a ways to go as the fabrication process banged it up a bit).
The reason I made it was to have something heavy and sturdy enough to chop wood with some efficiency, but also easier to carry (via a sheath) and use defensively than an axe. Its pointed end will allow "spear-style" use in tighter spaces, but its weight and sharp blade would allow it to do quite well, I think, when swinging it either horizontally or even vertically.
The welds are okay, I think. I hadn't welded in a while, and I proved it by making a very newbie mistake. During welding, with the still-quite-hot filler wire in my left hand, I used that same hand to adjust my goggles. Of course, I stuck the wire right onto my forehead and left a nasty burn. But, it will heal.
Do you think a good handle would be to wrap the handle in a think rope while using spray glue with each layer to make it stick? I am also thinking that I will weld on a "pommel" on the end of the handle, mostly to give my hand something to stop on for unsheathing and to generally keep it from slipping away, heh.
My other option is, of course, paracord. I could probably fit a good fifty feet around the handle. My concern is if I had to use it the cord, then suddenly I have no grip!
I would drill holes in the handle and shape up some wooden scales for it myself, I don't like cord handles. The pommel would be a good idea, but ya need a spike on it! It's your monster, do what ya will Dr. Frankenstein!
__________________ I'm here for a good time, to h*ll with the red wine, pour me some moonshine!
Haha interesting idea. Perhaps wooden handles would be good way to go about it (shouldn't be too hard to make). Though, there is still the potential to split unlike rope, though the both have the potential to rot.
Oh and I lied, its actually more like 3.7ish pounds. I used math to figure it out.
I really need to sharpen it, and make a sheath for it. Im thinking I will make a "back sheath," kindof like Blade's, but perhaps at an angle like the dude from Final Fantasy with the huge sword, heh. But either way, I want the sheath to have multiple straps to hold it onto my back securely so it doesn't flop around.
If you actually intend to use it in the field, consider that your hands will get slick from sweat, mud, blood - whatever! A wrapped handle would help there - I really like the handle wrapping the Japanese use for their Katanas and other bladed weapons.
I have a fanciful (but usable) "Chinese" weapon similar, with a hefty 12" Bowie-style blade mounted on a synthetic shaft about two feet long. Has a brass guard. Very sharp, and works great to hack down small saplings for firewood. The tip is more upswept than I really prefer for thrusting and spearing though. Wish I had two, as it is quite wieldable one-handed - a two-weapon style would be awesome!
I don't know if the synthetic shaft would stand up to 'weapon use' though.
Probably be better to swap with ash or hickory.
Would it be silly to make a shield to go with it? Perhaps make a relatively light-weight steel framework, with simply a thin (no more than 1/2") plywood outer covering? No more than perhaps 5lbs overall weight? It could even be made small, perhaps something like 12"x12" that could be stored in a pack but still be reasonably effective in protecting the wearer from knife wounds and such? Of course, the situation would have to be utterly freaking crazy before the use of a sword and shield (as opposed to a gun and stealth, even) would be justified... but... what if?... haha.
I bet that would freak people out, some crazy guy walking around with a big sword thing and some home-made shield, hahaha.
I bet that would freak people out, some crazy guy walking around with a big sword thing and some home-made shield, hahaha.
Hehehe! When I bought a big two-handed sword back in my Navy Daze, I had to park the car a couple blocks from the shop. The clerk didn't have a bag or anything to wrap the four feet of sharp steel......
So here I am, strolling the streets of Norfolk, Virginia, with this huge sword over my shoulder - a barbarian warrior in T-shirt and jeans......
I'm surprised I made it to the car without being tackled by a SWAT team.
Hehehe! When I bought a big two-handed sword back in my Navy Daze, I had to park the car a couple blocks from the shop. The clerk didn't have a bag or anything to wrap the four feet of sharp steel......
So here I am, strolling the streets of Norfolk, Virginia, with this huge sword over my shoulder - a barbarian warrior in T-shirt and jeans......
I'm surprised I made it to the car without being tackled by a SWAT team.
Lucky they didin't shoot ya. Norfolk PD has a terrible track record. Last year a guy I know was open carrying is pistol wich is legal here and a cop put a gun to the back of his head while two others tackled him.
Yeah I thought a bit more about the "shield" idea.
1) Make a steel-framed (probably 3/4" square tube with 1/16" walls). It could be perhaps 12"x24" and fold in half (or even thirds?). When unfolded, I would probably have it hold open by strait bars that swing or slide, or are even just attached separately (like, slide a 1/2" square steel tube inside the frame tubes, through the hinged,). It would probably have something like a simple plywood outer covering to help soften blows, but if I put even 1/8" steel plate over it it would stop most common handgun bullets (it would hurt like hell and the dent left might even break my arm or hand, but it would be better than dying hahaha). It would weigh probably 15lbs at that size (with the plates). But I don't think anyone on earth has ever complained about carrying a heavy shield after that shield saves their ass, haha.
Instead of folding, it is also possible to make it simply come apart, which would naturally make fabrication much easier. Finding a way to lock them together when desired wouldn't be any harder.
2) Something much more simple like the above-recommended leather forearm covers. I had thought about this quite a bit before, in light of my afinity for the zombie genre, hehehe. While offering less protection, wearing them essentially the entire time the situation was taking place (whether camping or fighting zombies) would not only be still quite inconspicuous, but would still offer a little protection all the time, instead of no protection most of the time.
Variations could include forming steel sheet / plate to fit over my forearms also.
I'd go real easy on the shield idea. Even just a few pounds gets heavy quick. Think more about a light-weight bamboo frame with boiled leather or aluminum plate cover. Maybe a simple 'buckler' (small shield worn on the forearm) made of a 'moon' style hubcap - rounded surface to deflect blows while remaining light. Unless you expect to be parrying another guy's Supremely Viable Spear of Death or a sword, you really won't need much.
For the shield idea, how about a garbage can lid? About the right size, already has a handle. With a little modification this could be, dare I say, supremely viable.
It's NOT ''supremely'' viable unless it's camoed! Some green and brown tiger stripes would put it over the top.
