Valkyrie tomahawk build along

[srtben]

Hey guys I have recently designed and am in the process of building a new full tang tomahawk. I have been asked to to a larger model, so this is it. I have snapped some pics along the way to show some of my processes.

I had the hawks waterjet cut from a very large sheet of 4140, but they still need quite a bit of work to clean them up. Here I am cleaning the top profile on one of them.

 

Next I go through and drill all the holes to their final dimensions.

   

I made a simple little template to mark where I will hard stamp the blades. I use a 12 ton press that I built for the job.

   

And the results

   

The axes had quite a warp to them for some reason, so I straightened them out prior to grinding. Here is one on my granite surface plate, nice and flat now.

   

Here I am scribing the lines that I will grind to.

   

[kbaknife]

Ben - who is "Hawks waterjet"? I could not find any info with Google.
Thanks.
And how do you like 4140?

[Doug Campbell]

I foresee a "Duhh..." coming...    :D  

What's that respirator your wearing Ben?

[srtben]

Originally posted by kbaknife:
Ben - who is "Hawks waterjet"? I could not find any info with Google.
Thanks.
And how do you like 4140?

I think you misread that Karl. : ) I had the TOMAHAWKS, waterjet cut, at........
 http://www.discovermac.com/services.htm

They are local to me, so I can just swing in to pick up and drop off material. They are really good to work with, let me know if you want any more info about them or waterjet.

I like the 4140 a lot, and my customers all do as well. I think it kind of gets poo pooed by the modern knife crowd, much like 5160. But it is crazy tough, hardens to around 55rc and gets razor sharp. Not sure what else I would want in an axe. I probably wouldn't use it for a knife, but it is a fantastic steel for this application.

[srtben]

Originally posted by Doug Campbell:
I foresee a "Duhh..." coming...     :D    

What's that respirator your wearing Ben?

You made me laugh Doug. : )

It is this adapter on a standard half mask. I really like it. It does put the intake above your...output...so not the best if you just ate a bowl of chili.    :eek:     :D    

 http://www.discovermac.com/services.htm

The filters last a lot longer and it nice not having them in your field of view.

[srtben]

Here I have ground the first bevel.

 

The compound grind on the spike. I wanted a beefy point that would still penetrate very well.

 

All ground and ready for HT.

 

I have a large vertical kiln over at my Dad's place I use for my bigger hawks. Here it is coming up to temp, it takes about 2 hrs to reach 1550.

 

Opening a vertical kiln is WAY hotter than a horizontal, I need to upgrade my gloves.

link for video
 

After hardening, they get a full temper. I then blast them and then spring temper the tang for extra toughness. The axes warped a bit during quench, so I straighten them at the same time. This one is nice and flat again.

 

Next up finishing!!

[srtben]

I decide to do something new for this model and mill "fullers" in the scales. I built a simple jig to clamp in my vise, and started cranking. I really need a powerfeed. : )

 

The end result. I will still round and smooth them out out by hand once they are attached.

 

This set of scales is for a custom order. Love the look of CF, just hate the itch.

 

Here I am flaring the stainless tubes for a rock solid handle.

 

And the end result all finished up and razor sharp!

 

A better pic of a different Carbon fiber one.

 

[srtben]

It chops nicely.

 

[Shinken]

WOW - zers !!!

   :eek:    :eek:    :eek:    

Now that is the kind-of-a-'HAWK that if I was in the market for a 'HAWK, I would have to look no further.

Very nice work Ben!

               

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

[srtben]

Thank you sir!

Breaking a padlock with the spike.