Fur Trade Axes

I've been making 1st half (1820-1850's) 19th century fur trade axes, and also 18th century (1700's) trade axes, also referred to as the Belt Axe, Tomahawk, and or Hatchet etc. I stay true to the period in their construction, hand forging & hand welding the poll onto the bar to be the axe on the 19th century &


Forging the poll on the 18th century axe, Both types are steeled in the bit, hardened & tempered.

Originally Iron was used with a file steel as the insert for the bit. I will have only a limited number of authentic iron with steel bit as the true wrought Iron is hard & expensive to acquire. So I've decided to use patterned steel as axe stock, keeping the construction historically correct and voila!

Fur Trade Axes ~Modified~

35th annual OKCA Show (Oregon Knife Collectors Association)

Union Hall Forge/ Wade Seiders will be attending the Oregon Knife Collectors Association’s annual show in Eugene, Oregon.

The show will be held this year on Friday, April 17 thru Sunday April 19. It is located at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene, Oregon.

Union Hall Forge’s table will be at table #C12. We will be displaying some of our work.

Saturday: 8AM to 5PM

Sunday 9AM to 3PM

Bulletin

(Click here to go there)
or go to side bar and look for "Blades Available for Purchase" While your there you can check out my gallery also. Thanks Wade

The Fort

Fort Vancouver in Washington State is a very interesting place, without getting into the academics of interpretation too heavily. Circa 1820's, Fort Vancouver was built and occupied for the next 4 decades by the British/Hudson Bay Trading Company.

Of course my interest in this place is the vast artifacts recovered and documented. Also, the Blacksmith shop, with the bellows and forges as authentic as originally constructed, or at least as close as possible.

The opportunity to be a part of the Cannoneer crew that gets to fire the 3lb cannons and swivel guns is also of interest.

With some practice, study, and sweat I've been constructing some Poll Axes and Hinges. Because of the absolutely tremendous number of artifacts available at the Fort these axes can be very authentic in their reproduction.
BTW, these artifacts are available for public viewing by appointment only, by contacting Fort Vancouver National Park Service.

Fiddling with Folders Part 3

This folder is not influenced by the Sword. The blade is highly laminated, Contorted complex steel.

I have three folders made with this Gordian knot patterned steel. This particular knife is framed with Brass and Rocky Mt. Elk horn furniture.

The matching knife is my personal carry knife. These 2 prototypes are not available for purchase, But, I do have an Identical knife available for puchase. The difference...Mule deer Buck horn Furniture.

Fiddling with Folders Part 2

Again with the sword influence with folders. I used logging cable Damascus on all parts, Blade, Spring and lockback lever were all made with cable Damascus.

I used a double fuller, which is a characteristic of European blades. Brass framework is slabbed with stablized Buckeye.

This is another prototyype (You've seen it here first!) Hopefully to be available for purchase in the near future. Original prototypes are not available.

Fiddling with Folders Part 1

As with my fixed blade knives, they are also influenced by Swords.

I thought; "you know, I should extend this concept to folding knives." A Viking sword tip constructed in a folding knife. Copper and Green stablized Boxwood was my frame work, Complex composite Viking Broad sword tip constructed blade.

Pictured is the prototype (You've seen it here first!) These will hopefully be available in the future for purchase. However the original prototypes are not available.