Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Trade Axes~Post to Park 2012

This last winter I was asked by NPR Mike Twist to produce 4 Fur Trade Axes, these were to be for future ceremonial events, gifts to present to dignitaries. Of course it was a privilege to accept this task. I have been concentrating on reproducing artifacts of this style and others for a few years now.


I rely heavily on Mike Twist for direction in accuracy, periods and interpretations of axes in our history. They remind me of time capsules in and of themselves.


I made these out of wrought iron, all are square polled. (That is an extra piece of wrought iron forge welded opposite of the bit) File steel is inserted and forge welded in the business end of the axe then hardened and tempered.



I touch marked them with my makers mark W.S., and then I used locally acquired Ash wood for the handles. I also added an axe necklace to each axe for an added embellishment. These pieces are as accurate as I could achieve, even the axe on the necklace was a reproduction of a recovered artifact at the Fort.







Memorial Day

This was a historical event for Fort Vancouver National Park.
The presentation of the Flag to the NPS from Brigadier General Alton Berry U.S.Army Reserve


First Flag raised by NPS 2012






21 Gun Salute by NPS
A changing of the guard after 160 years and a grand ceremony with tradition exercised from the past and brought forth into the present of the Fort.


The dignitaries speaking were:

Brigadier General Alton Berry, Commanding General 88th Regional Support Command, United States Army Reserve.

Brigadier General Kurt Hardin, Commander 104th Training Division (Leader Training) United States Army Reserve.


Christine H. Lehnertz, Regional Director of Pacific West Region, National Park Service.

Tracy Fortmann Superintendent, Fort Vancouver National Historical Site Nation Park Service.

Larry J. Smith Mayor Pro Tem, City of Vancouver, WA

The Honorable Jaime Herrera Beutler, Congresswoman 3rd. District of Washington.


Two of the four axes were presented by Tracy Fortmann Superintendent to Brigadier General Alton Berry and Colonel Peter J. Norseth Commander, 2nd BDE/95th Division.



It was an honor for me to be chosen from the Trades Guild, (current President Craig Webster) to produce these Axes that symbolize the labors of Park employees, Park Rangers and Volunteers work that makes it possible to reproduce and interpret the historical splendors that Fort Vancouver National Historic site has to offer.


Other random pictures from the days events are located
at the link from this blog link below.



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