From Hatchet to Walking Cane

Smith357

Smith357

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My latest project, Stolen straight from the mind of Beaver Bill, Saw one in real life and had to have one, but sadly no.

So on a budget of $20 I'm re-purposing an old hatchet head to use as a good Iroquois style Cane. I have the rough shaping done, now begins the long process of hand filing, sanding, and polishing, Then I need to learn how to use a spoke shave and make a 38" shaft, I'm thinking a thin taper octagon Hickory shaft down to a spike made from the scrap, and set into .50 S&W case with the head turned down. I have plenty of rubber shoes.


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This is interesting. Will the finished project also function as a pick? Would like to see the end result.
 
Smith357 said:
My latest project, Stolen straight from the mind of Beaver Bill, Saw one in real life and had to have one...
Click to expand...

This is interesting. I like it so far. In the third and fourth photographs from the top, it's beginning to take on the shape of an elongated eagle's head. Is this what you're going for? And if so, are you going to give it some eyes and a line to divide the beak? Maybe even a hint of some feathers and an eyebrow? Seriously...I look at the photos and an eagle's head immediately comes to mind.

I'll say this, though...if you're going to leave that sharp point on it, you're gonna have to be careful with that thing. Possibly even careful how you hold it.

It's possible you may have found a new career?
 
jinx said:
This is interesting. Will the finished project also function as a pick? Would like to see the end result.
Click to expand...

It should work for light duty. The shaft will be the weak link, it wall be too thin an slick for a real impact work. maybe brass studs.... The first inch of the pick end is still good hard steel, forge welded to the soft head.
 
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WATCHDOG said:
This is interesting. I like it so far. In the third and fourth photographs from the top, it's beginning to take on the shape of an elongated eagle's head. Is this what you're going for? And if so, are you going to give it some eyes and a line to divide the beak? Maybe even a hint of some feathers and an eyebrow? Seriously...I look at the photos and an eagle's head immediately comes to mind.
Click to expand...

I did not plan that, and did not notice it until I saw it in the photos, I thought it looked more like a Blue Jay. I thought about eyes and feathers, I don't have the right tools or any of the needed knowledge.



I'll say this, though...if you're going to leave that sharp point on it, you're gonna have to be careful with that thing. Possibly even careful how you hold it.

It's possible you may have found a new career?
Click to expand...

I'm shooting for a 1/8 or 3/16 round over on the pick, and 1/16 round over the peen.
 
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Looks like a midevile war hammer. If you ever saw Kingdom of Heaven the crusaders used something quite similar. Far as a shaft is concerned get a hickory shove handle and whittle it down to your liking. Frank
 
Frank46 said:
Far as a shaft is concerned get a hickory shovel handle and whittle it down to your liking. Frank
Click to expand...

I stopped buy the big box store on my way home from work, the shovel handles were just a tad small in diameter so I picked up a post hole digger handle I had to rummage through a bunch of them to find one with good straight grain. It's made of ash not hickory but it should work just fine. After cutting off the attachment holes I still have 4 extra inches in-case I make any mistakes. Then I spent an hour in this 90 degree heat fitting the handle into the eye, and then tapering the shaft down to size with a plane. I'm actually surprised that I got it straight, I did everything by eye with no measurements. I still need to finish the inletting so the shoulders fit down on the shaft, I'll wait until tomorrow to do any more work on it. More than half the weight of the wood is now on the floor. So far $5 for the hatchet and $10 for the handle and I'm still $5 under budget. :)

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I am impressed! That is the neatest handle for a walking cane I have ever saw. I have used deer antler and I have a porcelain door knob from grandpas old house and brother in law has one with the brass knob off a set of hames but I have never saw a hatchet cut down like that. I'm going to start looking for a dog wood to make the shaft and a cheap hatchet for the handle. Larry
 
I finished fitting the head to the staff, I wanted to get it done before finishing the head so as not to mar the head with tool marks from the fitting. I then gave the staff a quick burn, stain, and wax. I can now set it aside until the head polished and ready.

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I like it! Makes we want to try my hand at making a quality walking stick...

My Uncle, whom is in his 70's now, had a dandy "Dogs head" walking stick he used for years, he was at a Lowes Hardware store, left his stick unattended for just a minute in his shopping cart, and some knucklehead stole it! Something like that would be a dandy replacement.

I think I will look for an old hatchet head this weekend at the flea market....
 
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