Axe handles

[Mint]

I recently came across a wooden axe handle. Y'know, for chopping wood and such. Would these be legal for use as a core for a Bel axe?

Thanks a ton,
-Hyde

[PhotoJoe]

1.3. General Weapon Checking Conventions - All Weapons must conform to all of the following, as applicable:
. . .
1.3.2. All non-striking surfaces must be padded adequately to prevent personal injury from incidental contact.
. . .
1.3.4. The Weapon pommel must not readily pass through a 2" diameter hole.
1.3.5. The maximum allowed flex of any Weapon except Javelins is 45 degrees. See Appendix A, 1.4.7.6.
. . .
1.3.8. All handles of wood Weapons must be taped, including bamboo and rattan.


So, as long as you pad the thing sufficiently, make sure it passes the pommel template test, it doesn't flex out(not very likely eh?), and is taped, you're good.

[Tobia Blackthorn]

If you do decide to try to use it as a core, you're going to have a hard time getting it to pass, between the weight of the core and the extra padding, its going to hit hard, and be really heavy.

[Cade]

Build it into an axe and you should be fine...

Generally any core i have thats too stiff or too heavy can be made passing by turning it into an axe or hammer. The reason being is that the shape of the axe or hammer tends to be all foam, giving it sufficient padding.

But yea, its going to be pretty heavy.

[Mint]

Thanks. Are there any rules/guidelines in regards to maximum weight of a weapon? I perused the BoW, and it only gave me the minimum weight requirements. I was planning on making it into an axe anyway.

[Caleidah]

No maximum weight. If it is too heavy, though, it will be hard to get it to pass hit check.

[Tiercel]

Consider the tendency new fighters have to accidentally hit flat with a weapon like an axe. Apply courtesy padding generously, because sooner or later someone will get clocked with your weapon, though it may not be you swinging it.

[Mint]

What sort of foam do you suggest I use for haft padding on a job such as this? I've been using pipe foam for my other haft pads, which probably won't do given the shape of the thing. I have what appears to be some high-density PE foam I got from Kmart that's significantly squishier than Wal-Mart foam.

[Durzo]

For my two cents I have yet to see a wooden cored weapon that was practical for the sport. Just the sheer weight of it. Unless, that is, you try to make a passing red out of it, whereupon you may have a good shield breaker. Or if you make it a cheater beater, whereupon it is a good leg breaker. Conversation piece? Why not, I knew a guy that made a Sauron-esque flail. But if you are going to try to use the thing one handed you may find it more cumbersome than it's worth on the field.

Definitely pad the heck out of the handle. Wood hurts on even an incidental swing. Camp pad works fine for incidental. Pipe foam, I find, has a tendency to break down quickly if you end up striking it a lot, and as incidental on an axe, I think that you will end up hitting haft almost as much as head.
Just my thoughts.
Cheers, good luck. If you make it, post pix.

[Caleidah]

For the record, bamboo makes a good core for some spears. I know that Poo has done a few. Chicken may have as well.

[No'Vak]

Tape the core with a barberpole style wrap with fiberglass filament (strapping) tape. Once both directions all the way down.

[Theros the Large]

Not to burst your bubble but...

You might want to consider using a different core for your axe.

It is POSSIBLE to make a passing weapon out of something like an axe handle, but it is a daunting task you set before you.

Almost every herald and weapons checker will be extra harsh about your weapon due to the rigid nature and sheer mass of your core. (It's not as dirty as it sounds)

Just a bit of advice. If you do make the weapon please post up some pics. I'm curious how you would tackle this build.

[Durzo]

I will amend that wood cored polearms have solid effectiveness on the field. Know a guy with a rattan SCA spear he turned into a Bel legal polearm just fine. I stand corrected....
That being said, I still have yet to see a wood cored single handed weapon that was at all effective on the field.

[Mint]

Thank you all for your input. I decided to lay off the handle, given my relative inexperience and the overall less-than-workable condition of the handle at question (kind of splintered near the tip; I think part of it might have broken off in the past). Mabye someday I'll give it a go. If I do, I'll post my efforts fo' sho'.

[Richard le Gris]

I know I am late to the party, but... axe handles are weapons unto themselves, improvised but still painful. http://www.wpbf.com/r/26162779/detail.html It is roughly as bad of an idea as making a baseball bat into a weapon core.

[Mint]

Because I haven't completley given up on the whole wood idea....

Has anyone ever had any sucess with wood dowel reinforced PVC? It seems plausible for a weapon subject to a lot of flex such as an axe or a hammer. There's a good chance I'm horridly wrong about all this, but I'd like to investigate my options regardless.

[Caleidah]

I think Thomas Macfinn(?) had a mini-glaive on PVC with a dowel through the center.

For the amount of work it would take, it'd be better to just use fiberglass and be out the extra work the dowel would require.

[Mint]

Already got 'em around. 5/8 dowel actually slides quite nicely into 1/2 PVC. Snug fit, and doesn't rattle when hit. My question nowithstanding, is it comparable to fibreglass in regards to flex and durability? By the way, pipe cutters are a godsend when working with PVC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_cutter

[Isk]

My question nowithstanding, is it comparable to fibreglass in regards to flex and durability?

NO


It will not last anything like as long and will initially pass flex, but the wood will break up inside and then it will fail. To answer the question you didn't ask, it will also not make a very 'performance oriented' weapon for Belegarth. Making a weapon with wood filled PVC is, IMO, at best a temporary hold over until you can do it with something that will be superior in all ways (even cost if the PVC and dowel rod weren't already in the shed).

[Mint]

Gotcha. Looks like it's time to patronize the Farm & Fleet. I went ahead and used the PVC, but it's for a joke weapon anyhow, nothing exceedingly "preformance oriented."

[Durzo]

I have generally shied away from PVC cores except for loaner weapons. I shatter PVC, reinforced or not. It is brittle, and one hard hit will destroy it like Mel Gibson's public image. Farm and Fleet is FTW. Surveying rod, drive way markers, etc... All make for awesome cores.

[Grey Ogre]

I thought metal weapon cores were illegal?

[Dawken]

I recently came across a wooden axe handle.

Ya metal cores are.

[Grey Ogre]

..... So whats this about surveying rods? My family own four of the things since we do construction work, and theyre all metal.

[Peregrine]

..... So whats this about surveying rods? My family own four of the things since we do construction work, and theyre all metal.

he is referring to fiberglass ones.

[Blackhawk]

My 2 cents:
I have made and used Axe handled weapons. Dag has since banned them. Not sure it was my fault, but everyone is right, They are reeeely hard to pad safely.

[Mint]

Since this thread has been brought back into the limelight...

Here's the complete aforementioned joke weapon.

Behold:

[fishstix]

yes. that is all i have to say about that. can't wait to see it in all it's ego bruising glory

[NessiePop]

Do want!