Thanks for the heads-up, Greg...........Good to hear....Guess I better get off my butt and order while I can! Thanks, bud!...McM

I still kick myself for not buying this seax from Kult of Athena when the had it in stock.
I really hope they get more soon.

I started working on the new handle for this seax but I've only just begun and don't want to make any promises I can't keep. I will say that while I've made plenty of tool and knife handles they've been utilitarian in nature and this will be my first attempt at making something with decorative carving.

I was interested to note that the tang is also tapered and wonder if Kris Cutlery uses a tapered blank to make these blades. It isn't a big deal but the tapered tang did motivate me to cut out the mortises for the tang by hand rather than machine in order to get a nice fit. I don't imagine anybody would know the difference when it's assembled but I would.

I plan to both glue and use the dowel hole in the tang to affix the pieces together. Once I've taken care of the mechanics of fitting the blanks to the tang the fun of carving will begin, wish me luck!

I hope to get one of these someday when I feel it can get through the import ban on "samurai swords", with this being a single edged blade! Though it isn't curved so it should get through...

I am hoping to kit the seax out in sword-style fittings.

William since you are from England, I recommend you pattern welded saxes from either Owen Bush or Paul Binns. They are way more expensive but I have a Paul Binns pattern welded broken back sax and it sooo worth it. A great piece.

Did a little work on the handle. Made it slightly wasted in the middle with a bit of a thumb 'stop' on top of the handle. I took the squarish part off the end and made it a curved piece. I am toying with the idea of somehow making the curved end of the handle into a snake or dragon head. Almost like the prow of a longship. My ideas way outstrip my abilities. :)

Wasting and thumb stop are good ideas. Every time i swing mine I'm afraid my hand is going to slip up on to the blade, and that thing is sharp!I like the dragon's head idea. give the carving a practice on some spare wood first and then give it a go. Do you have plans to change the pin at all? or stain the wood?

I am very certain I will stain the wood. As of now, I plan on keeping the pin. Thinking of making some sort of brass guard as well.

Thanks for keeping this topic alive, fellas. I can't wait to get mine. I will extend the tang about 3 inches, threaded, and use the guard and pommel from an India-made cheapo I already have. They are sword fittings, so this will be a 'langseax'. Am I wrong in using these fittings on this blade? I speak of a curved guard and a 5-lobe pommel...brass...threaded...but about to be drilled thru for hot-peening. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks to all.................mcm

well I have one on it's way so exciting I'm thinking something not quite historic but close from what I've seen it will make a good hunting sword, but will see pics coming soon.

That sounds totally cool, Lewis. Take a bunch of pics. We love stuff like that! But start a new topic, please. :D ....McM

:wtf: ...Was there a reply deleted or removed? Lewis? Am I losing my mind? I AM sober.....McM

Hello again no pictures yet but I got mine this week A warning to some mine had no hole drilled through the pins were just hit in from side to side when I drilled them out and chipped the handle away there was no through hole so if you didn't want A hole there you might not have one. To anyone still wanting these they have them at Kris cutlery still and I got my mine A little cheaper with factory blemish of the handle and sheath, also I have now seen them on amazon. Anyway I have the new handle just about inlet with a plain English walnut so the carving will pop more hopefully, mine also lacks A really sharp edge it's sharp but not hair shaving the blade has very nice pattern and the shadow like hamon line is really cool looking as well for the price this is a fine small sword indeed the best I've ever had in my collection, well gonna get back to it burn the midnight oil.
All the best.

I've noticed there hasn't been a lot of activity over here lately and was just curious to see if anyone had replaced the handle completely. I would like to with mine and was wanting to see other ideas for handles. Thanks.

Well, I just ordered one of these from KC on Friday. I got the shipping notice from USPS later the same day, too, so unless something goes wrong it'll be here in Finland within a week and in my hands within two. :)

I was wondering whether to wrap the grip and sheath with leather or just treat the wood with something, and thought of tar. We've been using it to weather- and waterproof everything from boats to boots, up here, for ages. You heat it, possibly thin it with something depending on what exactly you're doing, and spread it with a brush while it's hot and runny. In theory, at least, if suitably thinned it should penetrate soft wood pretty well, stain it quite dark and make it pretty much immune to the elements...

Here's what I've done with mine. Scrapped the old grip and scabbard. Fittings are forged copper, and the grip is carved birch treated with linseed oil.

---

 Attachment: 89.1 KB

In hand.

 Attachment: 265.47 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 95.04 KB
Grip. [ Download ]

 Attachment: 70.7 KB
Detail of the "guard plate". [ Download ]

 Attachment: 85.63 KB
"Pommel" cap, with handmade copper nails. [ Download ]