Type M Dane Axe by Fallen (L Driggers)
Mar 21, 2014 20:03:13 GMT
Post by Sir Thorfinn on Mar 21, 2014 20:03:13 GMT
Introduction
I have loved axes *forever* (I blame Conan), but truly fell in love with this style as a re-enactor. My family has a tradition of giving some sort of weapon to family members on their 16th birthday, and one of my sons wanted a Dane Axe. I shopped the usual places, read reviews, and all along drooled over the sweet pictures Fallen posts on SBG. After waffling with my son about design and specifics, I contacted Fallen, and the rest is history.
I ordered just the axe head, as shipping for a long object is pretty expensive, and I wanted to keep costs down. I asked Fallen to put a nice finish on the axe, and sharpen it so out of the box it was ready to be mounted.
Historical Overview
This is a fine example of a Pettersen type M axe. Size and weight seems to be commensurate with period examples, and I asked that the blade be kept thin to keep weight down. So this axe can never be considered a woodchopper, it was designed to cut meat.
Full Disclosure
I am not blessed with being related to Mr Driggers (Fallen) or he’d have a ready made serf to stoke his furnace and clean his shop. So I paid full price for the axe.
I am a long time collector and re-enactor, and have wanted a Dane Axe for years.
And…like an idiot I got lazy and left the axe head on my workbench, forgot about it, and it rusted quite thoroughly. Many hours of polishing later…well, you see the results.
Initial Impressions
When the Axe arrived, it was nicely packed, and razor sharp. Shave your face sharp. Scary *are you kidding me* sharp. Have I said it was sharp? We haggled back and forth a bit over design, and it came out exactly as ordered. Fallen put a nice fine sanded finish on it, buffed to about 300 grit, and a nice etched maker mark on the blade.
Overall, I was stunned by how beautiful the axe was upon arrival. I held it by the eye and thunked it with a fingernail…and it rang like a bell…for minutes. Amazing.
Statistics
Blade to Poll: 9 ¾ inches
Blade Height: 8 ¼ inches
Blade Thickness: 3/32 inches (average- probably 1/8 before I lost my mind polishing)
Edge Length: 9 inches
Handle Length: 58 inches – hand carved Ash, Danish Oil finish – oval cross section (and may I say how labor intensive this was to make…wow)
Overall Length: 59 ¾ inches
Head Weight: 1.32 lbs
Total Weight: 3.01 lbs
POB (Point of Balance): 19 ¾ inches from top beak of the blade
The Blade
Fallen uses 1075 high carbon steel for his axes, which is good stuff.
The blade came very well formed, a nice finish and sharp.
If I wanted to be completely OCD about the blade, it was not mechanically perfect. It was hand forged, and has a little character to prove it. There are a few minor pits where the poll is formed, and the poll is about 3-5 degrees off center because it’s kind of tear drop shaped. No big deal, I just had to adjust the handle a tiny bit. So considering the low cost, and the axe is hand forged, anyone who complains about this axe is NUTS, I could not be happier.
Have I said it is sharp?
The Handle
The handle was hand made by me, from an ash 2’x2’x6’ board. Many hours with the draw knife, angle grinder with a flap sand wheel and orbital sander…good lord it was more than I expected. The finish was sanded down to 600 grit and finished with Danish oil, with no color to bring out the natural wood. Also we decided to shape the handle oval to match his hand size (he’s 6+feet so far) and left a slight knob at the end so you can feel when your hand reaches the end of the shaft.
Handling Characteristics
This axe is LIGHT and FAST.
While the length of handle would make it clumsy one handed, it’s lighter than many one handed swords I’ve handled. The axe is a dream to handle, lighter and faster than the clumsy re-enactor rubber club axe I used to use. It truly shows how scary the Norse axe men would have been.
Test Cutting
We test cut with it before we made the new pretty handle, and it cuts beautifully, and rings like a bell. The top point also stabs nicely and kills 2 liter bottles with the best of them.
Conclusions
We couldn’t be happier. Fallen has GREAT communication, awesome prices and turns out top notch work. I’m already scheming for a similar axe for me…
Delivery was faster than I expected, and everything better than I had hoped for. Can’t say enough about how pleased we are with this axe and the process.
Pros
Beautiful work
Well balanced
Solid construction
Light and tough
Fast Delivery
Great communication
Asked for it sharp, and boy did I get it.
Asked for a partial even polish so I could take it to mirror, and was very pleased with the delivered finish.
Cons
Not *PERFECT*, shows that it was handmade ( I hate to put this, but some folks freak over incredibly minor things)
Minor pits where the poll meets the blade (Very minor – again feel bad putting it, but needs to be there for expectations, it’s handmade…)
The Bottom Line
I highly recommend Fallen and his work. I really don’t know how you can get a better value for your money with his axes. I’m so pleased; I’m planning my next one.
I give him 5 out of 5 stars. And I’m upset I can’t give him a better rating than the max
I have loved axes *forever* (I blame Conan), but truly fell in love with this style as a re-enactor. My family has a tradition of giving some sort of weapon to family members on their 16th birthday, and one of my sons wanted a Dane Axe. I shopped the usual places, read reviews, and all along drooled over the sweet pictures Fallen posts on SBG. After waffling with my son about design and specifics, I contacted Fallen, and the rest is history.
I ordered just the axe head, as shipping for a long object is pretty expensive, and I wanted to keep costs down. I asked Fallen to put a nice finish on the axe, and sharpen it so out of the box it was ready to be mounted.
Historical Overview
This is a fine example of a Pettersen type M axe. Size and weight seems to be commensurate with period examples, and I asked that the blade be kept thin to keep weight down. So this axe can never be considered a woodchopper, it was designed to cut meat.
Full Disclosure
I am not blessed with being related to Mr Driggers (Fallen) or he’d have a ready made serf to stoke his furnace and clean his shop. So I paid full price for the axe.
I am a long time collector and re-enactor, and have wanted a Dane Axe for years.
And…like an idiot I got lazy and left the axe head on my workbench, forgot about it, and it rusted quite thoroughly. Many hours of polishing later…well, you see the results.
Initial Impressions
When the Axe arrived, it was nicely packed, and razor sharp. Shave your face sharp. Scary *are you kidding me* sharp. Have I said it was sharp? We haggled back and forth a bit over design, and it came out exactly as ordered. Fallen put a nice fine sanded finish on it, buffed to about 300 grit, and a nice etched maker mark on the blade.
Overall, I was stunned by how beautiful the axe was upon arrival. I held it by the eye and thunked it with a fingernail…and it rang like a bell…for minutes. Amazing.
Statistics
Blade to Poll: 9 ¾ inches
Blade Height: 8 ¼ inches
Blade Thickness: 3/32 inches (average- probably 1/8 before I lost my mind polishing)
Edge Length: 9 inches
Handle Length: 58 inches – hand carved Ash, Danish Oil finish – oval cross section (and may I say how labor intensive this was to make…wow)
Overall Length: 59 ¾ inches
Head Weight: 1.32 lbs
Total Weight: 3.01 lbs
POB (Point of Balance): 19 ¾ inches from top beak of the blade
The Blade
Fallen uses 1075 high carbon steel for his axes, which is good stuff.
The blade came very well formed, a nice finish and sharp.
If I wanted to be completely OCD about the blade, it was not mechanically perfect. It was hand forged, and has a little character to prove it. There are a few minor pits where the poll is formed, and the poll is about 3-5 degrees off center because it’s kind of tear drop shaped. No big deal, I just had to adjust the handle a tiny bit. So considering the low cost, and the axe is hand forged, anyone who complains about this axe is NUTS, I could not be happier.
Have I said it is sharp?
The Handle
The handle was hand made by me, from an ash 2’x2’x6’ board. Many hours with the draw knife, angle grinder with a flap sand wheel and orbital sander…good lord it was more than I expected. The finish was sanded down to 600 grit and finished with Danish oil, with no color to bring out the natural wood. Also we decided to shape the handle oval to match his hand size (he’s 6+feet so far) and left a slight knob at the end so you can feel when your hand reaches the end of the shaft.
Handling Characteristics
This axe is LIGHT and FAST.
While the length of handle would make it clumsy one handed, it’s lighter than many one handed swords I’ve handled. The axe is a dream to handle, lighter and faster than the clumsy re-enactor rubber club axe I used to use. It truly shows how scary the Norse axe men would have been.
Test Cutting
We test cut with it before we made the new pretty handle, and it cuts beautifully, and rings like a bell. The top point also stabs nicely and kills 2 liter bottles with the best of them.
Conclusions
We couldn’t be happier. Fallen has GREAT communication, awesome prices and turns out top notch work. I’m already scheming for a similar axe for me…
Delivery was faster than I expected, and everything better than I had hoped for. Can’t say enough about how pleased we are with this axe and the process.
Pros
Beautiful work
Well balanced
Solid construction
Light and tough
Fast Delivery
Great communication
Asked for it sharp, and boy did I get it.
Asked for a partial even polish so I could take it to mirror, and was very pleased with the delivered finish.
Cons
Not *PERFECT*, shows that it was handmade ( I hate to put this, but some folks freak over incredibly minor things)
Minor pits where the poll meets the blade (Very minor – again feel bad putting it, but needs to be there for expectations, it’s handmade…)
The Bottom Line
I highly recommend Fallen and his work. I really don’t know how you can get a better value for your money with his axes. I’m so pleased; I’m planning my next one.
I give him 5 out of 5 stars. And I’m upset I can’t give him a better rating than the max