The Double-Headed Axe From A WeaponTo Modern Tool

The double-headed axe, also known as a labrys, has been used as a tool, weapon, and symbol throughout history.

History Minoan: The double-headed axe was a symbol of power in Minoan culture. It was used as a ritual axe and was associated with the worship of Mother Earth. 

Thracian: The double-headed axe was a symbol of royal power and was associated with Zalmoxis.

Scandinavian: Double-headed axes were used in the Stone Age.

Pennsylvania: The double-bit axe was developed in Pennsylvania.

Pacific Northwest: Double-bit axes with long, narrow, heavy heads were used to cut large trees.

Uses Forestry: The double-bit axe was a multi-purpose tool that could be used for felling and limbing.

Symbolism: The double-headed axe was associated with ceremonial uses and was a sacred object. 

Weapon: The double-headed axe was used as a weapon.
Other names

The double-headed axe is also known as a labrys, pelekys, or sagaris.

The double-headed axe is one of the most iconic weapons in video games, movies, and other fictional art. 

The first step is to chisel a hole in a block of mild low carbon steel. This is where the eye will take place. Using a mandrel the eye is stretched into the needed size. Next a notch is chiselled in one end of the billet and a wedge shaped peace of alloyed Bohler K460 tool steel is inserted in it to form the harder cutting edge. Now the axe is heated to a dark yellow color and borax is sprinkled on it. Melted borax liquefies the oxidation scale and washes it out of the welding seam. Once again the axe is heated, this time to a bright yellow glow, and forged so that the two pieces of steel forge weld together. The blacksmith Raven then forges the axe's head into a shape and grinds the rough edge. Now the axe is ready to be annealed.

Heat treatment. Grinding.
Sharpening
Annealing is needed to remove the inner stresses in the steel formed during the forging. To do that axe is heated to 850 degrees Celsius and cooled very slowly to room temperature. After that the axe goes to second heat treatment step which is normalizing. For this the axe is heated again, this time to a 800 degrees Celsius, our makers mark is stamped into the steel and. the axe is cooled down in the air.
Normalizing prepares the structure of the steel for the next step; hardening. Again the axe goes into a furnace and is heated to 800 degrees Celsius. Then the axe is quenched in mineral oil and water. Now the axe is hard enough, but is very brittle so it needs to be tempered. For the last time the axe is heated to 220 degrees Celsius, and is held at that temperature for one hour. After the axe is tempered to Rockwell 58-59 (HRC) and the steel is hot enough, a mixture of bees wax, Linseed oil and turpentine is applied to the axe head.

Handle making
Each axe handle is made individually for each axe head to achieve a perfect fit. To start, a knot-free piece, of locally harvested and kiln dryed (6-8% of moisture) Red Elm wood is chosen and then marked out using a template. We use only parallel grained wood to the axe eye, if the grain of the wood will be perpendicular to the axe eye it will brake fast and will not last long. The rough punched into the axe head and locked with the axe head vertically. Now the axe has been laid in the Tung oil bath for 24 hours, this fills the wood pores with the oil, and swells the handle so after a week the oil shape of the handle is sawn using a bandsaw. Next the handle is shaped using a drawknife. Axe eye dimensions are marked on the top of the handle and the handle is shaved to almost fit the eye. Final finishing. Is carried out using sandpaper to ensure a close fit. Then the axe handle is tightly the wooden wedge which is glued in with an epoxy wood glue. A small steel wedge is hammered into the wooden wedge to lock
dries and polymerizes and wood is fully protected and it will never shrink.Like our other leather goods, the axe sheath is made from cowhide that's manufactured in a local tannery using the same methods and techniques that were used 100 years ago. 4mm thick leather is dyed with Fiebings professional oil dye. Afterwards, the leather is treated with palm leaf wax and heated beeswax that gives it a vintage look and protection. As final finish Fiebings Acrylic resoline is being applied.

On Average Raven Spends About 40 -150 Hours to Make One. With Nothing Less Than 400 layers. And only The Finest Quality Materials Are Used in Any Project.