Forging a Broad hewing axe

Recently, I came across a broad hewing axe with a very wide blade and an asymmetric design. The left cheek and side of the blade form a single flat plane, making it perfect for crafting a smooth, even surface on logs. The edge is sharpened on one side only. This particular axe is designed for hewing from the right, so its left side is completely flat.

I decided to replicate this axe, but with a twist. First, I separated the future blade from the eye and poll. I then drifted a hole and shaped the eye using drifts — steel shafts specifically fashioned for forming eyes in forged axes and hammers. This technique helps ensure a more durable and seamless head. Next, I used a hammer to consolidate the cheeks and poll.

For the blade, I stretched it using a press and refined its shape with a power hammer, finishing it by hand to get the precise contours.

I trimmed the excess to match the original's blade size and line, then ground the surfaces with a grinder to eliminate any bumps and cavities that could trap moisture. After quenching the blade in oil, I performed normalization (though not shown in the video) to ensure the tool isn’t too hard and brittle. Finally, I ground and blued the axe for a smooth, durable finish.

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