Axe sheath/ cover help

[DaveP]

Found my old Norlund axe recently and need to make a sheath or cover for it.  What have you made for an axe? Thanks for sharing...David 

 

Edited February 12, 2022 by DaveP

[Frodo]

please do not sand the handle.  the original patina is beautiful

is the handle help in place with a wedge?  remove wedge, separate wood from metal

.  soak the wood in linseed oil for 90 days then let it dry for 90 days

use 0000 steel wool and oil on the metal ,Just to remove rust/dirt  do not sand down and remove pitting or other blemishes

wrap the handle with leather     then a traditional blade cover with belt straps 

[gregintenn]

There are several ways to go about it, buy here's what I settled on.

[TexasJack]

Let's start out with a question:  What do you hope to accomplish?

Do you just want to cover the head to prevent the edge from cutting something while not in use?  (Presuming that you sharpen it.)

Do you want to hang it from a belt, or on a hook?  That will require adding a loop to the cover.

Maybe a pocket for a small stone to re-sharpen in the field?

Ax covers are the one application where I'm ok with using rivets instead of stitching.

 

[chuck123wapati]

i've made a couple for my hawks. I'm sure you could adapt. they wrap around. And like Frodo says don't lose the looks she's a beauty.

[DaveP]

The handle is held in with a wedge. The rust color on the axe head is original coating from the factory. It's how almost all the Norlunds came. Not hardly any corrosion at all.  I just want to protect the edge once sharpened. This is the Canadiene model...1973-1986. They stopped production in 1986, closed permanently. Thanks for the ideas for a cover. 

[gregintenn]

Much like a knife sheath, you’ll want to sandwich an extra layer or two of leather against the cutting edge for protection of the stitching.

[Northmount]

Seems with a lot of typical axe sheaths you have to feed the handle through the sheath.  I would much prefer to put the sheath on the head with the flap on the handle side rather than on the top side.  Much less fuss putting the sheath on and taking it off.  The more you have to handle or fuss with a sharp axe, the more likely to accidentally drop it or injure yourself or someone else.

I have the typical sheath that I bought in a store many years ago.  I swear at it every time I use it and that I need to make a new one that works like it should.  Quick off and one.  This is on my main axe with a 36" handle.  Would never be carried on a belt because of the length.  Just needs some protection against nicks, and to protect others that might pick it up.

Maybe I'll start working on it today.  Need some distraction and some work that might not kill my shoulder.

 

[DrmCa]

5 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

i've made a couple for my hawks.

Nice hawks and sheaths. Mind me asking, where do you usually buy heads? I am looking for nice 'hawk heads myself.

[chuck123wapati]

2 minutes ago, DrmCa said:

Nice hawks and sheaths. Mind me asking, where do you usually buy heads? I am looking for nice 'hawk heads myself.

I bought both of these online several years ago, The throwing hawk was hand forged at one of those living museum things, the camp hawk has a 20 " handle. I will have to do some thinking on where exactly. My old brain don't remember so well anymore lol. Neither one is branded.