Throwing axes

[Mark Harris]

Gnith/Scott said:

>Anyone have a recipe for an aerodynamic throwing ax that will both be safe
>and cause hits that fighters will take? Or is that an oxymoron ... ?

There are a few recipes that others have used in my file:
SCAweapons-msg    (18K) 10/31/95    SCA weapons ideas. Construction tips.

I have pasted the two recipes for throwing axes from this file below.

Stefan li Rous
Barony of Bryn Gwlad
markh at risc.sps.mot.com
----------------

From: kellogg at rohan.sdsu.edu (C. Kevin Kellogg)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Combat Throwing Axes
Date: 9 Oct 1995 20:11:45 GMT
Organization: San Diego State University Computing Services

In <44qb3e$nrn at newsbf02.news.aol.com> brgarwood at aol.com (BRgarwood) writes:

>At Pennsic this year, some were using throwing axes in the battles.  I'd
>appreciate any info on constructing these things.

	I don't know what the Pennsic axes were like, but I can describe
ones Ta'nar Longspear and I made and used at Estrella and Potrero.

	I used a stiff open cell packing foam (it's either polystyrene or
polyethylene, I can't keep these straight) that is about 2 inches wide.
This foam softens with use, and becomes resilient. I cut the whole thing
out, handle and blade, as a single peice.  A length of schedule 120 pvc
pipe can be pushed up into the handle for greater stability and durability.
I contact cemented a peice of dense black closed cell foam on the blade edge,
and another peice of the same foam on the end of the handle.  The latter
was a result of empirical research, the things wouldn't fly right
without the counterweight.  Cover the whole thing in duct tape (we used
brown or black for the handle, for esthetics), and mark the blade with
a contrasting color.  

	Lord Sherridan O'Neil (I completely anglesized the spelling, I
can't hope to remember the Gaelic) made some double-bitted versions
that flew like frisbies when flung side-armed. :-)

		Avenel Kellough


From: brgarwood at aol.com (BRgarwood)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Combat Throwing Axes
Date: 5 Oct 1995 15:05:37 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

In article <951004164117_116202467 at emout06.mail.aol.com>,
PGPADRAIC at aol.COM writes:
>
>Would you m'lord be so kind as to supply an address to send the SASE too.
>Or could anyone supply an address for his Grace MoonWolf and/or the Pale?
>
>Padraic

The last two PALEs haven't had a list of landed barons, an I don't know if
Moonwulf uses the same plans, but here's something I got in E-mail from 
Donnchadh Mac Aonghais

Berwyn

These are the instructions that we are currently using in the Principality
of AEthelmearc, East Kingdom.

Construction starts with a length of old garden hose, 3/4" to 1" in
diameter, rubber type preferred, but vinyl will do, about 36" long.

Cut a piece of ethylfoam (boffer foam, though closed cell foam works as
well) about 4" square and 1" - 2" thick.  Cut a groove all around the
edge.  Fold one end of the hose around the foam so that all the edges of
the foam are covered.  Double the remainder of the hose to form a handle. 
Tie the whole thing into position with strapping (fiberglass/filiment)
tape.  Wrap some open cell or closed cell foam around the butt of the
handle and around the edge of the head and tape into place.  Wrap the head
of the axe with duct tape.

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