Wait a cotton pickin' minute, you mean to tell me that not everyone in the UK speaks with Received Pronunciation like on the BBC ???
Ha ha, I'm only teasing. You might be surprised to learn that I'm actually very familiar with regional dialects and accents in the English speaking world... I even do impersonations too
Though, I'm still working on my Geordie dialect.... (needs work) — I'm fascinated by other cultures, and when they pique my interest I try to learn as much as possible. "*** me" just sounds like something an American would say, but I guess I was wrong!
I totally understand your situation, the two axes I recently posted were the first I've done (or completed, rather) since probably March of last year. I also had 'one of those years' in 2018, the only difference with me is that we don't have any kids yet (working on it, though
) - but I totally empathize with you. I lost my father in October of 2017, had to execute the handling of his estate, sell this house, etc. Just closed the estate in December last month. Then in July I had my injury, and subsequently the surgery and recovery... which is going remarkably well! Sometimes, life gets in the way. If a project takes me 6 months, then it takes me 6 months, perhaps longer. What are you going to do? Always loads to do, though... the work never ends as I'm sure you know.
Wow, thanks for the compliment! I think Billy does some good work, but yes, he doesn't take the time and attention to the haft contours nor the grinds. I mean, you can take a dull ax and sharpen it enough to dry shave, but if the grind is not right it will be a very inefficient chopper. That's where I like to leave my mark, a tailored work-ready ax that will chop efficiently and feel good in your hands.
The Arvika gets used every once in a while. I just started swinging axes again about 4 weeks ago, haven't since July when I blew out my ACL. I was using it again the other day warming up for the 2019 Ax Cordwood Challenge, and while it is indeed sharp and narrow, with custom ground bevels in the cheeks of the heel and toe - it does however need an improved grind angle. Right now its got a 23 degrees secondary bevel, and I plan to grind it down to around 15 degrees, then do a primary 30 degree micro bevel on the actual cutting edge. That should make a mockery of the hardwood I'm chopping. The thing is that the hardened steel on that ax is incredibly hard, so I'm going to have to devote several hours to grinding the cheeks down. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. Right now it's tiring when chopping with it as it down't bite as deep as it should. My 2kg Basque ax, 2.5lb cruiser, and my vintage HB 1kg are my go-to axes. I'm really digging my Siberian Toporsib ax too, but I think I need to thin the haft even more as it still feels bulky in my hands.
I'll keep my eye out for a double in my travels. Do you have a preference in weight? Most I find are around 3.5 lb, but I prefer the cruiser weight of 2.25-2.75 lb. They're just more practical for the modern man looking to work the old way.
