More Sokyra hatchets from the Ukranian Hutsul region

http://guculiya.com.ua/en/hutsul-axes/211--.html

 Those are some fine examples of Hutsul hatchets I found on the web. I am really, really fond of the craftsmanship and the beautiful lines of these tools in general.




I have linked the photos to the original sites. The proprietors of the publishing rights can contact me if there are any problems.

Most interesting is the picture above of Hutsul gentlemen singing Chrismas carols with their axes raised. The hatchet seems to be of a huge cultural significance in this culture. Here is a link about some aspects of their culture.

It is a highland Carpathian ethnia, and I find their attire reminds one a bit of some Saami attires... have to do some research on that. In any case, there seems to be a living axe cult in Ukrania, and I suppose the roots of it might go back to the bronze age. I will do some research on that, promise;-)

As one example might serve this Aunjetitzer hatchet:

http://www.museum-digital.de/san/singleimage.php?imagenr=19204&inwi=1&w=1680&h=880

Or this one found in Poland:
 
http://www.museum-digital.de/nat/index.php?sv=Prestige&done=yes&ftext=1&style=grid

Another one from Brachwitz, Poland:

http://www.museum-digital.de/nat/singleimage.php?imagenr=30120&inwi=1&w=1680&h=880

Those are several examples for beautiful axeheads from the copper- and bronze age. The morphology of these axes bear a striking resemblance to some modern examples. I will keep you informed on my progress on the research!

Industrial museum season has just started;-)-for me, that is.

It´s been a while, but I finally managed to get to the traditional hammer-in at the museum smithy to meet with Willi and Daniel, and we had a ball as always. It was raining hard, and I got the flu, so I went there by bus. Blimey, I was on the road for one and a half hour. I get there by bike in one! Funny. I was a bit late for that, but no harm done. I forged this celtic belt chain. Mild steel. The rings I made myself, by simply wrapping around a piece of round stock.

 Daniel forged this leaf and a hook. The bronze finish he applied by brushing with abrass brush while the material was still hot.

 Willi had his knives and hatchets and mini-axe-jewellry on display. Those little thingies sell like hotcakes!

 I simply like Willi´s craftsmanship, and he´s always inspiring me.

 This knife was his first attempt at forging with an air hammer. Silver steel, integral, and polished to a high lustre. Note those bronze fittings, very neat. The sheaths he also makes.

 Here he forges a "dwarf blade"... I look forward to seeing it when it´s done!

 ...the blade.

 And he set out to forge a chain himself. Seems it´s also working the other way round;-).

 I made a dragon head knife, a seax, a chain, ground my dragon head kopis / En - Nep and a leaf handle blade...

 ...and made this "tactical" Thor´s hammer to wear as a pendant. File steel, can be used as a striker and for other purposes, too (bottle opening*ggg*, and those tactical-minded folks of you out there might also think of other purposes*ggg*)