So, I've been toying with the idea of building an axe like that found with Otzi (the ice man) for a while now. There is an article in the current Backwoodsman Magazine about something similar. This guy used an old chisel and ground the sides down. My troubles are, around here people have crazy hipster prices on their antiques and I don't have power tools tight now other than my drill, even my dremel is in storage. I toyed with the idea of using a plane blade, but it looks too thin. Alternatively, something like the County Comm Breacher Bar might work with some sharpening. I was also thinking about a side strike chisel of modern design and some sweat. Partner it up with some leather padding, a simple sheath, and some cordage, and with the help of a SAK or LM make handles as needed.In usage, it gets used several ways--Push knife/chisel-Hack knife/batonning blade if the side is sharpened-Draw knife if the side is sharppened-mounted to a shaft with the sharp side inward, digging tool-butt end can be a scraper. -adze when mounted on a forked stick-light hatchet/hawk when mounted perpendicular in a split, straight stickAdvantages is that it is easily carried, both size and weight, and versatile.. So, I'm looking for three questions. One, sanity check. Have I lost my mind? I don't think I have- Otzi was high tech for his time, and his gear had to work.Two, has anyone made one and how did it work? Compact and versatile are often the enemies of working well, but I'm looking for something that is for a very small kit. Three, if there really is a rabbit to chase here, am I underthinking or over thinking my options for making the blade?I want it to be as capable as possible, but I won't lie. I"m going nutty without projects. I need a project that works and is cheap.
If you want a replica held together the same way, pine pitch is probably the best glue, and rawhide would be the best binding cord. Wet rawhide contracts when it dries and is damn strong. For the blade Im assuming you dont want copper. That could be easily formed and shaped with a hammer, but would be poor to actually use unless you wanted to know how much effort cutting a small tree would be with old tools like that. Id probably just find any old axe head and work from that to get the shape you want.
I was thinking something like a bolster chisel might be a better start point, but without power tools it's going to be a PITA to cut the shank off Something like this might be too slim a face width for you, but at least the materials might be a bit better for the application.... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britool-E150704B-Constant-Profile-Chisel/dp/B00NVK57B8/ref=sr_1_73?ie=UTF8&qid=1502149275&sr=8-73&keywords=bolsters+chisels It would likely still need shortening/weight reduction though