i have a dane axe made by paul binn. it has a considerably larger head on a 5 foot haft and is similarly tapered fat end up by the head. 'cold steel' tomahawks are also made this way. the more modern top down with a split end tightened by a wood or steel wedge is used on many wood axes, but to me is an inferior way to do it, as the head can indeed fly off if it is not done correctly and gets a bit loose...
the 'spike' lays flush against the wood, it's designed to take the torque (vertical twisting force) when the head hits something. the apparent gap is a lighting artifact. it can't 'hook' anything
here's a similar re-enforcing 'spike' both above and below centre on a repro russian axe:
Last edited by kronckew; 24th October 2013 at 01:39 PM.
|