Pioneer Axe

Peter Vogt made this terrific 10 minute film in 1965 of the Emerson Stevens axe shop in Oakland Maine. Makers of the Pioneer brand of axes, they were the last remaining shop in a town that had once housed a dozen axe making shops. They closed a few months after this film was made. Amazing to see the process involved in making axes. It’s easy to imagine that the way they did things in 1965 was the way they did things in 1865.

Makers: Passionate Apprentices

I burst into laughter about this one, since this man, bladesmith John Hounslow-Robinson is essentially a 20 years older, Australian version of my pal Jarkko. Dreads, beard and all.

I reckon I would get on very well with this guy. I’m sure people with a pickle up their ass undoubtedly see him as a dirty hippy who lives in a ramshackle, cobbled together compound. But I see someone living a more genuine and fulfilling existence than they undoubtedly lead. And he seems to be doing a pretty good job of inspiring and teaching two young men some worthwhile skills. And Linden - that kid is fantastic.

And I’ve always been intrigued by Tasmania, and this video only stokes my interest in living there. I know it’s not so easy to move to Australia, but if there was a chance.... Not that I mind in the slightest where I live now, but the idea of living in a place that remote, with so much of it unsullied by roads and development, is really appealing. I loved my time in Australia, but the hinterland out past Slobart piques my interest.

Makers: Mick Strider

I have some misgivings about Mick Strider, and I’m also not hugely enamoured with the style of knives he makes - the sharpened pry-bar school of knifemaking. I know there is a place for them, but I guess I’m not his target market. They’re undeniably well made, and for those who have a need for them - or who can afford them as safe queens - have at it.

That being said though, this look into his shop is drooly. If I win the lottery I would set up a shop like this to make a few blades and axes.

Secrets of the Viking Sword

I’m not really into swords, but I do find metallurgy and bladesmithing fascinating. I’ve posted a Nova documentary before on katanas, Secrets of the Samurai Sword, that is equally watchable.

Secrets of the Samurai Sword

Not that I necessarily have a huge hard-on for samurai swords, but I am interested in bladesmithing. I admittedly don’t know that much about the subject, but after seeing this the first time a few years back, my curiosity was piqued as to whether these techniques could be used to make a kukri or a parang or some other non-katana blade. If I had oodles of money, I would look into something like that.

Great documentary.

Birth of a Tool

A reader shared these with me, but I didn’t want them to be hidden away in the comments section. 

John Neeman hand makes woodworking tools – axes, draw knives, framing slicks, chisels, kitchen and hunting knives, and other goodies.

These two short films are not only beautifully done, they show a beautiful process. The shop is envy inducing. I have tried my hand at a variety of skills, but blacksmithing is one I very much want to tackle one day. Oh time and space and money - why must you be in such short supply?






When I have some money, I must talk to him about an axe.

Love the quote used as well.

“It is a tragedy of the first magnitude that millions of people have ceased to use their hands as hands. Nature has bestowed upon us this great gift which is our hands. If the craze for machinery methods continues, it is highly likely that a time will come when we shall be so incapacitated and weak that we shall begin to curse ourselves for having forgotten the use of the living machines given to us by God.”
Mahathma Ghandi