Forging a Nata Billhook

While I've been cutting trees for the Cordwood Challenge, I've produced a lot of tops. I've been wanting a tool that would enable me to efficiently limb the small branches so that they can be easily transported and cut up for more firewood for the wood stove and our rocket stoves. The Japanese nata type billhook/hatchet has caught my attention as being a particularly good design for this specific task, while also being very simple for a beginning blacksmith to be able to forge. I was particularly taken by the beautiful example made by Island Blacksmith/Crossed Heart Forge in this video • SOTW #10 - Finishing a... . In the description of that video he mentions that many farm-style Japanese nata had "cord wrapped integral handles". I jumped to the conclusion that he meant integral SOCKET handles and decided to put one on my nata. Turns out they don't have the socket typically, they have straight bar handles with a punched hole at the end which the cord is also wrapped around.
I found the forging, shaping, grinding, and heat treating process for this project very educational. It was basically the first time I've created a knife or cutting tool from high carbon steel. I learned a lot, had a lot of fun, and the tool has pretty much met my design criteria and expectations perfectly. The cord handle wrap is still a work in progress, and I may slightly modify the socket handle with a hole or holes to give me additional means to tie the cord off. I don't wish to permanently fix the cord on the handle with epoxy etc, as I like the idea of having a replaceable handle grip, as it give me the option of easily re-forging or heat treating the nata if I find it needs tweaking.

[@SimeonKelly]

lol leprechaun apocalypse! good shit. nice job

[@strahdzarovic2138]

Nice, has a cool neo tribal look to it, reminds me of the knife/small cleaver I forged out years ago for the purpose of cutting up some of the larger lump charcoal into smaller pieces for my forge fuel. My quench tank is basically 5 inch diameter pvc pipe with a concrete bottom, and warmed canola oil for the quench liquid. Works for me.

[@mosdefgonzalez4128]

You kinda sound like John C Reily in a funny way , really liking the videos you put out your pretty impressive with an axe keep up the great work

[@oxbowfarm5803]

Thanks Mosdef Gonzalez. I've gotta go google John C. Reily now. I'm sure I've seen him but the name doesn't ring a bell.

[@GFD472]

That came out great! Good work!

[@oxbowfarm5803]

Thanks GFD472. It still needs some work, the handle wrapping is giving me some issues and I've had to do some research and re-do this. I'm working on a video with it at work and discussing fixing up the wrap mo betta.

[@hillbillynick2000]

Good job! I am a knife Smith, you did well, better socket than my first time! Blue is softer than straw color but that is fine. I use an old roasting pan for a quench tub BTW. Got here from Skillcult, so blame him!

[@oxbowfarm5803]

Well, I was a little surprised to see the range of temper colors, I assumed that in the oven the color would be more even? Seems to be holding an edge just fine.

[@SkillCult]

"zombie, tactical, combat crap" lmao.

[@oxbowfarm5803]

I'm happy I live here, based on the number of KZbin videos on how-to zombie weapons, they must be just thick on the ground in some places. I've never seen one myself. We have lazy dead people I guess.

[@TietLung]

If you dont get all the oil off, including fingerprint oils, it'll screw up the tempering colors. Long as you had it at the right temperature though, youre fine.

[@manatoa1]

I've seen sword makers use metal pipes with one closed end to hold their quenchant.

[@oxbowfarm5803]

That makes sense, its got to be difficult to find a ready made container, you'd almost have to fabricate something like that for such a cumbersome shape.

[@Musicmaddnes]

I would have epoxied the twine and sanded it. I may have to try that.

[@oxbowfarm5803]

That's definitely an option. I was trying to emulate a more traditional nata handle, which are normally rope wrapped. I have an inexhaustible supply of hay twine, so its not a big deal for me if it wears out. I did have to mess around a lot before I figured out how to do the wrap where it didn't loosen up and slip around. But real Japanese traditional nata don't have a socket handle like this, it is typically a bar with an eye on the end, so there's a place for the rope to be solidly fixed and it packs tighter. I'd make the handle differently if I had it to do over again, but I really like this tool anyway.

[@Musicmaddnes]

Oxbow Farm a couple of my uncle's own farms and I'm sure I could get s bunch of twine for free. I think the epoxy method would make a nice micarta type material.

[@esben181]

400 lbs of hay twine o_o