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Video – replicating the Langeid Axe

This is a list of available video from the project. The main video is the long version (24:04 minuts), in norwegian only. There is also a short version (4:23 minuts) with some comments in english. Of the extra film clips some partially overlap the main video, but focus on specific themes or events.

The camera crew was Mårten Teigen and Kirsten Helgeland. Video editing by Mårten Teigen and Vegard Vike.

Long version (24:04 min). Fra myrmalm til bredøks - vikingøksa fra Langeid gjenfødes. This 24-minute video documents a large part of the axe-making project. In norwegian only.
Short version (4:23 min). From bog iron to broad axe - rebirth of the Langeid Axe. This four and a half minute video shows selected parts of the work. Some comments in English.

Extra Clips- specific processes:

Refining by fold-processing (1:35 min). We removed slag and voids from the iron by a folding process. The iron blooms were heated, consolidated, hammered, folded, forge welded and wrought again. This cycle was repeated 4-5 times. Håvard Kongsrud helped out as striker the first day.
Steel-making in a furnace (3:16 min). Carbon is infused into the iron, which is transformed into hardenable steel through re-smelting in a small furnace ('Aristotle furnace'). Tom Haraldsen joined us in the smithy that day.
Steel-making in a clay packet (1:43 min). In accordance with Theophilus’ description, we wrapped the iron in a carburising pack with pieces of leather and fat. When the clay had dried we heated the pack in the forge at 900-1000°C for an hour before we opened it.
Using the whetstone (1:07 min). A long whetstone of quartz schist was used to grind and sharpen the axe. This was on loan from the Norwegian Maritime Museum specifically for testing.
Test cutting (1:03 min). The axe is tested on a large pig’s leg weighing approximately 15 kilograms. The thigh bone is the hardest and most challenging part of the anatomy.

Extra Clips- surprising events:

Bellows suffering from flatulence (27 sec). A valve in one of the bellows has come loose, producing the unmistakable noise of flatulence. An embarrassing situation for pretentious blacksmiths.
Hardening test – iron bloom was steel (1:50 min). Iron is being prepared for its transformation into hardenable steel in a carburising pack. Accidental quenching with water reveals that it is already hardenable – the entire bloom is steel! Thus we already have the steel we need for the axe edge. Halvor Hjort Guttu paid us a visit in the smithy that day.
The blade of the axe fell off (28 sec). Somewhat hurriedly the axe was hafted to make it ready for test cutting - like the original, without securing the head with a wedge. After a couple of test cuts on water filled plastic bottles, the axe was tested on the pig’s leg ... and the blade falls off the handle.

Teaser- for promotion on social media:

Abrupt ending (17 sec). A quick run through of the axe making.
Includes ending (22 sec). A quick run through of the axe making.
By Vegard Vike
Published July 4, 2016 3:52 PM - Last modified Feb. 11, 2021 8:21 AM