{"product_id":"damascus-throwing-hatchet-hickory","title":"Damascus Throwing Hatchet, 16 Inch Hickory Handle","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost throwing starts on borrowed steel, house axes with the finish worn off the hafts. This one is yours. It runs 16 inches from butt to bit, the head is Damascus pattern welded over a high carbon core, and the hickory haft is left plain. It looks like nothing else on the rack, which is most of why people buy one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCutting edge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle wood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHickory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched raindrop pattern running the whole head, fine bright edge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEye\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWedged, wooden wedge with a steel wedge across it\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHead cover\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHand stitched leather, stamped basket weave face, snap strap\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLaser engraving, 20 dollars per piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe head\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe head is 5.5 inches long with a 3.5 inch cutting edge, which keeps the mass in close. Pattern welded layers run either side of a high carbon core. The etch lifts a raindrop pattern across the whole head and leaves the edge fine and bright, and the bevel behind it is ground to cut wood rather than to be looked at. An edge that narrow takes a clean bite out of end grain. The carbon under the pattern darkens with use, and it rusts if the axe goes away wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is here because it gives a little under load and comes back, which saves a haft when a throw lands short of the edge. The grain runs the length of it. The eye is wedged, so the haft is driven up from below, a wooden wedge spreads the wood hard against the steel, and a steel wedge is set across that. At 16 inches the haft suits one hand or two, and it turns once over a short walk back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather head cover\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe cover is vegetable tanned leather, stitched by hand and cut to the outline of this head rather than a size that roughly fits. A welt between the two faces keeps the stitching in a channel of its own, off the edge. The face is stamped in a basket weave and a brass snap holds the strap. Put it on dry. Wipe the head first and leave the cover off until both are dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis one is for somebody who has thrown enough house axes to know what they want.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomebody bringing their own axe to a friend's lane\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who has thrown enough to have a preference\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA thrower who wants the steel seen from the line\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomeone buying for a thrower who owns plain heads already\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 16 inch Damascus throwing hatchet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe stamped leather head cover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA gift box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo two heads come off the anvil the same. The raindrop pattern goes where the etch takes it, so no face repeats on the next one. Hickory varies too, pale and tight in one haft, streaked darker in the next. Expect the axe in the photographs, not a copy of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the head dry after a session and oil it before storage. The haft takes boiled linseed oil, three to five coats over as many days when it is new, then once a year. Never varnish it, and never stand a loose head in water. Oily rags can catch light on their own indoors, so lay them flat outside until hard. The rest is on our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEngraving is 20 dollars a piece, added here on the page. About 30 characters will fit, so a name and a date, or initials. A proof image comes to you before the laser runs, so you see it before anything is permanent. Allow another 3 to 5 business days. Ten pieces or more are engraved free. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat size is it?\u003c\/strong\u003e The head is 5.5 inches long, the edge measures 3.5 inches and the axe is 16 inches overall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is the head held on?\u003c\/strong\u003e The eye is wedged. The haft goes up from below, a wooden wedge spreads it tight and a steel wedge crosses that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, if you let it. Dry the head after a session and oil it before it goes in the cover. Carbon darkens as the axe gets used, and that is not a fault.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe edge has taken a knock, now what?\u003c\/strong\u003e A file takes the damage out, a stone brings the bevel back and a strop finishes. Sharpening is free for life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy pay for Damascus on an axe that gets thrown?\u003c\/strong\u003e The pattern is in the outer layers, the core does the cutting. You buy it to know which one is yours.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long does shipping take?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlain carbon steel on a walnut haft is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-throwing-axe-walnut\"\u003ehand forged throwing axe on walnut\u003c\/a\u003e. The same pattern on a longer haft is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-bushcraft-axe-rosewood\"\u003eDamascus bushcraft axe on rosewood\u003c\/a\u003e. The rest sit in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/throwing-axes\"\u003ethrowing axes\u003c\/a\u003e, more of this steel under \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-axes\"\u003eDamascus axes\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/gifts-for-him\"\u003egifts for him\u003c\/a\u003e for a present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44143118614646,"sku":"VEF-THR-DAM-426","price":209.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/throwing-02-damascus-hickory_e34d0a21-0af2-4d82-887e-76f224a4afb5.jpg?v=1788832887","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-throwing-hatchet-hickory","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}