Forging an 18th Century Pole Axe With Beau Beckett | BLACKSMITH | PIONEER | SELF SUFFICIENT
Peter visits Beckett's Blacksmithing to forge a pole axe with long time friend of the family, Beau Beckett. Beau teaches Peter the fine art of forge welding steel. Using traditional methods and tools, they recreate this commonly carried tool of the 18'th century.
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Guest - Beau Becket @Beckett's Blacksmithing
Beckett'sBlacksmithing.com
KZhead, Beau Beckett
Featuring - Peter Kelly
Cinematography - Catherine Wolfe
Producer & Editor - Catherine Wolfe
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook - / the.woodland.escape
MUSIC
The amazing music in this episode is graciously provided by our friends, Richard Fortier and Al MacDonald.
#traditionalblacksmithing #blacksmithing #forgewelding #coalforging #hardeningsteel #temperingsteel #18thcenturypioneerlife #americancolonialhistory
Very nice project! The tool came out perfect
Thank you and it did indeed turn out pretty nice.
great video. That is a nice shop there. what a Awesome Hatchet. One to keep for ever and pass it on.
That is my hope Tim.. Not simply a tool but, something one treasures.
Mr. Beckett has some strong arms swinging that hammer all day every day
Back in the old days, I suspect very early. When not filming 18th century stuff, both Beau and I where hearing protection in our shops.
Love it! Ducks hamming it up for the Camera! Years of practiced skill shows very clearly.
Kinda look like we choreographed the thing!
Animals are amazing, as though they new the camera was there.
Marvelous! Great blacksmithing skills.
Thanks Peggy, always such positive comments from you!
That is a very fine looking axe. Must've been great to be there and be a part of the making of your own tool like that. Memories like that last a lifetime. I like how Mr. Beckett explained everything so well. It was a pleasure to see.
Beau is a great teacher! I learned so much!!
Thanks for sharing 👍 😊 Did a timber frame course at Gränsfors and got a number of axes. Now I wish I also got a historical axe 😊
Very cool! They are without a doubt one of the best axes made.
Excellent vid, the history combined with historical aspect is riveting!
Appreciate that, Will, glad your enjoying.
Un verdadero placer poder apreciar su trabajo mi amigo, mis saludos cordiales de Argentina!!!
Thank you Sergio and hello from Canada.
Over on Townsends channel they made and use an earlier style forge that uses the earlier bellows system. Either way it's interesting and informative to watch blacksmithing work. That's going to be an enviable axe when it's finished. Thanks for posting yet another fascinating video..
So happy I found your channel .... watching the blacksmith is so fine ...being a machinist since 73 now retired I appreciate were it all started ..forge a col-chisel in 1970 I still can use today . got to see you throw it now ...lol tickled pink ...... I have not heard that for ages and when I have said it , people look at me like I had 3 heads ! keep em coming
Glad you found us as well, Bruce. Tickled pink was one of my mothers favorite quotes.
BOY BEAU IS ONE HELL OF AN HAMMER SWINGER .... doesn't need a second he's to dang fast.... took me back decades watching the colors change as you two hammered it.... AND all the shaping had my palms itchy for a HAMMER 😂😂😂😂 great video
He is indeed a force. Don’t know where you live, but if you’re ever in our area, I’ll fire up the forge for you and we’ll deal with that there itch!
I enjoy making powder horns so I can appreciate the craftsmen-ship that went into this piece. Excellent work!
I like making horns as well but, my scrimshaw is skills are a wee bit lacking. We appreciate your interest in our step back into me endeavor.
Wow Peter, loved this video, what a beautiful Pole Axe. Now that's an art blacksmithing a bar of steel into a sharp usable tool.
It is fascinating to see sometime as immovable as steel being transformed.
This is the best channel I've found in a long time, outstanding content.
We’re very flattered, thanks for you’re interest.
That was a treat!
Thanks Dick.
Good evening Peter and friends. Peter thanks for sharing once again, I'll consider this one a present for my birthday. Thanks for sharing friend.
Happy birthday… another successful trip around the sun!
While I prefer leather crafts, I’ve welded plenty over the years, glad to see your busy. Looks like lots of fun.
I love banging away at hot steel, I find it rather relaxing.
Another great one! Working with metal has been near and dear to me. I've been a welder,fabricator, gun builder, and metal boat builder since '71. I look forward to more from Beckett's Blacksmithing
You might want to check out Beau’s channel.
Very cool video! Thank you Peter & Beau!
Thanks Frederick, we a appreciate your feedback.
I love this episode!
Glad you enjoyed John.
Great job Peter . This is exactly why I love this channel .
Thank you.
Bravo, Great presentation. Love to watch this process. My Granddad and great granddad were blacksmiths. Wish granddad had lived longer to pass some of his knowledge on to me.
True Paul. We an all learn from our elders but, generally once we’re old enough to realize that, they are gone.
😊😊
Very cool. Alot of work just to forge an axe. Enjoyed watching!! Bless the old tried and true methods!!!
Slow but steady … my kinda pace.
From one Beckett to another, “ Hi Beau!”.
Quit a lengthy process, but now you have a nice tool to carry with you on your adventures!
Good things always take a wee bit more time. I’m looking forward to trying it out.
What a wonderful video, and a beautiful ask and handle. I was memorized by the ducks walking back-and-forth, probably could’ve watched it all night. Thank you all for bringing me back a few hundred years in time.
Those ducks kinda cooperated with Cathy on the camera … almost looked choreographed.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication. When it comes to blacksmithing, remember it's going to be hot, heavy, or sharp! Talented friend you have. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
Thanks Ashley and do watch your top knot.
Welcome to spring in my native Huron County . Great video
Thanks Gordon. Nice country up there.
Excellent production
Thanks, we appreciate the feedback.
What a fascinating process to watch!!!! There is so much skill that is possessed by a blacksmith. Great way to relieve stress too!!! LOL.
It is relaxing pounding away on hot steel.
Oh my gosh that’s a beautiful job on the workpiece!!!
Thank you.
Very nice axe Peter….Beau has the cleanest Blacksmith shop I’ve seen. 😱
Thanks Joe but, from pics I’ve seen, your no slouch when it comes to a neat shop. I would agree though, Beau does keep his ship shape.
Dang, you boys do good work! Proud of you both!
Thanks Ed.
Unbelievable video! I used to love watching our blacksmith shoe our horses. So educational and beautiful to watch you two! Thanks so much. ❤️👏👍
Glad you enjoyed.
What amazing skills this bloke has!! As you said, the tidiest, cleanest blacksmith's shop ever. One can appreciate the time & precision taken to create these tools required to survive & hopefully prosper during those times, unhindered by all but the basic safety precautions of today.
You got that right, Stephen.
Learned a lot. Thanks
Very nice job well presented from start to finish. Tony Artistic Blacksmith Adelaide South Australia
Thanks very much Tony. I think you and Beau would get along just fine.
Another great learning experience!!
Thanks Daniel.
Well done Peter!!! Cant wait to see the sheath!!!
Got the handle mounted today, sheath is next on the list.
Good evening Mr. Pete ...that is one fine hammer hawk you have! Last year I took a class & made the same out of a railroad spike. I thought my arms were going to fall off! All I can say is - I now have a deep appreciation for the Blacksmith! Great video sir! Wear it proudly!!! Stay well! Robin
I plan to sir. I’ve already grown rather attached to it!
Thanks for sharing
Beautiful belt ax Mr. Kelly. Thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks Kirk.
Absolutely the best video on how much work a blacksmith does making an axe. And what a treasure to have one that so much work went into making it. It’s beautiful and will look forward to see it in action.
Making things was a slow process but, things lasted. We certainly appreciate your continued interest in our endevour.
Thanks for taking us along! While watching your friend it became painfully obvious how little i know about blacksmithing, i just play around in the shop. That is one fine looking axe by the way!
Thanks Jeff. No matter how much one knows , there is always someone out there that can teach you something.
Fabulous!!!!
Thanks William.
Nice work. Love it!
Thanks Jason.
I always love learning something new or old in this case. GOD Bless and Hold Fast.
Thanks Don.
Excellent video! Your young friend is very talented, as are you. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. I learned a lot from Beau on that visit.
At one time I had ducks like that! Lots of fun and enjoyment First there were Five then there were four then there were three and two and one Then there were none, thanks to Mr Coyote I even had a pond for the ducks safety but in the end the Coyot won☹️ Keep up the good work 🤩JIM
Thanks Jim. I must say those darn ducks were mighty comical.
Loved watching this whole process. Such a beautiful workshop too : )
Thanks, Lulu and the shop is such a pleasure to work in.
The ducks in line 🤣🤣😂😂😂 xaaa
They were pretty cooperative for Cathy’s camera.
@@TheWoodlandEscape i see all your videos you remind me my angle we love the nature always is my dream to live in the wilderness .this video you make insipire me the blacksmith the shop its like i make a journey to another age all this tools and today's we are not able to to nothing we expect the thing's to come but need a lot of work so we must think to produce see you mr i respect you 😉
Very flattering comments sir, thank you.
I love to watch skillled people work. And a beautiful useful tool at the end of it.
Thanks, Al.
Thank Mr. Beckett and you for a very interesting visit 😊
Thanks Richard.
A fine job and lots of fun. I enjoy my forge almost daily, thank you for sharing.
Hard to beat forming hot steel.
Hi Peter, Lovely job. That axe will last far, far longer than a modern mass produced thing. Smithing is a skill I wish I had learned, not done any forge metal work since I left school in 1975. Sadly, it isn’t taught in British schools anymore…..something to do with health and safety, insurance and the risk of the poor little darlings hurting themselves. I truly fear for the future in this country. We already have a skills shortage and it will only get worse. Kids are leaving school know knowing which end of a screwdriver to use, sad. Best wishes, Mark
It is sad indeed. We never had forging in school on this side of the big pond, machine shop but, not blacksmithing.
Another good one Peter. To watch it take shape from the beginning till it was finished was fascinating. Thank my friend.
Thanks David.
Love it! Very educational. I enjoy blacksmithing videos from time to time. Your friend did a great presentation and did a great job explaining some details for the beginner. One lovely belt axe Peter! 👍
I agree, it is a dandy and Beau is an excellent teacher.
Hi from Syracuse NY USA everyone thank you for sharing your adventures with me
Go cuse!
Thank you my friend
Hey Earl, Joe here grew up in Manlius!!!
Thank you for sharing my friend
One of your greats how to video
Thanks James.
Like watching a Woodland Mr. Rogers!
That’s funny! I’ll take it as a compliment.
Sweet.
Pretty cool, I never knew a small plug came out, the more you know
At my age, Robert it seems like I’m forgetting more than I’m picking up, lol.
That turned out really well. Another great video!
Thanks.
How many blows must an ax be 'given' B 4 it gives blows of it's own? Dear Lord, WHAT work! I had no idea the genuine craft it takes to make implements of years gone by...I thank you Peter for this most interesting experience and fine Catherine's hand at filming, WELL DONE! The eyes of a child in a candy shop grow about as big as Peter's in Beckett's Blacksmiths shop! Poor arms/joints that do this daily hitting upon metal. Keen eyes are needed and when I think of how 'unprotected' (no safety glasses) they were = YIKES! "Under a spreading chestnut-tree, The village smithy stands; The smith; a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms, Are strong as iron brands." by; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Health and God Bless!
Marie, you never cease to make my day with wise words and wit! I can’t thank you enough.
great looking hand axe.
Thank you.
...nicely done!
Thank you.
Great job Beau and Peter, loved it, and that axe, I want one :-)
It did turn out pretty good.
Hooza, it is a joy to watch a true craftsman at work...
Thanks for your kind compliment.
Loved that video thanks for sharing.
Glad you’re enjoying.
Glad you’re enjoying.
Beautiful work
Thank you very much!
Amazing. Beautiful Tomahawk Peter! Congratulations. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Manuel.
When I started learning I was told to make everything, every tool. Some stuff was terrible, but eventually things got real, and easier. I still love making things.
Never perfect perhaps but, when one makes their own stuff, there is always a feeling of satisfaction.
The best way to learn forge welding is to make chain links!
That is a brilliant idea. Small material and repeated over and over again. Thanks, I see a chain in my future.
What an interesting process, thanks for sharing this
Thanks for your continued interest, Tammy.
Your welcome, thank you for showing and putting out content that is interesting to know and learn about
Peter what craftship and skill what a gift he has looks authentic because it is great shaping in the wood atrue blessing the real way thanks again. Always Freddie 😎😀👍🪓
Thanks Freddie.
Wow! Nice Job. A great pleasure to see
Thank you !i
Great hatchet size for camping .
It turned out a perfect size.
I enjoyed your endeavor I thought at first that the finished hatchet would be Ill proportioned but in the end it turned out rather 👍 All along I was saying, use a bigger hammer Traditionally the blacksmith would tap where he wanted the assistant to strike with the sledge! Keep up the good work 😍 JIM
That old saying, “ don’t force it, get a bigger hammer” , rings true, lol.
Nicely done. 👍
Beautiful
Thanks Don.
I'm with you on the forge welding. I suck.
I’m a lot better now, with Beau’s help.
Very cool!
Thank you.
Very nice job making this axe, turned out great. Thanks for sharing. I subscribed to his channel also.
Thanks Dan, we appreciate your support as I’m sure Beau does as well.
Beauty eh!! Nice job on that piece, and great hafting job!
Thanks Karson.
totally absorbing, loved the shop set up and its always a pleasure to watch a real craftsman work in his shop and produce a beautiful useful tool. thank you for your tutorial.
Glad you enjoyed Greg.
Wow! loved this. The Barnwood builders built a Blacksmith shop and got me interested But, I didn't know how much I loved Blacksmithing, until this episode. Another thing I love is how you appear to walk through Time - Walked from your cabin of the 1700s up the path and to your 2000s home once.. now you travel go places and wind up in the 1800s... amazing lol!
Beam me up Scotty … some might say I’m ageless, lol.
@@TheWoodlandEscape You sure seem to be ageless.... never seem to get tired and such agility. like a man in his 20s.
Don’t I wish … never let the old man in , my father used to tell me.
I am a low budget person who travels as much time and money as possible. One of my trips to India I ended up in Callcuta a place that I thank my God to experience but I never want yours again. On a back street to a museum the largest heaviest collection of Buddha stayer I have experienced sat a woman and sold wrought iron crafts including an ax head that I bought made from old car parts, is today at my meditation box. CHOPP IT
Neat story, thanks for sharing.
Fabulous💚
Very interesting video thank you! In 2018 I took a day class with Toronto blacksmith and with the help of the teacher/owner Paul us students each made a camp axe. It was a little harder to do than I thought swinging the hammer and a hot summer day also. I still have my camp axe it holds an edge and hasn’t chipped or rolled over yet🪓
Great tool and a great memory!
Great video there eh! I do plan on trying blacksmithing some day have been acquiring the tools needed... anvil, post vise, hand crank blower, some tongues, just need some hammers and time lol... glad I picked up stuff several years ago as seems like with the new renisance of late prices have increased dramatically... thanks for sharing
It is a great hobby, Denis … your going to get addicted, lol. We appreciate your interest.
I have never made an axe. I will have to try that
A great project.
I enjoy watching everything you put out, but this one was my favorite by far..... awesome job peter...........
Thanks Jon.
Great video Peter, love how it's done. Have bought some pieces from a blacksmith in Leader Saskatchewan. Gun and Hobby show coming up in April. Will probably see him there
Thanks Lance. Been a long time since I attended any shows … good to see things opening up.
I use a hammer still that was made in forge at our house in 1798 the year of the Rising. I also have a hay knife and a pike and a barley bearder made there also. Make good use of the axe. God bless Peter. From Paddy in Ireland.
I don’t think I’ll be wearing it out in my lifetime, Paddy but, I’m sure going to try!
my favourite channel
Seriously, Amir, that is a very flattering compliment.
Just awesome man 👍👍
Thank you.
Man, is Canadians….we get a couple nice days, and even though they were well above seasonal, we suddenly think it’s spring. Then we get so disappointed that it goes back to normal, or a short cold spell. You’d think we’re excited about the change of season or something. 🙂
Well done!!!
Thanks James.
Excellent content! Thanks
Thank you.