This is one of my Small Forest Axes with a premium 22” hickory handle that I made using canister damascus steel.

I make the damascus steel here in my shop. The steel is a mixture of 1085 steel ball bearings and 1090 powdered steel with 4% nickel.

Once I am done with all the forging, grinding, and heat treating the head is etched in acid to reveal the different kinds of steel. I then apply a carnuba wax finish to help protect the steel.

This ax has been fully hardened and tempered and is fully functional. It is hardened to about 57 Rockwell and comes with a razor sharp cutting edge.

The colors in the pattern of the steel will wear off with use but it will not effect the performance of the ax.