Thank you for the link. My brother will check out Gransfors on his visit to Sweden.
An ax like your photo appeared on Antiques Roadshow last week and the appraiser said it was made around 1650, used in the kitchen, and used with a hammer since it has a blunt head, probably to butcher meat.
I began learning to blacksmith about 9 months ago. You would be surprised how easy it is to start and get into making something real. Look up your states blacksmithing association and take an intro class on a saturday, (find an old blacksmith that will let you hang out and learn that is what i did) maybe 60-80 bucks... Until you make a knife ax or tool from your own hand you will never really know the joy of metal... :)
