Blacksmith Trade Tomahawk Weekend - War or Peace

The Algonquian people first created the tomahawk. Before Europeans came to the continent, Native Americans would use stones, sharpened by a process of knapping and pecking, attached to wooden handles, secured with strips of rawhide. The tomahawk quickly spread from the Algonquian culture to the tribes of the South and the Great Plains. Other Native American tribes created a *tomahawk’s poll*, the side opposite the blade, which consisted of a hammer, spike or even a pipe. These became known as pipe tomahawks, which consisted of a bowl on the poll and a hollowed out shaft. These were mostly created by European and American artisans for trade and diplomatic gifts for the tribes. In this weekend class we will be creating our own trade axes and forging our own axe blades and polls. Students can choose to make an axe with a hammer or spike poll. We will be working with hammers, presses and metal lathes to create our axe heads. Then on day two, we will learn to heat treat and grind our axes, as well as assembly and finishing. This is a 2 day class. 11am to 4ish, Saturday and Sunday. Bring or order a snack for the intermission. Ages 18 and up Price: $175