A project not seen often, if at all, in this forum...

[John Keeton]

To be consistent with forum rules, there actually is some turning in this project - the African Blackwood clean out plug and the mouthpiece end of the haft. Since my early days in the 70s making longrifles I have wanted to do a pipe tomahawk. I have the time at this point in life, so I finally did it.

The head is a casting from R E Davis. It comes as a sand casting of good quality, but with casting lugs on it and a sandy surface. It took several hours of filing and sanding to get it ready for aging. I added some filed features on the bottom and top edges of the blade area. I found some old gravers I bought in the 70s with which I had never experimented. With some effort, I was able to scratch out a rough engraving of crossed arrows on each side. No future for me in the engraving department!

The curly maple haft came pre-drilled thru the center, but not shaped. Getting the head fitted is a laborious and tedious task. The fit of the tapered eye has to be exact as when the head reaches its final position, the fit must be tight with absolutely no gaps. The haft is shaped a bit at a time as the head is repeatedly tried on for fit. About a 1/4" at a time. Takes a while to go 22".

It had been about 35 years or more since I have done any significant carving, and curly maple is NOT the wood of choice for that - especially a tight curl such as this piece. I did not have the right carving chisels when this was done, but I am beginning to rectify that!

The scalplock is courtesy of my neighbor and one of his horses!

[Hayes Rutherford]

John, can't say I've ever seen anything like it. I can sure appreciate the work involved and it is really a masterpiece.

[William C Rogers]

Well done. That is a fantastic looking work. No, have never seen anything like it.

[allen thunem]

how does it smoke?

[Allan Ferguson]

Look really good.

[Peter Lamb]

Super effort! It appears that it would pass muster as the REAL thing an antique.
Equal to your many efforts!
Well done.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Beautiful work John! You should be very proud of this one! I can see this displayed over your fireplace - along with one of your Kentucky rifles! Very impressive and I love the rich color you gave the curly maple!

So, going into production mode with this? Ha Ha! Seriously though, you going to display it at Berea? Most likely would generate all sorts of interest!

[Gary Sichmeller]

As is typical in most of your work I have seen, it is your attention to the details that makes this so special.
Really nice job! Thanks for sharing.

[Frederick Skelly]

That's a very nice piece John!

[Art Moore]

That is one cool piece of work. Excellent craftsmanship, and you should be very proud of it. I'd like to see a photo of one of your longrifles.

[James Combs]

Very nice John, quite the diversification. :)

[Mel Fulks]

Great stuff....not a gun buff ,but I've known some people involved in it, and read a little about the efforts to bring it back and have seen your name in that context. Never dawned on me that you are the same guy.

[Adam Petersen]

That's gorgeous work. I think the engraving of the arrows adds to the antique feel of it. The shaping of the shaft is very elegant looking and as mentioned, you did that curly maple a great service with your finish. Beautiful.

[John Keeton]

Thanks, guys! It was a fun project and revived my interest in carving so I suspect I will include some in one or more future works - now that I am acquiring some proper gouges and tools!


how does it smoke?Allen, the pipe tomahawk ("peace pipe") was typically smoked in commemoration of a peace accord or treaty arrangement with former enemies or antagonists. After 40 years in the courtroom, my accumulation of enemies and antagonists is sizeable and a peace accord probably isn't possible without my funeral being involved!:D Even if it were possible, I would need to rent a convention center for the ceremony!!


Beautiful work John! You should be very proud of this one! I can see this displayed over your fireplace - along with one of your Kentucky rifles! Very impressive and I love the rich color you gave the curly maple!

So, going into production mode with this? Ha Ha! Seriously though, you going to display it at Berea? Most likely would generate all sorts of interest!Steve, this piece won't be for sale. The Artisan Center usually requires that all pieces exhibited in special exhibits be for sale, but if there was an appropriate exhibit where I could simply display it I would be glad to do that. Production - definitely not, but.....I could envision another one or two in the future!


That is one cool piece of work. Excellent craftsmanship, and you should be very proud of it. I'd like to see a photo of one of your longrifles.Art, my longrifles days were in the 70s and early 80s. I have only three still in my possession and there is a pic of one of them on my website.


Great stuff....not a gun buff ,but I've known some people involved in it, and read a little about the efforts to bring it back and have seen your name in that context. Never dawned on me that you are the same guy.Mel, I suspect it was someone else whose name you saw. It has been decades (before the internet!) since I was active in that genre.

[Sid Matheny]

Wonderful and any of my ancestors would be proud to carry that one!

[Bruce Page]

Beautiful work John. You have so many talents!