AXBB. 



77 



manufacture and the smith follows his own sweet will so long as 

 the product of his handiwork bears a general resemblance to the 

 model he is imitating. Information on this point is, therefore, 

 very scanty, and hence in Fig. 20 below only a few good patterns 

 of axe-heads used in India are reproduced. 



Fig. 20. 



E 



Some good Indian felling axes (Tuih original size). A, Mmar pditern (up 

 to 2| lbs.). B, Amritsar pattern ( vp to S^ Us.). C, Z), and JE, North- West 

 Himalayas (up to 3| lbs.). F, Bond pattern (vp to 2§ Us.). 



In some axes the cutting edge forms a perfectly straight line, 

 but a slight curve is always to be recommended : firstly, because 

 in a straight edge there is risk of the nearer corner striking the 

 wood first and breaking off, whereas, when the edge is curved, the 

 hiiddle of the curve, which is the strongest portion of the edge, 

 always strikes and enters the wood first, and is followed by the rest 

 of the edge ; and, secondly, because, as a consequence of this last 

 mentioned fact, a curved edge penetrates deeper. 



The width of the edge will depend on the hardness of the wood. 

 The harder the wood is, the narrower must be the blade, in order to 

 secure effective penetration. 



In every good felling axe the weight should be accumulated prin- 

 cipally just in front of the eye, so as to give it as much steadiness 

 as possible in the stroke. Such a disposition of the weight also per- 

 mits of the faces of the blade being made slightly concave or at least 

 perfectly straight. This fact is of no slight importance, with 



