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A TOM ONKEN This axe was made by Tom Onken. These three views show an example of what Tom calls an "authentic reproduction" of a raised ridge axe. This type of axe takes considerably longer to make because so much more of the stone has to be removed in order to form the ridges. An ancient axe, similar to this one and measuring 10 inches (25.3 cm) long, could have taken several hundred hours to make. Tom says he likes to use glacial cobbles to make his axes, rather than water worn pebbles. This piece of black granite was first cut and ground into shape with modern power tools. Then an old traditional pecked surface was applied with a flint hammer stone. The last step involves smoothing and polishing on different areas of the axe. The cutting edge and the inside of the groove has the smoothest surface. This axe was a gift to Tom's father Ed several years ago. It's made of black granite and measures 9 1/8 inches (23.2 cm) long, 3 11/16 inches (9.4 cm) wide and 3 3/16 inches (8.1 cm) thick.
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