How to Make an Axe in the Wild

Locate two pieces of flint that are approximately 2 lbs. to 5 lbs. each for the production of your axe. Ideal places to look are on lake and river beds, shorelines or in low-lying areas that were prehistoric lakes. You will know the flint when you see it. It has smooth edges and crisp breaks, and will be differently colored from other rocks in the area. It may be black, dark blue or even maroon, and may have a shiny, sharp surface.

Shape the outline of the axe with the second piece of flint, striking them together while holding the flint that is to be the axe head against a hard piece of wood such as a fallen tree.

Fashion the blade of the axe in the same way that you carved out the shape of the axe. Repeatedly strike the face with the second piece of flint to chip away small chunks of the material until you have obtained a sharp point.

Carve out shallow channels on either side of the head of the axe by chipping away at them with the second piece of flint. These channels are what the hardwood handle will fit into once you have completed the head of the axe.

Cut down a hardwood sapling with the axe. The sapling should be approximately 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches in diameter. Cut the trunk of the sapling to a length of approximately 2 feet with the axe head.

Place the edge of the axe head at the end of the cut sapling handle and ram it repeatedly against a tree to split the handle down the middle. The depth of the split should be no greater than 2 inches more than the width of the axe head where you cut the channels.

Slide the axe head between the two halves of the sapling so that there is approximately 1 inch of split wood above the head of the axe. With this in place, tightly bind the two halves of the split wood together using a shoe lace or other strong binding. You will want to secure the split both above and below the axe head not only to hold it in place, but also to prevent the handle from splitting further.