Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer do…
2001 A Space Odyssey. *no actual chimps were hurt in the making of this scene.
The pivotal scene in Kubrick’s Sci-Fi masterpiece, if you haven’t seen it, which you really should, centers around the moment a group of warring animalistic apes stumble into an age of discovery- the dawn of humankind’s journey into self-expression and tools and purpose and violence and, with the greatest jump cut in the history of cinema, space exploration. What a leap. From primitive apes to space travel. Circumventing the ensuing thousands of years of human history, the cut lands us in vacuous space and the machinations of cruel artificial intelligence. And also shrieking mysterious obelisks and aging future selves and psychedelic light trips and singing computer programs… its worth a watch.
About now though, you’re wondering what this has to do with Graybear. And axes, and what is clearly not a sci-fi fan page…. the connection is actually pretty superficial. The moment the ape picks the bone up out of the pile and brings it down smashing the skeleton- the connection between intent and action is made and all of sudden we’ve landed into a moment of man and tool. And the earliest record we have of tools being employed is of course- the Axe. From bone and wood to stone and bronze through to iron steel and alloys- the humble axe- the tool of warriors and workers.
And now we get to hang them on our walls and pack them in our go-bags and throw them in the car for the weekend camping trip. But there’s still something about that connection with ancient knowledge and practice- the ages of mankind past using physics and engineering and metallurgy and craft to improve and refine and reinvent- all held in my hand today in the early 21st Century. While satellites orbit and wifi hums and AI plots, (HAL knows), we can still employ shaped timber and sharpened steel to do the will of the arm that swings it.
I may have fallen down the rabbit hole there. But it’s still a thing. For some, it might be sport, or the ocean, or gaming, or any host of interests- but for me, among other things, it’s that very singular pleasure to be found in the simplicity of an axe- Sharp and useful. Simple and elemental.
You may already share that passion. Hopefully, if not, you will discover the satisfaction of a well-designed, expertly-made tool that will perform and last for decades.
Have a good look around- oh, and its not just axes. I’ve got knives to come and other trinkets too- so soak it in. You might find yourself loving these axes and knives as much as I do.
Graham