Anyone Collect Axes & Hatchets?

[mrwatch]

in another thread Sharp brand knives have been discussed.

[TripleF]

Picked up a Wetterlings SAB and an Estwing at the estate sale this past weekend!

[mrwatch]

Scott the Estwing has the leather gone on the handle. Do you plan to replace them or how will you fix it? Thanks.

[TripleF]

Scott the Estwing has the leather gone on the handle. Do you plan to replace them or how will you fix it? Thanks.

Yup.....gonna fill it with cardboard, then add paracord....

[rarefish383]

All this cold rainy weather I've been playing with my axes. I found this old Plum on a stack of Black Walnut I have. A friend was looking for a blank for a rifle stock. It's a shame this thing lived outside for many years. There wasn't a single ding on the poll and what was left of the edge looked like it had never been sharpened. Don't remember where it came from, I may have found it metal detecting, Joe.

[rarefish383]

So, I tried using "Evapo-Rust" on it and it did a pretty good job. Then I tried a sanding wheel on the Dremel and got some shiny steel, so I switched to a 60 grit flap disc on my angle grinder, and the next thing you know, I could see my reflection. Switched to 80 grit and got better. I had the edge to where I could shave hair on my arm, so I took the Dremel and knocked the edge off till I'm done. The paln is to Brown it, fill the Plumb logo with white or red, and hang it on a custom Ash handle. I'm thinking of about a 13" handle. I've got enough Ash sapwood to last the rest of my life, Joe.

[rarefish383]

Here's a couple more. The one on the left is a Plumb, and the right is an early Craftsman with the double oval logo. I like to throw all of my axes so these will be hung on custom Ash hafts, Joe.

[TripleF]

knice work rarefish!!!

I hung this SAW Wetterlings (in above shown pic) and it took a beating yesterday as one of my boys was using it!

[TripleF]

I put some cardboard on Estwing handle and wrapped with paracord.....we'll see how long it lasts....

Kinda has a Zombie flair to it......LOL

[rarefish383]

A friend of mine is into restoring axes, he came over a couple weeks ago and looked at all of my stuff. There was a no name Michigan in my shed he liked so I told him to take it. He asked if he could take my little Plumb Cruiser too. He brought it back yesterday. It's on a HouseHandle, he hand shaved it octagonal. He was going to rust blue it, but after cleaning it didn't need it. He put a couple spots of cold blue to even it out. That octagonal haft is sooo sweet I'll probably never use a round one again. This is my primary throwing ax so he didn't put a razor edge on it, but it is still sharp. I'm a happy camper, even if it's not a camp ax, Joe.

[rarefish383]

Here's the Plumb before. If you click on the pic it blows it up and stands it up straight, don't know why it came up sideways The Plumb is the gray handle second from the right, Joe.

[steve99f]

I know nothing about axes Joe but I enjoy reading your posts and looking at your axes. When you say you throw axes do you mean as in throwing them at a target type of thing?

[steve99f]

I haven't gotten around to taking proper pictures of this Christmas present so you have to look at my mug and the axe. According to my research, this is a barking axe used to debark tree trunks. Not sure if this was done at the mill or in the forest. I assume at the mill. It's marked BEATTY & Son 1st line, Chester, PA 2nd line. Aside from where this might have been used, the other question I have regards the handle length. Is it the correct length? Thanks for looking.

PS after looking at the picture I realized you can't see the bottom of the handle. It is maybe two inches longer than what is shown.

[rarefish383]

I would call it a hewing ax for squaring timbers, they usually have offset handles, but not always. The term "Barked Knuckles" comes from hewing axes, if you weren't careful you would hit your knuckles on the bark above your cut. Usually had a relatively short handle that was not meant to be raised high. Most of the work is done with your forearms. A pretty cool you tube video is "An Ax To Grind". I think it's by the US Forest Service. Bernie shows how they are used, Joe.

[rarefish383]

Yes Steve, I used to go to Mountain Man Rendezvous's with an old friend. He was into the buckskins and T-Pee stuff. When I saw them throwing Bowie's, Hawks, and axes, I was hooked. Loved throwing doubles. When he moved out West I got out of it. Just in the last year or so I've been gathering up all of my old doubles, and a few nice singles. Yesterday I spent half the day "browning" the little Plumb single in the pics above. The pics don't look as good as the real thing. I might try to hang it today, if I can find my draw knife. After Clarence restored the double above, I've been smitten with the octagonal handle. If I can find my draw knife I'm going to shave this handle. Here's pics of me browning the polished Plumb head, Joe.

[rarefish383]

Went out this morning and saw a piece of Ash firewood that had ax handle written all over it . Think I'll stick that little Plumb on it, Joe

[rarefish383]

Progress report. Still have to thin it a lot. Hope to finish it tomorrow, Joe

[doglegg]

Progress report. Still have to thin it a lot. Hope to finish it tomorrow, Joe

That looks good.

[FRJ]

Progress report. Still have to thin it a lot. Hope to finish it tomorrow, Joe

That looks really good. Are you using a rasp in the final shaping?

[rarefish383]

I used a rasp on 90% of it. Slowly fit it to the eye, all the contouring. I cut the block of firewood on the table saw, used a new hickory handle to trace the pattern, trimmed as close to the line with the table saw and scroll saw, all the rest with the rasp. The Hickory handle was a 30" straight handle so I just got the basic shape. The little bit of curve in it I did by eye with the rasp, Joe.

[edge213]

Great job.

[TripleF]

Not really a collector per se......more of an abuser!!

[rarefish383]

I like the 3 in the middle, the one with red tape, the Plumb and the one with the nail puller and figure 8 on it. Can you read the maker on the one with red tape and the figure 8? Joe.

[rarefish383]

Finished the little Plumb. I'm happy with my first attempt at making a handle. I screwed up yesterday trying to cut the wedge slot with the table saw. I got lucky I was only taking about a half inch pass. Had to cut the top of the handle off and set the head down a little farther. I had a much better fit before I buggered it up. After I cut it off it was loose in the front of the eye. So, I tried to fit the Black Walnut wedge to take up the slack. It did OK, Joe.

[doglegg]

Both a fitter and a carver. Excellent job.