Anyone Collect Axes & Hatchets?

[1967redrider]

I wish quotes also captured the date of the post being quoted. It took me a good half hour finding Dale's original post on Page 17 of this thread.

[Hesmikeb]

These both came out of the dirt on my property....soaked in vinegar to get the rust but man they are pitted. Can't find any maker's marks anywhere. I think I see a #5 on one of them but not clear. About to put handles in them and use them.

[TPK]

These both came out of the dirt on my property....soaked in vinegar to get the rust but man they are pitted. Can't find any maker's marks anywhere. I think I see a #5 on one of them but not clear. About to put handles in them and use them.

Wow! Super cool find! Congrats!
I wonder just how old those are.

[Hesmikeb]

I have no clue....maybe some experts here might have an opinion

The house I tore down in order to build mine was probably built in the early to mid 1800s but people lived there up until the late 70s

[Hesmikeb]

Put a handle on one of them but dont think I did a very good job...I think maybe I should have cut that ridge down some so maybe the head would come on down further. The handle may not have been a good choice to start with...didnt come close to filling the eye and since I didnt shave those shoulders down, there was no excess at the top...but, its tight, I'm just not confident it will stay tight....need to take my time next time....still learning...will send a few more pics

[Hesmikeb]

Couple more pics highlighting my not so good axe handling

[Painter80]

I don't collect them, but I found this really small hatchet head so bought it for my son. Have to find someone to make a handle for it at some point though. It measures 4 1/2" x 3" (razor blade for scale)

[rarefish383]

Couple more pics highlighting my not so good axe handling

I have 25-30 American axes with the original hafts in them dating back to about 1910. The trend toward having an inch or so of the haft sticking up proud, just seemed to me to be a lazy persons way of doing a half way job. That way it could be hung loose, and then spread it with a wedge. I think you did a good job with that hang. If they could hang an axe with the handle cut flush to the eye a hundred years ago, and they are still tight today, to me, that's the proper way to do it. If you are new to axes do a search for the Forestry Dept. video, An ax to grind. It's an hour long and it kept me occupied. Tells how to pick a handle by the proper grain orientation, tools for sharpening, how to sharpen properly, how to hang, etc.

[Hesmikeb]

Couple more pics highlighting my not so good axe handling

I have 25-30 American axes with the original hafts in them dating back to about 1910. The trend toward having an inch or so of the haft sticking up proud, just seemed to me to be a lazy persons way of doing a half way job. That way it could be hung loose, and then spread it with a wedge. I think you did a good job with that hang. If they could hang an axe with the handle cut flush to the eye a hundred years ago, and they are still tight today, to me, that's the proper way to do it. If you are new to axes do a search for the Forestry Dept. video, An ax to grind. It's an hour long and it kept me occupied. Tells how to pick a handle by the proper grain orientation, tools for sharpening, how to sharpen properly, how to hang, etc.

Thanks rarefish... I appreciate the comment and the additional information. The grain is good on that handle (36 inch) and I've put a pretty good edge on the bit. Used it several times just chopping logs..its throwing big chunks and is still tight so we'll see. I have a few more to hang (all under 4 lbs) and will be trying shorter lengths to see what I like best for certain jobs. Just enjoying this new obsession for now and it's not expensive since I already have the heads.

I'll check out the video and thanks again for taking the time to comment

[GSPTOPDOG]

These both came out of the dirt on my property....soaked in vinegar to get the rust but man they are pitted. Can't find any maker's marks anywhere. I think I see a #5 on one of them but not clear. About to put handles in them and use them.

Nice!!!

[GSPTOPDOG]

Latest addition to my "medieval" collection...

[TPK]

Cool!

[GSPTOPDOG]

Cool!

Thanks, just incase of an impending Zombie-Apocalypse it never hurts to have one or two of these items around...

[TPK]

Cool!

Thanks, just incase of an impending Zombie-Apocalypse it never hurts to have one or two of these items around...

I should probably get one then.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Cool!

Thanks, just incase of an impending Zombie-Apocalypse it never hurts to have one or two of these items around...

I should probably get one then.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Put a handle on one of them but dont think I did a very good job...I think maybe I should have cut that ridge down some so maybe the head would come on down further. The handle may not have been a good choice to start with...didnt come close to filling the eye and since I didnt shave those shoulders down, there was no excess at the top...but, its tight, I'm just not confident it will stay tight....need to take my time next time....still learning...will send a few more pics

They look good to me

Here are a few I fixed up a while back. The were pretty rough, lot's of rust, but cleaned up pretty well.

[Ridgegrass]

rdubya: The adze is cool! Back in 1970 I was a dock builder/pile driver superintendent in Baltimore. We built heavy industrial piers and bulkheads and all kinds of heavy timber construction. My crews were older, highly skilled black guys who could almost whittle an oak piling or mortise a pier timber with an adze and kept them razor sharp for amazingly close fits. They called an adze a "foot axe" and said it was very bad luck to break a handle, probably because they are really hard to find. Nice to see one again. J.O'.

[buckshot22]

Found this little Marbles #2 1/2 in my dad’s old collection. Anyone know where to find some handles? Also thinking about making my own with some cocabola I have laying around…

[rarefish383]

I don't collect them, but I found this really small hatchet head so bought it for my son. Have to find someone to make a handle for it at some point though. It measures 4 1/2" x 3" (razor blade for scale)

I don't make handles and I really don't like hanging axes. But, I had a friend over looking at some Black Walnut slabs I had. He said what's that. It was an old Plumb Boys ax. I didn't remember putting it there, or where I got it. But, since I like Plumbs, and you could still see the Plumb logo, I took a flap disc on my angle grinder and polished it like a mirror. I ground 8 ounces of rust off of it. Once I got that far, I got a piece of Ash firewood off my firewood pile. I ran it through my table saw and squared it up. Found a longer handle that I liked and traced the pattern on a piece of cardboard, cut the middle out so I got it to about the size of a hatchet. After dinner I spent about an hour with a 4 in 1 hand rasp shaping it. Took 4 nights. I didn't like the polished look so I got some Birchwood Casey Rifle Browning and browned it. It turned out nice and I made it my throwing ax. It throws well. I posted all the pics here a few years ago. If I can find them I'll bump them back to the top. If not I'll repost them. Ash is a good wood for handles and files down pretty easy.

[rarefish383]

I don't collect them, but I found this really small hatchet head so bought it for my son. Have to find someone to make a handle for it at some point though. It measures 4 1/2" x 3" (razor blade for scale)

Go back to page 19 and there are a bunch of pics of the little Plumb from a chunk of rust to a nice little throwing ax. If I can make a handle, anyone can. I would recommend Ash for a first try, it's much softer tan Hickory.

[Painter80]

I don't collect them, but I found this really small hatchet head so bought it for my son. Have to find someone to make a handle for it at some point though. It measures 4 1/2" x 3" (razor blade for scale)

Go back to page 19 and there are a bunch of pics of the little Plumb from a chunk of rust to a nice little throwing ax. If I can make a handle, anyone can. I would recommend Ash for a first try, it's much softer tan Hickory.

Your project turned out nice. Maybe I'll try to make something eventually

[buckshot22]

After pics of the Marbles 2 1/2. Added the Cocabola handles.

[doglegg]

Knice!

[royal0014]

After pics of the Marbles 2 1/2. Added the Cocabola handles.

Excellant ! The brass really pops
Question .. what is the doodad on the back ??

[buckshot22]

Thanks! It’s a pivoting mail puller. I guess that’s what gives it the 1/2. Without it, it’s just a #2. I’ve seen another Marbles like this that has a pivoting spike too. Interesting.