Axe Handle replacement help

R

robth100

Joined
Dec 17, 2014
Messages
5
Morning all,

New to the forum and here's my first post.

I recently found a very cool axe at an antique shop but the handle on it is broken. Not sure the vintage on it, etc. but even with the broken handle it was to cheap to pass up. Mind you I am not a collector of axes but I do appreciate old/interesting looking tools. So with all that said, can someone recommend where I might be able to get a good replacement handle for it. I have gone to the local big box stores and their offerings are rather meager. I assume that what ever I get will require some custom work to make it fit correctly but that's no problem. Anyway, I have attached a few pictures to help in identifying the type of axe head and the type of handle that would best work as a replacement.

Thanks in advance, Rob

axe2.jpg
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axe1.jpg
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That poor sucker is near beat to death! You don't have to put a curved handle on this and if you can find a suitable hammer handle you may be able to fill-in the blanks with snug-fitting horizontal and vertical wedges. Or you could check the House Handle website to see what they've got for you.
 
Thanks for the info and I will check out that site. It's got a straight handle on it now so that's what I would look for to replace it.
 
First off let me say that that is a lovely axe! So unusual to find a broad axe with no off set. Also unusual to find one that takes a standard-eye haft. Such an axe would be useful in the juggling operation of hewing a timber.

I would recommend a little more open hang or maybe even a haft with a bit of upswing built into it. I would very much like to swing that axe.
 
Well...thought I would provide a quick update for anyone interested. I was able to pick up an off the shelf handle at my local Lowes. Using the old handle as a template and with some handy work on the band saw, sanding with the Dremmel and a few coats of boiled linseed oil, I was able to bring some life back to this axe. Here's some pictures of the final result. I have to say that I am happy with how it came out.







 
Very, very nice. My only critique(and this isn't really your fault) is that, correct me if I'm wrong, the grain is oriented in completely the wrong direction. It should be running parallel to the edge, not perpendicular. Anyways, very nice job none the less. Hope you enjoy your new axe ;)
 
xXBackyardCrafterXx said:
Very, very nice. My only critique(and this isn't really your fault) is that, correct me if I'm wrong, the grain is oriented in completely the wrong direction. It should be running parallel to the edge, not perpendicular. Anyways, very nice job none the less. Hope you enjoy your new axe ;)
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Technically you are correct in this observation, but hewing does not involve the same stress forces that cutting or splitting does, and more important, this haft happens to be straight. Straight haft means there is no grain runout such as would automatically be found on any curved haft with this sort of end grain orientation. This hang was nicely executed, runout along the length is darn near zero and should therefore give the owner pretty good service, all things considered.
 
I like it. I have seen a couple axes in that style that were no offset, but none that large. I have one with a 12 inch edge it it is a right hander.
 
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