FSS Pulaski

[Alocksly]

So a co-worker brought me in an old forest service pulaski to "have fun with". I've already let the vinegar have it for a few days and all I'm currently planning to do is rehang it as it is as soon as I find a decent handle. The ribbed eye is a bit larger than normal and a standard double bit haft is swimming in it. Given that the last piece my co-worker saw that I worked on involved a michigan head that I performed dremel surgery on there's a chance she might be expecting me to carve a beard into it or something; so against that possibility ('cause I only carve on heads not worth collecting) does anyone have any additional info on this piece?

 

[Steve Tall]

...The ribbed eye is a bit larger than normal and a standard double bit haft is swimming in it...

House Handle sells a "Pulaski Axe" handle, but it's eye size is 5/8 x 3 which is smaller than their "Double Bit Axe" handle listed at 3/4 x 3. Seems counter-intuitive to have a smaller handle for the pulaski.

I wouldn't modify the head. It's in good shape and the FSS standards can be higher than what's normally produced (as with the Council FSS boys axe).

 

[Square_peg]

Top notch pulaski!

Look for a local supplier of Tennessee Hickory handles. Our local loggers supply carries them. Select a nice fat one and work the grip down as you like it. Or ask their ebay seller if you can get one without a kerf. Those ribbed eyes are easier to hang on un-kerfed hafts. Then just fit it with a large wedge to fill eye. Be thankful for the large eye.

I wouldn't modify the head. It's in good shape and the FSS standards can be higher than what's normally produced (as with the Council FSS boys axe).

Yes, Forest Service specifications call for an axe bit made of steel with not less than 72 points of carbon (for reference Gransfors Bruk uses only 55 points of carbon). So this axe will likely have as good of steel as anything else in your collection.

The condition of this one is very good. There's a little wear on the toe but much less than I would expect on an old pulaski - they tend to get used in the dirt.

One other thing, I wouldn't look for 'perfect grain' on a pulaski handle. They often get stuck on the final cut through a root and perfect grain handles will easily snap if you pry sideways on them (very temping in this situation). Be content with grain 20°-30° off of perfect alignment. Just pay attention to run out and keep the growth rings per inch in the favorable 5-20 range.

 

[shanny19]

I'd like to know where (which factory) that particular stamping of Pulaski was made.
I've handled several.
I personally believe it dates to the time frame POST Kelly works shut down and PRE Ames/TT acquisition of the Woodings-Verona facility.
In other words, roughly 1982-1997???
I'd love to know where TT pulaskies (or for that matter, any TT axes) were forged during that time frame. (If I had to guess, I'd say Barco.)

 

[Bo T]

A great head. In great shape. On the fire lines, the Pulaskis that were used were usually sharpened by someone with an angle grinder. I talked with a sawyer on our crew and he refused to turn his ax in at the end of a shift, cause the guy with the grinder would ruin it!

 

[Alocksly]

Thanks for the info guys. It looks like she just wants it rehung now that I've cleaned it up.

 

[JayGoliath]

The only Pulaski i would want to get involved with: