Octagon handles history thread

B

Brent Halverson

Joined
Nov 16, 2020
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120
A chapter in axe history everyone is interested in. A thread specifically for this type of handle with photos of original old examples and period literature scans.

I was introduced to octagon cross-section handles a few decades ago when I picked up an old double-bit the widow of it's original owner had stuck between wall joists at a garage sale. In the following years of picking up many dozens of axes and hatchets only locally and in "the wild", I found that old examples of octagon-handled axes were very scarce compared to the common oval cross-section handles. My guess is that getting the octagon shape into the handle requires more expense and may not be something that can be mass-produced with common handle lathes and manufacturing methods post WWII, so they died out along with cheap labor in the baby-boom era.

The most common octagon handles back in the "old days" around and before WWII are the straight handles usually put onto double-bit axes;

https://imgur.com/a/B68wHPy

Although I have found "S" form handles with an octagon shape such as on this 1930s Craftsman hatchet, so both straight and "S" form handles were known and existed in the old days.;

https://imgur.com/DdOr0Ov

https://imgur.com/DcZsBVc

https://imgur.com/nfQTF1c

https://imgur.com/lg4Lr4Y

My hope is to add some old literature scans and more photos of original examples in the near future.
 
Don’t know much about their history, but I strongly favor straight handles, and I half-octagon almost every one I make (and some I didn’t make). I started in over a decade ago on hammers and hatchets, and find that the flats help my fingers automatically index my grip to the most efficient (or perhaps most familiar) position. Especially useful when nailing or chopping from an inconvenient stance on a ladder or in a tight crawl space.

I’ll be watching this with interest.

Parker
 
catspa said:
Don’t know much about their history, but I strongly favor straight handles, and I half-octagon almost every one I make (and some I didn’t make). I started in over a decade ago on hammers and hatchets, and find that the flats help my fingers automatically index my grip to the most efficient (or perhaps most familiar) position. Especially useful when nailing or chopping from an inconvenient stance on a ladder or in a tight crawl space.

I’ll be watching this with interest.

Parker
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I love the feel how octagon hammer handle fits in my hand. I dreamed about full size axe with that kind of feature. However, majority of vintage octagon full size handles become oval around grip area and do not provide any indexing benefit.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/nos-vintage-sunflower-hicory-octagon-1859162846
 
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I’ve noticed that on a couple of favorite framing hammers, but just recarved the flats when worn down. Requires a little blending, of course.

Parker
 
HANDLES

1928 (Hartwell Brothers)
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1938
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2024
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AXES

1930
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1932
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1936
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1942
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Bob
1/30/2025 edit: Hartwell Brothers ad is from 1928


BONUS PICTURE
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quinton said:
An octagon handle is nothing more than an unfinished oval handle. Can't make a true oval by hand without first making it octagonal.
Click to expand...

Most all axe handles going back into the 19th century have been made on special lathes that do no produce octagon cross sections, so the octagon would have to be added to the oval cross section of retail axe handles, as shown in all the vintage catalogs and advertising afterwards.

As for making axe handles by hand with draw-knives, if the maker's intent is to produce an octagon handle, then "An octagon handle is nothing but a finished octagon handle. ".
 
When House Handle octagonalizes a handles they just grab an oval off the shelf and take it to a sander. The result is a haft too thin in the grip.

Tennessee Hickory handles come much too fat and need to be slimmed, whatever final shape you desire. They're perfect for octagonalizing.
 
It's interesting how much thinner the old handles came from the factory. Another case of "they just don't make them like they used to".
 
Brent Halverson said:
Most all axe handles going back into the 19th century have been made on special lathes that do no produce octagon cross sections, so the octagon would have to be added to the oval cross section of retail axe handles, as shown in all the vintage catalogs and advertising afterwards.

As for making axe handles by hand with draw-knives, if the maker's intent is to produce an octagon handle, then "An octagon handle is nothing but a finished octagon handle. ".
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After careful review, I'm gonna stand by my statement.
 
After careful review, I’m going to disbelieve your statement, because I’ve carved oval sectioned handles that never came anywhere near octagonal. Maybe you wouldn’t accept how true they were, and admittedly rounding off an octagon is one method for oval-ing a handle, but your statement “Can't make a true oval by hand without first making it octagonal” is not true at all.

Parker
 
catspa said:
After careful review, I’m going to disbelieve your statement, because I’ve carved oval sectioned handles that never came anywhere near octagonal. Maybe you wouldn’t accept how true they were, and admittedly rounding off an octagon is one method for oval-ing a handle, but your statement “Can't make a true oval by hand without first making it octagonal” is not true at all.

Parker
Click to expand...
I really don't care what you see through the rose-colored glasses, Mister.

I've made a lot of handles from hickory trees since the 1980's and the only way (without guess work) to get a perfect oval the length of the handle is to first make 8 facets the length of the handle.
 
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