Reliable source for axe handles?

Would it not be interesting for someone from there to drop in from time to time? I know their bread and butter is bulk sales but a little fresh jam would be good on that buttered bread.

The market for top notch replacement handles is small but, at the moment, it is untapped. With the rising interest in vintage axes, should be an opportunity.

Bill
 
Yup, I think so too. It would take me about 2 minutes to start marketing a premium handle option. Although I know it can be hard enough to keep the doors open, and I'm a pretty skilled armchair businessman.
 
cityofthesouth said:
Yup, I think so too. It would take me about 2 minutes to start marketing a premium handle option. Although I know it can be hard enough to keep the doors open, and I'm a pretty skilled armchair businessman.
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This is my thought exactly. I recently got two Link handles from an old Ace hardware in a small town near me. I was talking with the cashier and he joked that they had probably been sitting on that same shelf since before I was born. They are spectacular and cost me like $15 a piece. I couldn't get the money out of my wallet fast enough, lol. I would have happily paid $30 for a new handle this nice. They were *almost* nice enough to use as is and this is coming from someone who is beyond anal about handles. I have just under 100 bf of 8/4 curly hickory to make some handles from scratch, but it would be nice to have the option of buying new.
 
So user Twoinch mentioned Baker Pro Tools in another thread and I set off to digging. I went out of town to visit a Menards and sure enough, Baker Pro Tools handles. There were very few, but what was there looked good. The swells looked more traditional to me than any others I've seen (handles overall were very shapely) and they were neatly finished. The lacquer seemed thin (it wasn't dripping from the swell), they looked uniform, straight, THIN, and had nice grain orientation. I have just e-mailed them to get more information as their website is not working for me right now. I'll post my findings when they reply.
 
cityofthesouth said:
So user Twoinch mentioned Baker Pro Tools in another thread and I set off to digging. I went out of town to visit a Menards and sure enough, Baker Pro Tools handles. There were very few, but what was there looked good. The swells looked more traditional to me than any others I've seen (handles overall were very shapely) and they were neatly finished. The lacquer seemed thin (it wasn't dripping from the swell), they looked uniform, straight, THIN, and had nice grain orientation. I have just e-mailed them to get more information as their website is not working for me right now. I'll post my findings when they reply.
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Perhaps a "thread" on here to list/compare companies that sell axe handles is not a bad idea. Link, for instance, supplied my last Pulaski handle but it was so hugely over-sized (liability concerns?) that I'd just as soon buy ready-made and ready-to-go instead of having to severely pare down factory offerings.
 
cityofthesouth said:
Yup, I think so too. It would take me about 2 minutes to start marketing a premium handle option...
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Sounds like others might have similar ideas. Here's something from Omaha Knife's site:

"My OEM and special order handles are low on stock and for the most part the best picked out. So for now I am only offering the Gransfors handles until I can get the custom handles I want produced. (you'll love them if I can get what I want, but it's slow going)".
 
Bridger said:
This is my thought exactly. I recently got two Link handles from an old Ace hardware in a small town near me. I was talking with the cashier and he joked that they had probably been sitting on that same shelf since before I was born. They are spectacular and cost me like $15 a piece. I couldn't get the money out of my wallet fast enough, lol. I would have happily paid $30 for a new handle this nice. They were *almost* nice enough to use as is and this is coming from someone who is beyond anal about handles. I have just under 100 bf of 8/4 curly hickory to make some handles from scratch, but it would be nice to have the option of buying new.
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the last OLD link handles i found(6 months ago) was an OP Link made cruiser handle. you are correct in that they are spectacular handles. they need very little work, the swells are absolutely proper, and THIN. they are non existent around here now though. its a shame the LINK name is worth little now.
 
I resent my e-mail to Baker and this time got a speedy reply. I was answered with a question, however, the question was asking how many handles I wanted, so maybe that's a sign of direct purchasing. Or I'm going to find out that I need to order a 30,000 unit minimum or something awesome like that.
 
I found a couple really nice handles at a local supplier the other day. I've got some work to do.

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Both handles are a little fat but they have perfect grain.
 
cityofthesouth said:
I resent my e-mail to Baker and this time got a speedy reply. I was answered with a question, however, the question was asking how many handles I wanted, so maybe that's a sign of direct purchasing. Or I'm going to find out that I need to order a 30,000 unit minimum or something awesome like that.
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maybe see if they have a catalog or pdf of their hickory handle products. all i have ever seen are full size single and double bits, and maul handles. maybe you asked already?
 
Twoinch said:
maybe see if they have a catalog or pdf of their hickory handle products. all i have ever seen are full size single and double bits, and maul handles. maybe you asked already?
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I was able to find a website but the catalog portion doesn't function for me - dunno if it's my computer or what - so in my e-mail I emphasized a few points. One, I was looking for a reliable through the mail source where we could get 1 handle or 10. I asked for as much product information as I could get, from hammer handles to axes, etc. that I would be able to pass on to others. I also tried to make it clear that we are looking for a reliable source for handles which meet certain criteria (though on their website I recall some bragging about their precision handle capabilities and attention to detail ... or something like that). I also asked if they made 28, 30 or 32 inch handles for full size axes. Fingers crossed that something happens. I really liked the looks of them in the store.
 
Square_peg said:
I found a couple really nice handles at a local supplier the other day. I've got some work to do.

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Both handles are a little fat but they have perfect grain.
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I stopped by that same supplier yesterday and today and picked up two single bits and one double bit handle. Neat store with the widest selection of handles I've seen. Bought a scraper there, too, to remove the lacquer. Can't wait to see your finished products!
 
I loathe communicating with people via e-mail sometimes but I think I was clear - maybe not.

Here is some of the information I got so far. The website still doesn't work for me (I explained this multiple times).

"We have a 28” Boy’s Axe for a price of $3.00. The part number is #1328-6.


The next size up we have is a 36” Single Bit Axe that must be purchased in a pack of six. The price on the 36” Single Bit Axe is $6.99. The part number for this is #1136-6."

I am still trying to figure out HOW to order them. I'm a couple e-mails from giving up as it appears they only have a boys axe handle and a 36 inch handle. But I did reiterate that their handles look nice and a wider selection would be terrific.
 
sounds like the rep that is emailing you back just wont take the time to respond properly. like i said, i know they make the double bit, single bit fawn foot, and the single bit straight/maul handles, and now they say they have the boys ax too.. man if they have boys ax handles, i bet they are exactly what i have been looking for... i am sick of the crap Link boys handles of recent.

i remember when i looked at their site, i couldnt find anything either. couldnt find other possible retailers to order from either.
 
i found a retailer that shows the same 4 ax handles, but it claims the boys ax handle is 24"

i wish they would give more info. if its possible to get "high grade" etc..

also, their site does not work for me either.
 
HH and Link/Seymour make 32" curved single bits but straights seem to go from 29"-36" with no stops in between. I have heard that Tennessee Hickory does 32" but they only sell in bulk.

Bill
 
"I am sorry about that! I have informed IT of the link error.



Yes, 28” and 36” are the only size handles available."

After asking again, HOW to order them. $3.00 for a boys axe handle though .... that's just a good day. If they get the site fixed then maybe there will be some place on it to place an order.

I ordered a 28 inch "first pass" handle from HH yesterday and I expect it to be here Saturday - for some reason I keep ordering from them on Wednesday and getting my handles Saturday morning. Anyway, I will post pics.

I guess these various companies are mostly just making OEM products - it's a job I suppose - and they move a few for resale at big box stores. But why make something and then make no effort to sell it? A broken website, information that is unclear or just wrong on the retailer's end, e-mail conversations that could have been 1 simple reply end up being 8 or 10. But then I have to wonder who is Baker doing OEM work for? I do a google search for "replacement handles", Baker is no where to be found.
 
i wish someone offered 26" - 28" straight boys ax handles. i would personally prefer them in the 28" - 30" range being 6'2" and all, but i would take the standard boys ax lengths if someone would make them!!

i wonder if any of these companies would be interested in some proper, old pattern handles, so they could make patterns from them. i just cant imagine how their handles have ended up being so funky dimensionally. i have a perfect cruiser handle, which is impossible to find nowadays. i would donate it if they would make a lathe pattern from it... why did they stop running the good patterns, and start using all these terrible, terrible designs...
 
lmalterna said:
HH and Link/Seymour make 32" curved single bits but straights seem to go from 29"-36" with no stops in between. I have heard that Tennessee Hickory does 32" but they only sell in bulk.

Bill
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Their ebay seller sometimes has 32" straight hafts. I got a couple last year.
 
Twoinch said:
i have a perfect cruiser handle, which is impossible to find nowadays. i would donate it if they would make a lathe pattern from it... why did they stop running the good patterns, and start using all these terrible, terrible designs...
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It boggles the mind. When they have the capacity to duplicate a great handle blank but instead turn out less than ideal handles or complete junk. We've forgotten how to make axe heads and axe handles, too.
 
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