"Up to the shoulder"

FortyTwoBlades

FortyTwoBlades

Baryonyx walkeri
Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
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A common "issue" with handles--whether on a factory-installed handle or when re-hanging a vintage head--is a "low shoulder" that hangs out well below where the head is actually affixed. Plumb used to boast about how their axes were hung "up to the shoulder", and there have been some guides in recent years about how to lower a head on a handle in order to get it closer to the shoulder. An alternative means of getting this effect is pretty simple: just rasp off the excess, silly!

The top handle here is the factory one (you can see where the sticker was and everything) but simply had the shoulder "moved up" by rasping it that way rather than re-fitting the head lower. Took about 5 minutes of work to rasp it down to shape.

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Trimming down like that would be strictly for appearances sake and meets I guess the current standard, but maybe leaving the handle full with extra tung material is a precautionary measure for a new handle. Imagine the axe is assembled in its plant in Tennessee and shipped out to Las Vegas, where those lumberjacks there are so busy all the time, and at some point in time the handle shrinks significantly.You'd be glad for the extra space left for re-seating. It's only one scenario thought up on the spur of the moment, there are others. Of course at some point in time you had convinced yourself the handle had stabilized and was secure, maybe you'd want to go ahead and then do that appearance altering modification.
 
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Ernest DuBois said:
Trimming down like that would be strictly for appearances sake and meets I guess the current standard, but maybe leaving the handle full with extra tung material is a precautionary measure for a new handle. Imagine the axe is assembled in its plant in Tennessee and shipped out to Las Vegas, where those lumberjacks there are so busy all the time, and at some point in time the handle shrinks significantly.You'd be glad for the extra space left for re-seating. It's only one scenario thought up on the spur of the moment, there are others. Of course at some point in time you had convinced yourself the handle had stabilized and was secure, maybe you'd want to go ahead and then do that appearance altering modification.
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Yeah I don't personally consider it a flaw, but it's something I've seen griped about in the past. It's not just cosmetic, though--it makes it easier for the sliding hand to grip right up under the head during chopping.
 
I believe sharp shoulders are weaker. Despite the appearance of more wood. It does make it easier for manufactures to get a good fit around the bottom of the eye, but its not really a better fit.
 
He's left just enough shoulder that it could be reset one time. Mostly axe handles get worn out without ever being reset. I go for what's most comfortable to use now. I agree with 42 that shaving off the Quasimodo hump makes it easier for choking up on the axe.
 
I agree, that's something I've done quite a few times. And as others have said, I don't care about resetting it later as much as I want it to be nice in the hand now.
 
garry3 said:
I believe sharp shoulders are weaker. Despite the appearance of more wood. It does make it easier for manufactures to get a good fit around the bottom of the eye, but its not really a better fit.
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Yes I agree! I have only made four handles from a chunk of wood (not counting reshaping an old handle or mual handle to and axe handle) but two were made very thin with a sharp drop off at the back of the shoulder. Your handle will break at the weakest point. I have thinned down a lot of shoulders after mine broke. One was a combination of horizontal grain and a sharp shoulder (which at some point is a 100% break). But the other was perfectly straight grain and after a run in with some Osage Orange that had been down for a couple years it broke.

May be off topic just wanted to share my experience.

When I see these guys selling custom handles with those super thin super sharp shoulders it makes me cringe lol
 
Square_peg said:
I guess it's supposed to look Klingon or something - somehow more badass? To me it just looks uncomfortable to use. Whatever sells, I guess.
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When I see it, my mind automatically files it into the same category as the pre-worn toe designs. I think they think it looks more axe-like.

The other issue besides limiting the sliding of your upper hand is that a massive misplaced hump makes it difficult to grip close for fine work, both due to the size and the angle relative to the edge.
 
Jesse knows what he's doing. He makes them because they sell. I'm pleased that he's found a way to make a living playing with the things we love, axes. He also makes plenty of more realistic and usable axes.
 
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