Walters hatchet(s)...... Updated post # 7

[I'mSoSharp]

Looking round a local (southern Spain) car boot sale I noticed this little hatchet, I actually walked past it once thinking it looked nothing special, then a while later passed again but this time picked it up, straight away I liked the shape of the haft despite the head being loose I asked how much & the seller said 3€ (just over $3) so didn't haggle.

Looking at the head at the time I couldn't see any markings at all, then walking back to the car I could just make out "black diamond", I had never heard of this & assumed it was some cheap brand but also thought the head shape a bit above the cheapy stuff.

Got home & Googled it & found out about Walters, sure enough when I rubbed the other side I found the Walters mark

Goes without saying I'm pretty happy about my find, how it got to southern Spain is anyone's guess!

The head was loose & not straight, with a careful bit of work I've re-hung it as near as damn straight with new wedges.

The haft is a lovely shape with a nice swell at the end so I really worked hard to save it, it's soaking in linseed oil right now but will post more pics soon.

 

[300Six]

Nice find! "Black Diamond" was Morley Walters' top of the line version of whatever pattern they offered. Morley died in 1969 and the company didn't do a heck of a lot after that and was unceremoniously folded up in 1973. That fawn's foot handle looks to be original and was likely made in the 1950s or earlier. The whitewash stain/paint and yellow butt is all gone from the wood.

A commercial fisherman that landed his catch in Newfoundland or in one of the other east coast Canadian ports probably picked this up for utility purposes.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

300Six thank you for your reply.

I think I'm right in saying that Walters exported axes? So it could have been bought somewhere in Europe maybe?
The thing is it won't have been exported into Franco's Spain when Walters was in buisness, it could have arrived here with the belongings of one of the many people who have moved here over the years.

Whatever, it's such a nice little hatchet & I really like the small slim handle. Fogot to say the head is a shade over 1lb.

 

[Square_peg]

That fawn's foot handle looks to be original and was likely made in the 1950s or earlier. The whitewash stain/paint and yellow butt is all gone from the wood.

Agreed. The handle screams 'original Walters.'

A commercial fisherman that landed his catch in Newfoundland or in one of the other east coast Canadian ports probably picked this up for utility purposes.

That's a pretty good scenario.

Nice hatchet. Lucky find in Spain.

 

[300Six]

The way I understand it Walters exported many axes but primarily to Commonwealth Countries and some to Central and South America. Below is a shot of some Walters-made handles.
You might even recognize the hatchet handle shape which is stamped 'Walters Hull Quebec'.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

Thanks for the photo 300Six.

If they imported to commonwealth countries that would explain it, the guy I bought it from was a Brit so I guess it'll have made it's way down with him or someone else from Britain, never thought to ask him if I see him there again I will.
I would have thought when Walters was in business there would have been lots of axes & hatchets being made in Britain & not much point in imports, but that's the best bet.

A couple more photos, the handle is the same as the one you've pictured, it's a good bit darker now after sucking up linseed oil, it was very dry.
I haven't used any anything abrasive on it, just re-set the head, this is how it's gonna stay with it's nice patina, the handle was already smooth & shiny.

There is a difference in the head shapes between mine & the one in your photo 300Six, one older than the other maybe?

EDIT- I think I can answer my own question by looking at the first picture in this thread- http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1100338-Walters-Hatchets
My handle is 13" long so same as the second one from left in that picture, the next larger one has the different shape, so dependent on weight I guess.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

So today 10 weeks later, same market different stall I see a small scruffy hatchet head & do a double take when I see through the rust what I think says "black diamond"!!

A quick fine wire wool to see the lettering better.

The eye is the same size but the head is about 1/16 narrower (front to back), weighs 1lb1oz, the handled one about 4oz more.

I assume it's a beat up & ground down version of the other?

Really not sure what to think about how they got to Southern Spain, I'm wondering if it is possible they were imported here? It would have to be pre-Franco era, so pre 1939.

 

[300Six]

Now we're discovering what happened to the old Walters axes; they 'skipped town' for warmer/sunnier climates! You're finding more Walters goods in Spain than seekers of old tools are in Hull, Quebec (now called City of Gatineau) where they were made. You probably have a small hatchet there (I think they were called 'midgets') and a standard one. The 'midget' has seen much more use (toe is disproportionately worn) than the other one which is essentially unscathed.
Below are most of the ones (hatchets) that I gathered up over the years.

 

[Able_walker]

Thanks for the photo 300Six.

If they imported to commonwealth countries that would explain it, the guy I bought it from was a Brit so I guess it'll have made it's way down with him or someone else from Britain, never thought to ask him if I see him there again I will.
I would have thought when Walters was in business there would have been lots of axes & hatchets being made in Britain & not much point in imports, but that's the best bet.

A couple more photos, the handle is the same as the one you've pictured, it's a good bit darker now after sucking up linseed oil, it was very dry.
I haven't used any anything abrasive on it, just re-set the head, this is how it's gonna stay with it's nice patina, the handle was already smooth & shiny.

There is a difference in the head shapes between mine & the one in your photo 300Six, one older than the other maybe?

EDIT- I think I can answer my own question by looking at the first picture in this thread- http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1100338-Walters-Hatchets
My handle is 13" long so same as the second one from left in that picture, the next larger one has the different shape, so dependent on weight I guess.

The handle turned out really nice with the Linseed oil....very nice patina and character.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

You probably have a small hatchet there (I think they were called 'midgets') and a standard one. The 'midget' has seen much more use (toe is disproportionately worn) than the other one which is essentially unscathed.

To be honest I think it started as virtually the same head, it's been hammered & ground a lot so the edge has moved up & now too thick, I'll probably end up re-profilling it to make a smaller hatchet.
A nice selection you've got there, thanks for posting.

The handle turned out really nice with the Linseed oil....very nice patina and character.

Thanks, yes it's a lovely hatchet. As soon as I pick it up it's apparent that the handle was shaped by a company that knew what they were doing, it feels so good in the hand.

 

[300Six]

Thanks, yes it's a lovely hatchet. As soon as I pick it up it's apparent that the handle was shaped by a company that knew what they were doing, it feels so good in the hand.

Morley Walters knew that fast growth hickory (wide growth rings) was superior for durability and specifically imported the wood from the American south-east. His General Manager Ed Hammell, tool&die maker-extraordinaire, set up the machines to make and shape the handles all through the 1950s and 60s. In an interview in 1965 Ed said: "An axe should fit the owner like a good shoe".

 

[I'mSoSharp]

In an interview in 1965 Ed said: "An axe should fit the owner like a good shoe".

Nice answer, & it shows.
Just out of curiosity seeing as you have a fawn's foot example (or two!) & others to compare to, how do you rate how it they feel in hand? As it's a very personal thing.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

Well, it's taken some time to decide that the only way this head was going to be a hatchet again was going to involve removing quite a lot of metal to thin the heavily cut back edge.
I think it would prefer life as a hatchet rather than a door stop!

So after lots of grinding from the cheeks it became an acceptable shape while trying not to loose the "lack Diamond" & Walters markings.

The handle was the best I could do with a very mediocre store bought handle picked from a bunch that ranged all the way down to awful.
Not enough width to do a proper fat fawns foot, & surprisingly lots of wood needed removing from the rest of the handle as the Walters is very narrow, amazing how fat the standard replacement handle was in comparison.

 

[Beachlogger]

Really like the look of that knob on the end of the handle

 

[300Six]

My compliments, you're an artist with wood I'mSoSharp

 

[Agent_H]

My compliments, you're an artist with wood I'mSoSharp

I would second that.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

Really like the look of that knob on the end of the handle

Thanks, would've been nice if it was a bit wider but that was as thick as the replacement handle was (I don't have a wood welder so couldn't add any ).

My compliments, you're an artist with wood I'mSoSharp

I would second that.

Thank you . Appreciated.