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what is a "Carpenter's bundle axe"?

bundaxt.jpg
 
Thanks, Steve Tall, for the photo and the link! Wonder how the word "bundle" made it into the name.

Where did you come by the axe in the picture? I wish I could find one.
 
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In German this thing is called 'Bundaxt' which basically means bundle ax. "Bund" (as well as bundle) derives from "binden" which means to bind. Doesn't sound like much, but in German there's also the word "bündig" which means flush (probably because if you bind sticks or something of equal length into a neat bundle the ends will be flush, but that is just my theory).
So in order to get a flush fit (as in the pic above which seems to be the preparation for joining two beams) you use a bundle axe.


Ookami
 
the one in Steve Tall's post looks more like a mortise axe, to my eye. I'm sure several makers make one, but Gransfors is the only one I've seen.

-ben
 
That's what it looks like to me as well. It looks like he's using a mortise axe to fine tune a scarf joint.
 
Thanks, trailmaker, those links are fabulous. I never would have found them myself. Fascinating to be able to learn how the "bundaxt" can be used. Never would have figured out that technique, using two ax men to notch the log.

Ochsenkopf makes a "zimmermanns bundaxt", and Leonhard Muller makes two versions, a "bundaxt" and "bundaxt mit nagelzieher", or bundaxt with nail puller, like a carpenter's axe. I know of one website (http://www.samstagsales.com/ox-head.htm) for ordering ochsenkopf stuff. A few Muller axes are shown on (http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/Wood-Axes-by-Mueller-of-Austria/products/531/), but not the bundaxt.
 
Ookami said:
In German this thing is called 'Bundaxt' which basically means bundle ax. "Bund" (as well as bundle) derives from "binden" which means to bind. Doesn't sound like much, but in German there's also the word "bündig" which means flush (probably because if you bind sticks or something of equal length into a neat bundle the ends will be flush, but that is just my theory).
So in order to get a flush fit (as in the pic above which seems to be the preparation for joining two beams) you use a bundle axe.


Ookami
Click to expand...


so, if we take the above post at face value, the one Steve posted might be just what a carpenter's bundle axe (bundaxt) really is and looks like. (no reason to not take the above post at face value, that I can see).

I wonder if what we call a mortise axe here in the States is really the same thing as the bundle axe? that description above sounds like they could be.


-ben
 
raymondvillain said:
...Ochsenkopf makes a "zimmermanns bundaxt"...
Click to expand...

The German company SHW also makes a "Zimmermanns-Bundaxt", which translates roughly into "Carpenter's Bundle Axe":
zimmermanns_bundaxt.jpg

http://www.shw-fr.de/forst/shw_zimmermannsbeil_bundaxt.html

An English/French/German Technological Dictionary (found in Google Books) defines "bundaxt" as a "joint hook shaped axe". What's a "joint hook"? Looking up this term gives "winkelhaken" in German.

So, a "bundaxt" is an axe that's shaped like "winkelhaken". What are winkelhaken? Among other things, the name refers to this (from Google Images):

images
 
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Steve Tall said:
The German company SHW also makes a "Zimmermanns-Bundaxt", which translates roughly into "Carpenter's Bundle Axe"
Click to expand...
There is something weird about those shw axes. Some (including the bundaxt) look a lot like Ochsenkopf, don't know if they resell them, use the same templates... but it is quite striking.

Regarding the name bund axt I've always considered it to mean something like "joinery axe" but it's a wild guess.
 
Steve Tall said:
The German company SHW also makes a "Zimmermanns-Bundaxt", which translates roughly into "Carpenter's Bundle Axe":
zimmermanns_bundaxt.jpg

http://www.shw-fr.de/forst/shw_zimmermannsbeil_bundaxt.html

An English/French/German Technological Dictionary (found in Google Books) defines "bundaxt" as a "joint hook shaped axe". What's a "joint hook"? Looking up this term gives "winkelhaken" in German.

So, a "bundaxt" is an axe that's shaped like "winkelhaken". What are winkelhaken? Among other things, the name refers to this (from Google Images):

images
Click to expand...


which gets us back to what is being called a mortise axe on this continent.

see:
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/ox-head-134-bevel-edge-mortise-axe.aspx

for this "axe":
123102-1d.jpg



finally, I think we are getting somewhere...... thanks, Steve.

-ben
 
and, I failed to mention, that the SHW axe shown above by Steve looks much like the Gransfors mortise axe, in general shape and size. so, looks like maybe there are two general styles of mortise axe, or bundle axe, or bundaxt.

also, Ravaillac, the SHW above looks as much (or more) like a Mueller product as it does an oxhead. must be normal for a central european axe, as far as visual style (finish/grind/paint) goes?


-ben
 
Can't keep this topic out of my mind. The zimmermanns bundaxt on the SHW web page has a cutting edge width of 80 mm, handle length 80 cm, and a weight of 1.6 Kg. The Ochsenkopf bundaxt has a cutting edge width of 90 mm, and has the same handle length and weight. So maybe Ochsenkopf doesn't make the SHW bundaxt. Or they make a special version to SHW specs. They do look very much alike. If anyone reading this thread is in Europe maybe they could sort all this out for us. I agree that the Gransfors-Bruks mortise axe looks very much like a bundaxt. Does anyone know of websites for French axes? I've tried but the only ones I've found featured Ochsenkopf stuff, or GB, or Mueller. Surely there are some axes (hache?) made in France.
 
About SHW they say on their website they are making tools themselves and I doubt they'd lie about it but some axes (not necessarly the bundaxe thinking notably of the iltis ) strikingly look alike others (head, handle) so maybe it's a mix I don't know.

Regarding mortise axe, I think it is a quite specialized item, bundaxt would be more polyvalent.

Regarding France,
The link previously given has a lot of stuff regarding journeymen carpenters:
http://www.en.charpentiers.culture.fr

Regarding axe production
There are a few industrial makers that produce hardware store grade axes: Revex and Leborgne are the most common, quite uninteresting.
There was another semi industrial maker called Auriou but I think they closed.
Then there are a bunch of individual makers that have very little distribution: to name a few:
Bernard Solon: (no website afaik) http://philippebachelier.com/Portfolios/Portfolios_Portraits/Portfolios_Portraits06.html
Pascal Lavaud (website not working ???)
Forge d'ageio http://www.forge-d-ageio.com/
Bertrand Pons -various tools- (no website)

Most professional use power tools or throw away items. Those who try to work the old way use old tools or custom made ones.

These are really traditional they did not raise their prices too much and have actually kept a large part of professional clients. They were about to disappear but in the recent period they seem to have gained some traction again.
 
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