SHOW ME YOUR AXES

[davidwyby]

I've been lookin' to build myself a nice wedge-banger on a 26" miners handle, and came across this Gransfors Bruk head weighing ~4.25lb.

Do y'all know what pattern this is considered? Ideally I was looking for more of a rafting axe, with the larger Poll for wedge strikes. This specific head looks to be a bit askew/deformed in the poll region though... It does have some meat left, to square everything up, it seems.

That’ll work.

 

[SimonHS]

I've been lookin' to build myself a nice wedge-banger on a 26" miners handle, and came across this Gransfors Bruk head weighing ~4.25lb.

Do y'all know what pattern this is considered? Ideally I was looking for more of a rafting axe, with the larger Poll for wedge strikes. This specific head looks to be a bit askew/deformed in the poll region though... It does have some meat left, to square everything up, it seems.

It looks a bit like an old pattern that Gransfors used to called an American Felling axe, Ohio Wedge or Yankee axe.

Link to a PDF of the Gransfors Axe Book:

https://snakeroot.net/MTCA/wp-content/uploads/TheAxeBook.pdf

The photos in it are low resolution, unfortunately. See page 27.

The modern day Gransfors American Felling axe looks different, with the addition of lugs.

 

[eric4]

It looks a bit like an old pattern that Gransfors used to called an American Felling axe, Ohio Wedge or Yankee axe.

Link to a PDF of the Gransfors Axe Book:

https://snakeroot.net/MTCA/wp-content/uploads/TheAxeBook.pdf

The photos in it are low resolution, unfortunately. See page 27.

The modern day Gransfors American Felling axe looks different, with the addition of lugs.

What a great .pdf! Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, from the looks of it, the only option in that catalogue seems to be the American Felling/Ohio due to the weight of the head, and lack of lugs.

 

[eric4]

She's got an edge now! Waiting on a handle... Might take a file to the top and bottom of the axe, to give it a fresh flat surface. Lots of knocks around the eye

Decided against using this for my wedge banger, and instead putting it on a 34" handle. I found a $20 5lb rafting head that'll be the banger!

 

[eric4]

Finally found me a rafting pattern around 5lb for $20 and hung it on a 26" Hickory from Beaver Tooth - Does anyone recognize the paint color, to be able to match it to a manufacturer?

Looks slightly lighter than this Tassie Gransfors teal/blue (right)
EDIT: Sounds like it's a Collins Rafter, judging from some vintage Collins axe paint colors...

 

[bogieboy]

Anyone think this head would be worth ressurecting? Or is it better off going in the scrap barrel?

I already have a brand new Oxenkopff/stihl splitter as well as a fiskars splitter, so it would moreso be a fun project than a neccessity....

 

[Sloughfoot]

Good lord! That thing get run over by a meteorite?

 

[Cat 525]

That's been hammered on a lot. I would say scrap unless you're wanting to experiment.

 

[SimonHS]

Anyone think this head would be worth ressurecting? Or is it better off going in the scrap barrel?

I already have a brand new Oxenkopff/stihl splitter as well as a fiskars splitter, so it would moreso be a fun project than a neccessity....

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I would turn it into a kindling maker. Inverted, like the Kindling Cracker.



It doesn't have to be fancy. A wide slot in a chopping block might hold it in place. Or a bracket similar to this.

 

[bogieboy]

I would turn it into a kindling maker. Inverted, like the Kindling Cracker.

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It doesn't have to be fancy. A wide slot in a chopping block might hold it in place. Or a bracket similar to this.

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Never really been a fan of a kindling cracker... i also have an oxenkopff/stihl hatchet that will likely do perfectly well for kindling.... LOL in addition to several other hatchet variations from trouper, sog, and a fancyhand made custom wood burned handle viking-esque hatchet that a gokd friend made for me....gonna have to get pics of that one sometime once i find it again...LOL just moved from western NY to eastern TN a few weeks ago... still unloading boxes if you know what i mean....

 

[bogieboy]

Good lord! That thing get run over by a meteorite?

Was on a cracked to hell handle held together with multiple drywall screws that a customer wanted us to sharpen... we told them it was unsafe to use, and they said yeah... kinda figured that, and said toss it... i figure i can play with it over winter for fun if its decent older steel....LOL

 

[bogieboy]

After a bit more digging it would appear to be a 1936 "golden jubilee" craftsman axe, which seems to have a bit of value (if ebay listings are worth what they are asking for them LOL)

 

[Sloughfoot]

Was on a cracked to hell handle held together with multiple drywall screws that a customer wanted us to sharpen... we told them it was unsafe to use, and they said yeah... kinda figured that, and said toss it... i figure i can play with it over winter for fun if its decent older steel....LOL

Heck Yeh, get your blacksmith on!

 

[eric4]

My most recent hang - Some sort of 1800's lookin' Woodsman Axe, which some call a 'Pancake Axe'

5lb head, and a nice wedge shape, with convexed cheeks. It'll make for a nice splitter I reckon!

If anyone knows of this pattern or era, I'd love to hear more.

 

[davidwyby]

 

[davidwyby]

Sunlight

 

[jacktheripper]

Anyone have any axe heads to sell? Looking for a 4-4.5lb head for a wedge banger, and a 5+lb head for a splitter. Want to get in on the fun with restoring and hanging heads

 

[SimonHS]

I got this unusual little hatchet head for £15 / $20 plus postage. It weighs 1lb 11oz. The eye is circular and 3/4" in diameter. Its smooth, rounded shape fits nicely in the hand. It arrived with quite a sharp edge. It looks quite old. I can't find any info about the manufacturer.

I'm thinking that it is a travel or pack axe. It would be carried in a leather sheath (now missing) and when needed a stick would be cut from a tree or hedge, tapered and stuck in the eye as a handle.

Has anyone seen a similar hatchet?

 

[Woodtroll]

I got this unusual little hatchet head for £15 / $20 plus postage. It weighs 1lb 11oz. The eye is circular and 3/4" in diameter. Its smooth, rounded shape fits nicely in the hand. It arrived with quite a sharp edge. It looks quite old. I can't find any info about the manufacturer.

I'm thinking that it is a travel or pack axe. It would be carried in a leather sheath (now missing) and when needed a stick would be cut from a tree or hedge, tapered and stuck in the eye as a handle.

Has anyone seen a similar hatchet?

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Interesting!