Big / Full size axes

[R_Fonseca]

I'm in the middle of cleaning up an old Spearwell 4 1/2 lb axe which was lying on the floor outside when we moved in. Just got the rust off of it, lessened the mushrooming, and after much swearing, the old handle is out (I don't know why it had 5 of those little metal wedges in it instead of a wooden one. Anyway, it just needs a handle and a sharpen to be back in business.

While doing this, it occurs to me that I have absolutely no use for an axe this size, and never have in my life. Which begs the question (probably only to me)... How many of you actually use axes 4lb and up? I imagine, unless you have a bit of woodland on a small holding or something, it can't be much use? Curious to know how you all use these things... for me I'm just doing it because I think it's a bit of fun and I like the history of the thing. Maybe I'll need it when the world goes belly up.

Obligatory picture of the head:

https://flic.kr/p/2rQMebj

 

[Broch]

LOL, I have at least 5 axes that size and more, including a double-bit. Even with 20 acres of ancient woodland to manage I never use any of them but they are beautiful things to hold

Actually, that's not quite true, on a camp weekend in my wood a few years ago a couple of the lads really enjoyed swinging my 7Lb Brades axe to demolish some 600mm diam x 400mm long trunk sections

 

[Pattree]

Long ago, when the world was young we used 7lb Elwell axes at Delamere Forest. There was only one chain saw there when I joined the strength in 1965, a twin cylindered Solo that a guy privately owned. Made a fortune out of piecework rates.
Anyway, the rest of us used 24” bow saws. Some made the bottom cut of the face with the saw and the top cut with the axe, some used the saw for both. A few, mainly older guys, just used the axe.

Having felled the tree with the saw, then the axe was for snedding, working from one side of the trunk on near, top and far available branches, swapping over your hands as reach extended and the direction of the swing changed. Once up at the tip you’d sned and cut a pea stick if the tree offered one, then grab the end and flick up the remaining side with its branches and sned back to the foot where your bow saw was waiting for you to measure and convert to the timbers currently required. Delamere mostly produced pit props and wood wool pieces in those days.

Your axe was always with you to make a fire for baggin if nothing else. It made godfathers and godmothers for fencing and where we had made a turning post in a fence line we’d pull the wire to it hooked into the axe while a mate wielded hammer and staple.

The axe, saw and slasher were used for prep ground after clear felling and fire “home pro”: Home Production - fire-wood to sneak home, often bagged to sell.

Now there are harvesting machines and chain saws. The old guys laughed at us for our “toffee hammers” (7lb axes). They had gone through the war in their reserved occupation using 9lb axes. “I sends it up, God sends it down and together we get the work done.” Now, I’d use a little electric chain saw for everything I need to do to a tree.


Edited to apologise for telling lies.

Put it down to an over used and over stocked but aging memory.

The axe that we used to use daily was a 5lb Elwell. The old guys used a 7lb one.
That was niggeling away at my mind ever since I first posted so I checked.

The 9lb axe did exist but I don’t know why.

 

[R_Fonseca]

Actually, that's not quite true, on a camp weekend in my wood a few years ago a couple of the lads really enjoyed swinging my 7Lb Brades axe to demolish some 600mm diam x 400mm long trunk sections

You know, that does sound like a good time. Can't remember the last time I went outside and just smashed something to pieces for no reason.

@Pattree - This is the best thing I've read in a while. That's exactly the thing. Anything I need to do, can be done with a saw... but I guess saws aren't very fun. I love the: “I sends it up, God sends it down and together we get the work done.” - I'll remember that

 

[Laurentius]

I am clearly not a true lumberjack as the heaviest axe I possess is a Smalcalda from the GDR with a head that weighs no more than 4 1/2 pounds which I have had for over 40 years.

 

[FerlasDave]

Funnily enough I just finished handling a 6lb rounding pattern this week. Probably never going to use it but it’s taken pride of place on the workshop “axe wall”.

 

[Laurentius]

Seven axes hanging on my wall, seven axes hanging on the wall, and if one of those axes should axeidently fall, well there might be blood on the kitchen floor. I had a landlords inspection a while back and I had to warn the young lady who was carrying it out not to lean back as there was a row of axes behind her.

 

[Kadushu]

I use a big Elwell for splitting wood, though admittedly I try to use a smaller one if I can get away with it. Sometimes a big log needs a big axe. My dad still uses a splitting maul too I think.

 

[Broch]

Seven axes hanging on my wall, seven axes hanging on the wall, and if one of those axes should axeidently fall, well there might be blood on the kitchen floor. I had a landlords inspection a while back and I had to warn the young lady who was carrying it out not to lean back as there was a row of axes behind her.

I must find somewhere I can create an 'Axe Wall'

 

[Pattree]

I must find somewhere I can create an 'Axe Wall'

Sounds like a thoroughly Saxon defence strategy.
Maybe dwarfish.