About ten years ago, when I was about 13 years old, I bought my very first hatchet to split wood with at a family holiday. The axe we had was too heavy for me back then, so I found this 500g hatchet in a hardware store in the Czech republic where we were camping back then. It used to look an awful lot like this:
But after some holidays with me, who at the time knew nothing about edges, axes and proper use and care, it became a bit knackered. Over the years I learned about tools and also picked up an interest in bushcraft and carving, and I have collected some nice shiney axes and knives since. (Hello, I am Two Socks, and I am a sharps-hoarder...) The memories I have with this hatchet, however, are special. It is comparable to what I feel when I look at my first knife: a victorinox camper that I saved up for when I was seven. I am quite happy my parents decided to make me buy my first knife and later my first axe too. At the time I had no idea, but now I realize that the saving and shopping around have made me appreciate the items so much more, and it has taught me a lesson about the value of money. Anyway, I recently dug out the hatchet head, and last weekend I made a handle for it out of some oak. Here is what it looks like now:
After I put an edge on it today, I carved a spoon and a teaspoon with it.
I found out that the grind is awful for carving. It is a pretty crappy axehead overall, when I face the facts. But it is my first one and I have grown very attached to it. Who else has tools they go way back with? I hope I am not the only one who gets a bit melancholic from an old piece of steel.
But after some holidays with me, who at the time knew nothing about edges, axes and proper use and care, it became a bit knackered. Over the years I learned about tools and also picked up an interest in bushcraft and carving, and I have collected some nice shiney axes and knives since. (Hello, I am Two Socks, and I am a sharps-hoarder...) The memories I have with this hatchet, however, are special. It is comparable to what I feel when I look at my first knife: a victorinox camper that I saved up for when I was seven. I am quite happy my parents decided to make me buy my first knife and later my first axe too. At the time I had no idea, but now I realize that the saving and shopping around have made me appreciate the items so much more, and it has taught me a lesson about the value of money. Anyway, I recently dug out the hatchet head, and last weekend I made a handle for it out of some oak. Here is what it looks like now:
After I put an edge on it today, I carved a spoon and a teaspoon with it.
I found out that the grind is awful for carving. It is a pretty crappy axehead overall, when I face the facts. But it is my first one and I have grown very attached to it. Who else has tools they go way back with? I hope I am not the only one who gets a bit melancholic from an old piece of steel.
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