Rehandled axe

[Butty79]

ok so this was my second project. i got given an old axe with a very thin and split handle so after about a year of looking at it in my shed and a couple of atempts to remove the handle (unsucsesfully) i decide this summer it would be high time i got on and did it i thought about burning it out but then stoped myself (somthing got to me about making the axe head brittle with heat) so i drilled it out, once the metal sliver was liberated from the top of the axe the handle came out relativly easily, then it was on to make the repacement handle. I managed about two years ago to get hold of a large ash log for bowmaking so used some of that, i wanted a shorter axe that was more convenient to put in my pack and for smaller carving projects. the sheath is temparary, I will be dabbling in to leather working soon for that, i enjoyed making this very much.

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[copper_head]

Nice, good job

 

[Robbi]

well done mate, what are the marks on the bottom of the handle ?

 

[crosslandkelly]

Looks great. Nice to see an old axe brought back to life.

 

[HillBill]

Nicely done

 

[Everything Mac]

Very nice.


Ps, the simplest way to remove a handle is to cut it off at the head, then whack it through the eye from the handle side.

 

[ToneWood]

Nice handle. I've made several recently and have come to the conclusion that a straight handle (like the Gransfor Wildlife hatchet) is a pretty good match for smaller Kent-style axes (I have examples from less than 1lb to 4+lb). I like the crisp shoulder you've made - hadn't thought of doing that. I would be tempted to cut a little index-finger space at the front, just under the head - Wille Sundqvist-style - but I often use my axes "choked up" high on the handle for carving and perhaps you don't. It might spoil the simple elegant sweep lines that you have achieved, which is quite visually appealing.

BTW the lamb's foot/doe's foot bottom found on many commercial handles is surprising comfortable and effective - it seems to achieve the benefits of an end knob without having to waste a lot wood to leave increased width.