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- Aug 28, 2010
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Looking at the various axe head patterns that were posted today, I saw one ("rafting") that matched an axe I have with a hardened poll. This solves a mystery for me.
"rafting axe: a single bit axe with a short handle and a heavy, extended poll (sometimes with tapered corners resulting in an eight-sided poll) suitable for driving and striking and especially adapted for use on logging rafts."
"raft: a group of logs secured together with chains or cables so they can be floated as a comparatively single unit."
--from YesteryearsTools Glossary http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears%20Tools/Glossary%3A%20Axes,%20Edge%20Tools,%20etc..html
The 4 pound head was on a 28" straight handle. It makes sense that the handle was straight, for easier hammering with the poll. I'll put it on a straight 32" octagonal handle, but for now it's with all my other unfinished projects.
From an earlier post about this axe:
"rafting axe: a single bit axe with a short handle and a heavy, extended poll (sometimes with tapered corners resulting in an eight-sided poll) suitable for driving and striking and especially adapted for use on logging rafts."
"raft: a group of logs secured together with chains or cables so they can be floated as a comparatively single unit."
--from YesteryearsTools Glossary http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears%20Tools/Glossary%3A%20Axes,%20Edge%20Tools,%20etc..html
The 4 pound head was on a 28" straight handle. It makes sense that the handle was straight, for easier hammering with the poll. I'll put it on a straight 32" octagonal handle, but for now it's with all my other unfinished projects.
From an earlier post about this axe:
On a whim I stopped at a local Goodwill to see if they happened to have any axes. They did, including a Kelly Works in very good condition, which cost me 10 bucks. Not the usual pattern. I took off the handle without damaging it, and weighed the head: 3 pounds 14 ounces. Then I soaked it in vinegar overnight and my biggest surprise was that it has a hardened poll. Some photos after the vinegar, haven't done any more cleaning up yet:
A better photo for showing the length at 8" even:
It's thin and sharp with good curvature and a gradual transition to the wider-than-usual poll.
The poll looks like it was nicely beveled at the factory.