2-1/2 pound axe on a 33" haft, Yes!

[idle]

Pics later tonight...

It's a plumb, and I'm guessing it's 2-1/2#. it was barely hung on a "Fire Brand" 36" new/old bent handle.

Somebody had enough whittling so they left it at the top. The kerf cut was showing under the head.

I want to trim it down to end up with around a 32" haft. Is it too light for that length? Just splitting firewood for the most part.

I'm on the fence on this one, I could save the sweet handle and pick up a full size axe for it, and hang the little plumb on a boy's axe handle.

But... Part of me thinks a 2-1/2 lb head would be great on a long haft, and it could end up being more useful to me than a 3-4 pounder.

Anyone hung a lighter head on a longer haft than what's customary?

I take pics later..

 

[idle]

 

[Operator1975]

2 1/2 lb heads were/are typically put on 28 inch hafts or smaller. But, in the world of axes, all sorts of combos have been seen and used before. I have never used a head that light on a haft that long, but I know guys have put hatchet heads on longer handles and used them with success and liked them, so anything technically is possible. If u do it I would use caution as I can see it being easy for me to get some good velocity on that smaller head with longer handle and crack myself in the foot or shin. But that's just me.

 

[idle]

It worked out great apart from the hafting ordeal.

The person who perched it on the top of the handle kept the kerf in the center of the head. They had it a little crooked aswell.

Problem was I didn't notice the kerf was offset until I'd worked it down some. Narrow boys axe head on a full size handle meant there was enough width to make it right.

Anyway, it swings fast and hits hard. Ittid be a great trail tool as it's a really good chopper now.

I thinned the bit down a little and beat the mushrooms back where they came from. Then dragged a file across them a few times.

It feels just right lengthwise, when holding it one handed at the end of the haft, the head is about 3-4" off the ground.

It's feels weird one handing it, like driving a short wheelbase flatbed with too long of a bed.

It ended up at 33" overall.

 

[TARFU'D]

Sweet...good save on that handle.

 

[bsmith_shoot]

That looks great! That'll be a handy size.

 

[Faiaoga]

I have no direct experience with the setup you show and discuss, although I have some axe experience. I was taught that a 28 inch handle and about 2 3/4 pound head is a 'boy's axe", while a 36 inch handle and about a
3 1/2 pound head is a "full size axe". I have used both.

While teaching school in Papua New Guinea, in the Highlands, I noted that the locals used light axe heads with long straight handles for all of their tasks. I never used the local axes and never obtained one, but they seemed to be the size of the axe you re-handled and tried out. For these small, tough villagers the system of small axe head and long handle seemed to work well. Perhaps other people with experience in the region could provide more information.