American Ax rehab (pic heavy)

H

halfaxe

Joined
Nov 29, 2012
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I worked on this axe this week. American Ax assets were purchased by Kelly in 1921 so this axe pre-dates that. It had no rust and no mushrooming but the toe was worn down and the 16 inch handle was shot. I ground off some the heel on the grinder but mostly shaped it with a file. The chinese files practically slid off the bit.

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It weighed just over 2 lbs. and I wanted to make it a boys axe. I had a Link handle with poor grain orientation but I don't think it matters in such a light axe. The handle was 28", I wish I could find 26 and 24 inch handles. I cut off the end and got the axe down to 25".

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I slimmed the handle down to get more of a curve and to get more of a swell at the bottom.

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I'm still working on the edge, it's still a little thick, but the axe feels good.

Thanks, Jerry
 
Nice looking axe! I really want to find one that size for around the yard. I still need to get a good handle for the hatchet with hamon I've got.


-Xander
 
Holy dog snot I would say that looks excellent!

The old AmericnAx heads were usually of top quality. You do have to watch as their logo was used post 1921 by Kelly after the purchase, but I would say yours is pre 1921 if I had to without getting my hands on it.

Awesome job overall, the eye/haft looks real good - and dont worry about the bits - they take time.

Well done! Keep the pics coming!

Thanks!

Mike
 
Liam Ryan said:
Awesome wedge, what type of wood did you use?
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I had a black cherry fall on my property so I had it sawed into boards. Some of the boards split so wedges are a good use for them. I really like how a contrasting wood looks as a wedge. I would use black walnut if we had any here.
 
That's a great old axe and you did a super fine job of hanging it. But for me it's a cardinal sin to make the swell of a handle any smaller. That's my personal taste.
 
Square_peg said:
That's a great old axe and you did a super fine job of hanging it. But for me it's a cardinal sin to make the swell of a handle any smaller. That's my personal taste.
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Wouldn't you want the handle to fit? Up until the early 20th century you had to make your own handle. That handle was made to fit a variety of axes but for a 2 pound axe it was too long imo. Try finding a 24 or 26 inch handle today. If you know where a source is, I would be interested. That's one of the reasons I slimmed the handle, to create a larger swell with the length I had left. The other reason is a slim handle feels better to me on a light axe. I'm not saying your wrong here, especially after reading many of your knowledgeable posts. I just wonder why you consider it a sin, and to explain my reasoning.
 
For me - not necessarily for you or anyone else - a substantial swell and an abrupt swell make it easier for me to handle an axe. Specifically, having that positive stop at the end of the handle allows me to have a little bit looser grip which enables a little crisper, faster snap at the end of my stroke. It's a preference I acquired after many years of swinging a hammer. Having the early stages of arthritis in my hands has made this even more important for me.

Handle length is another valid consideration. I've done some testing of my own likes and I've found that for me the perfect grip is slightly more important than the perfect length. Obviously I can adapt to either one. If you want to see if the swell is important for you then try using your axe vigorously for one hour straight. Then try an axe with a different grip for an hour. You'll likely have a preference.

Typically new modern axe handles have a less substantial swells then vintage handles had. There's a reason for this, The new handles can be made from slightly smaller stock and you get more handles out a given piece of wood. It makes economic sense. And for casual axe user economics is as important as anything else.
 
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Square_peg said:
Tennessee Hickory makes boys axe handles in lengths from 24" to 28".

http://www.tennesseehickoryproducts.com/images/catalog_lr.pdf

Their handles tend to be rather fat and in need of some slimming but their wood is first rate.
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Thanks for this. I am going to make an order.

Also, Thanks for the time to explain why you like a more substantial swell. I completely agree with your position and reasoning.

On this axe I tried to retain the swell by moving it up the handle by thinning it above the existing swell. I wanted a small axe for backpacking and won't be using it for hours at a time where a substantial swell is definately an advantage. Compactness was what I was going for here.
 
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