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Anyone speak Pulaski?

Agent_H

Agent_H

Joined
Aug 21, 2013
Messages
3,898
After work today I stopped by an interesting yard sale
MnnBBan.jpg


The first is a Hudson Bay pattern? Some red/bronze paint visible but no markings other than traces of a sticker. The second is a Pulaski. It's marked Evansville on one side and FS (Forest Service) on the other. The third is a Firestone Supreme.
I can't find too much on the Pulaski but here are some pics:

1WcSHRz.jpg


X3c6lrM.jpg


Got nails?

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The Hudson Bay style rig has an interesting indent near the haft that maybe can help with identification:

EK22Dit.jpg


JwgRnyK.jpg
 
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You spent $16.00!?!? Oh my garsh!! :eek: Those look to have some great potential, have fun! :D
 
Award-winning selection and number of improvised wedges in that Pulaski. But the head still has plenty of life in it. Pulaskis have grown on me to such an extent that mine gets considerably more use (wood splitter/root chopper and grub hoe) than any of my other hunting/camping choppers. Whatever you do don't sharpen it too much or you'll rarely use it for what it was made for.
 
lmalterna said:
Great snag-plus you got enough nails for a modest repair job on roof.

Bill
Click to expand...

I've been doing the work, sleep, work routine but got the heads off of all 3 last night. The pulaski was equal parts nails to wood in the eye.

0GcCSYh.jpg


The 14 nails you see there plus one still in the wood and one larger piece of metal I am uncertain of... I'll throw it in the bucket with the vinegar to see what it is - just for curiosity. I tried at it with a hacksaw but it was pretty hard.

I managed to dig the first nail out, but first run at it with my drill my bit snapped off in there too... greedy axe...

Does the "hudson bay" style axe in the first picture look familiar to anyone? It has a slight cut-out near the neck - like a "choil" on a knife. It also has ridges inside the eye upon knocking out the remnants of the handle.
 
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Agent_H said:
...Does the "hudson bay" style axe in the first picture look familiar to anyone? It has a slight cut-out near the neck - like a "choil" on a knife. It also has ridges inside the eye.,.
Click to expand...

Hudson Bay axes by Collins (at one time) had that "notch" in front of the handle.

Photo pulled from google images (axe with notch is marked COLLINS):
PORTAGEKEEPER-200809-215318.JPG
 
Three fine tools there. I like the look of that Pulaski. And it's a vintage FS spec tool so you know the steel is top quality. That's a keeper.
 
The Hudson Bay pattern from that purchase before:
EK22Dit.jpg


Cleaned up and fitted to a handle I had here:
uRphWCc.jpg


We just had a baby girl so I called it the "birthing axe"- my wife is a patient sort...

cpsFxSj.jpg


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Got an order from House Handle... Suppose that Pulaski is next.
 
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Agent_H said:
The pulaski was equal parts nails to wood in the eye.



The 14 nails you see there plus one still in the wood and one larger piece of metal I am uncertain of... I'll throw it in the bucket with the vinegar to see what it is - just for curiosity. I tried at it with a hacksaw but it was pretty hard.
Click to expand...


... Suppose that Pulaski is next.
Click to expand...

The pulaski is in nice shape and it's a FS spec tool. It will be well worth the effort.
 
I ordered 6 handles from House Handle and I was pleased. Ordered their Pulaski octagonal. I would like to gain the skills/tools  to do it myself. The grain on all are very serviceable.
Tails

Heads


Rears

Edge – I used sand paper by hand to ease the pitting and files to apply a little edge. I will sharpen this one well after a few other trials on others I have.

Weight stamp

Gratuitous Pulaski porn




I am impressed with Square_peg’s Pulaksi thread  http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Pulaski-re-hang-(pic-heavy)?highlight=pulaski
The thing feels like all-tool. Looking forward to using it.

Since I bought all three together, I think the Firestone Supreme might make a good boy's-sized axe.
 
That's a great idea. As much much protection for the edged equipment as for anything it comes in contact with. The covers are made from leather I am reading. Would there be any reason to treat them with anything or best to leave as is? Would you be willing to post a picture of yours when it comes in and general impressions?
 
I'm presuming that Pulaskis use sheaths not so much to protect the implement itself but as a cushion against damage to everything else when it bounces around in the trunk of a car, ATV, or back of a pickup. Mine's never been wrapped, nor sharpened to any semblance of knife/axe/chisel specs on purpose. You will quickly become frustrated if you try to maintain a razor-edge on a pick-axe type tool that is best used to strike the ground, grub roots, unearth stones and generally be abused. Pulaski is a refined and daintier version of a Mattox (which really is a Pickaxe with a crude blade instead of a pick).
 
I keep the axe on my pulaksi sharp for chopping. And I sheath it while I hike up the trail. Safer that way. I strap it to my day pack. The trail crew always has a lot of beat up root chopping pulaskis on hand. It's nice to have one which remains sharp and never gets used to cut into dirt or rocks.
 
Nice job on the restoration. I was keeping my eye open for a vintage or garage sale Pulaski based on the write up's here. Was given a new Barco before I located a used one. I sheath/ mask all my tools for safety reasons, especially the Pulaski as it doesn't fit in a bucket - the usual safe spot to store / transport axes . I used kydex, want to be able to keep the axe blade covered while using the hoe.
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Thanks, friction fit- riveted on one side with a para cord loop to "pop" it off. I was wondering what the correct terminology was for the back side of a Pulaski, thanks.
 
Square_peg said:
I keep the axe on my pulaksi sharp for chopping. And I sheath it while I hike up the trail. Safer that way. I strap it to my day pack. The trail crew always has a lot of beat up root chopping pulaskis on hand. It's nice to have one which remains sharp and never gets used to cut into dirt or rocks.
Click to expand...

Damn! So now I need two of them. One as a 'fine' axe and one as a 'grubber'. For me unsharpened Pulaskis are wonderfully useful but remain a bear for driving-in tent pegs and such pounding and which is why a Rafting axe is so high on my list of 'gonna get me one of those someday'
 
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