Axe handle help

[Sharpe5097]

I have the head fitting on the handle and now im trying to form the handle. The use is a camping/survival axe. Can i get some help on how to curve out the handle. Please. Christmas present for my 15 yr old.

 

[Will52100]

What I did was buy a hatchet replacement handle and use it as a template. Not 100%, but it gave me an idea of what I wanted for the curves. Also look around the internet for historical axe and hatchet handles and it should give you an idea of what shapes were used.

 

[A.McPherson]

I'd leave it straight... I know when I was 15 I would have just wanted to throw it around anyway. Maybe your son is different, but I wouldn't put a ton of work into the handle, cause if he's anything like me, he's just gonna break it. Most likely while throwing it at a tree, the shed, somebody's dog...

 

[MBB]

Purpleheart is probably in the top 5 most difficult woods to work. Any shaping you do will need to be done by power, either on the bandsaw or by sanding. Good luck!

 

[daizee]

Neat project. The crew over in the Axe and Tomahawk subforum have a lot of experience doing this sort of thing.