Axe head question

GWashington1732 · Oct 19, 2009

I have an axe head I'm trying to rehandle but I can't find a handle that fits right. The one I have would probably work okay but the top isn't long enough because of this little spike that comes off the bottom of the head. What purpose, if any, does this serve? And what kind of handle would I need to replace the one that the manufacturer did wrong?

disduster · Oct 19, 2009

that would be the lug or ax-lip it's designed to give more wood to metal contact and provide a more durable fitting of the handle to the head.
As far as the handle goes, shape it to fit, it can be a lot of work so be ready to get dirty.

savageknives · Oct 19, 2009

a little work with a rasp, knife, and sandpaper will go a long way brother.

DWK2 · Oct 19, 2009

Disduster called it right. On some axe heads with longer lugs I've seen them pounded/bent into the haft to give an even firmer fit. I don't think I'd try that with a short, thick lug, however.

DancesWithKnives

vector001 · Oct 20, 2009

a pointed cheek like that also gives the axe more strength in cross stresses, which axe abusers love to do.

don't let the pointed shape fool you, over a rounded-contour cheek - if there is flex in the pointed cheek style, it can actually put less point stress on the haft for lateral flexing, otherwise resulting in damage.

- that's a big "IF" though....

vec

cgover · Oct 20, 2009

The maker did nothing wrong. What Disbuster calls the lug or lip is a part of many traditional axe heads, including the Kentucky style. For an idea of the endless variety of head styles, see Rose's Antique and Modern Tools. By the way, are there any markings on the head? I don't see many like that lately. Don't change the head. Change the handle.

GWashington1732 · Oct 21, 2009

cgover said:
The maker did nothing wrong. What Disbuster calls the lug or lip is a part of many traditional axe heads, including the Kentucky style. For an idea of the endless variety of head styles, see Rose's Antique and Modern Tools. By the way, are there any markings on the head? I don't see many like that lately. Don't change the head. Change the handle.

The maker did something wrong when they were putting the handle on it, because it only lasted about a day before the handle flew off while chopping a log. It might just be me, but I call that, doing it wrong. Well, actually I call it something else, but it's not appropriate for this forum.

There's no markings on the axe head but I'm pretty sure it's a Collins Axe.

siguy · Oct 24, 2009

That's a modern Collins, made in Mexico I believe. I have the same one. The handle on mine was some sort of (relatively) soft wood. Around a 3-3.5 pound head.

The previous posters are correct, those are commonly known as lugs. You just have to slowly fit the head to the handle. Pound it on, see where there is friction, and remove the wood there with a knife, file, rasp, or sandpaper. Repeat as necessary until the head is far enough down and there is a nice snug fit. I have spent more than an hour fitting a head to a handle, so make sure you take your time. If you start to get frustrated and anxious to get it done, put it down and come back another time when you are calm and ready to enjoy the task.