Chewed up axe shoulder.

[Marcelo Cantu]

So I picked up this really nice Collins Homestead Connecticut pattern at a flea market. Nice thin edge, no grinder marks, tapered cheeks. Crown logo. I don't know the era but it appears to have the original handle. Green paint at fawn's foot and very little of what I think is the word Collins painted on it.

Trouble is the front of the shoulder is a bit chewed up. Do you think it's safe to use this way? I plan on rehanging it. I could either rehang and use it as is or rehang and tightly wrap with epoxy soaked jute, sisal or hemp. Hockey stick tape or just get a new handle. I can shoot a pic later but the "erosion" is just slightly concave of flattened. What say you?

Thanks.

 

[Remzy]

im presuming you are refering to the front of the handle, in that case it will really depend on the severity of the damage and only a picture will help us figure it out.

 

[halfaxe]

Sometimes sanding it down will save the handle.

 

[300Six]

If more than 1/2 the wood is still intact where all these shoulder erosion (over-strike) problems are then blithely go forth with: 'if it ain't broke don't fix it". There's lots of extra wood at axe shoulders for that very reason.

 

[Square_peg]

I'd like to see a picture.

If it's an old haft that is nicely slimmed and has a great fawn's foot then I would certainly try to keep using it. It takes some effort to turn any new haft into something comfortable like old hafts were. I've said this before but it bears repeating. Old axe heads survive. Old hafts don't. If I find a good old haft I value it just as I value an old axe.