Curved / fawns foot hatchet handles

[Hickory n steel]

Let's share and discuss well shaped curved / fawns foot hatchet handles, from vintage originals or premium contemporary handles to hand carved handles.
Let's even see chunky hardware store handles and the nice shape hiding inside them.
I have the same standards for shape in a hatchet handle that I do for an axe handle.

Here's a late 2 ridge TT woodslasher.



It's shaped right and feels okay but it's chunkier than I'd like, I just live with it and use it as is.

 

[Hickory n steel]

here is one of my Vaughan mini's that I tuned up because they definitely need some help from the factory.
I pulled and refined the handle, and I consider it to be an absolutely perfect hatchet handle.

I got the thickness, the curve, the close of the hang, and the fawns foot taper just right.

I just couldn't really hit that magic again though, this other one just didn't come out just right.

I actually did a pair back when I did #1 and it came out about as good but I gave that one to my buddy.

 

[Hickory n steel]

This was a V&B handle from the hardware store that I recently reworked, it didn't come out right.

As a factory handle I probably wouldn't complain, but I didn't take the right amount of wood off in just the right places.
the neck should extend longer before transitioning into the curved grip area.

 

[Hickory n steel]

This vintage METCO Craftsman that I just received from Ebay has a nicely shaped original handle on it.


I don't know what to make of the grain tearout, but otherwise it's perfectly solid and the head is nice and tight too.

 

[Square_peg]

My German made 'Strong Boy' hatchet has the best hatchet handle I've held. It has a great curved fawns foot but also the cross section is excellent. It's narrow axis is quite thin so the handle is less round. And the bottom of the cross section is narrower than the top. It just fits in my grip very precisely. It also has perfect grain and is stamped 'Premium'. I suspect an American handle maker supplied this German maker with handles.

 

[Hickory n steel]

My German made 'Strong Boy' hatchet has the best hatchet handle I've held. It has a great curved fawns foot but also the cross section is excellent. It's narrow axis is quite thin so the handle is less round. And the bottom of the cross section is narrower than the top. It just fits in my grip very precisely. It also has perfect grain and is stamped 'Premium'. I suspect an American handle maker supplied this German maker with handles.
View attachment 3018641

It sure looks like a good handle to me.

 

[Gato do mato]

It looks like hickory to me, is that right?
Hickory wood does that; it needs moisturizing.
A medium-grit sanding followed by a good bath of boiled linseed oil will bring back the wood's beauty.

 

[Hickory n steel]

It looks like hickory to me, is that right?
Hickory wood does that; it needs moisturizing.
A medium-grit sanding followed by a good bath of boiled linseed oil will bring back the wood's beauty.

It is, but I have never seen it do this.
I tried to give it some oil, but the person who sold it to me seems to have given the wood all the oil it can take in.

 

[Red_Mist]