Cutting through an axe head?(and antique axe head value)

M

mwpdx

Joined
Nov 7, 2010
Messages
7
So I purchased an old "Shapleigh's hammer forge" axe head for $5 online and it's way bigger than I thought it would be. My main issue is that it's too tall (wide?). I was trying to find one with a similar size/shape to a wetterlings or gransfors bruks or something. This is probably ridiculous but I'm wondering if I'd be able to cut maybe an inch or so off the top using an angle grinder? I have a cheap 4.5" angle grinder with some metal cutting wheels, would that work at all? Do I need to be worried about heat/temper/etc? I'm also wondering if the axe head has any especial value as-is. I couldn't really find anything about it online.

Editing to add picture:
NCM_0116_zpse28ba627.jpg
 
Last edited:
I would probably post a pic with a line of where and what you want to cut, so dumb guys like me can visualize what you are talking about, and then hopefully give better advice.
 
WHAT IS MY KNIFE / GADGET / SPATULA / TUNING FORK WORTH ?!?!?!?!

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/announcement.php?f=699&a=98

In order to curtail potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits selling on this site. Accordingly, registered and basic members may not start or post in threads with such requests whether with the intent to sell or for informational purposes only. This rule applies throughout the site.

In other words, without a paid Gold membership, you don't get to ask about sale values. Too many people abused this question to hint they had a knife for sale, which you need that membership for.
 
mwpdx said:
..I'm also wondering if the axe head has any especial value as-is...
Click to expand...

In other words (without asking about the value), would modifying an old "Shapleigh's hammer forge" axe head like this be ill-advised?

I don't know the answer to that question, but I think that once you get a photo up, some experienced axe collectors will weigh in.
 
Depends on condition. I wouldn't put the time and effort into modifying it along with the chance of decreasing the value to someone else. I'd buy another axe head better suited for the goal.
 
Karda said:
WHAT IS MY KNIFE / GADGET / SPATULA / TUNING FORK WORTH ?!?!?!?!

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/announcement.php?f=699&a=98

In order to curtail potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits selling on this site. Accordingly, registered and basic members may not start or post in threads with such requests whether with the intent to sell or for informational purposes only. This rule applies throughout the site.

In other words, without a paid Gold membership, you don't get to ask about sale values. Too many people abused this question to hint they had a knife for sale, which you need that membership for.
Click to expand...

Ah I see. I can usually get through life without reading the instructions but I guess now is not one of those times. Would it be against the rules for people to tell me not to start this project based on value? Not looking for specifics at all just "that's a nice thing, don't cut it in half" vs. "it's garbage, who cares?". I could see how this could also be against the rules and if it is, I'll go ahead and delete that part of the question.
 
Steve Tall said:
In other words (without asking about the value), would modifying an old "Shapleigh's hammer forge" axe head like this be ill-advised?

I don't know the answer to that question, but I think that once you get a photo up, some experienced axe collectors will weigh in.
Click to expand...

Exactly!
Also, I'm trying to post pictures, but I either can't figure it out or I'm not allowed to yet. Probably would help to read those rules I keep hearing about.
 
To post photos you need to attach them through a photo sharing site. Photobucket seems to be the easiest. Keep working at it. It might take a couple tries, but once you figure it out it will be easy. Just Use the IMG format. Good luck. Looking forward to photos of what you're trying to do. It sounds like a cool project.
 
NCM_0116_zpse28ba627.jpg
So I got a picture of it finally! I'll put more on here later but I'm doing this from my phone right now.
 
It looks like a nice axe, you should keep it as is or trade it for one that suits you better.

As a bonus, you'll get to keep your eyesight and fingers.

Cutoff wheels are dangerous enough as it is, switching back and forth between cutting and cooling exponentially increases the chances of the wheel binding or going ballistic.
 
At the moment you only have $5 at stake. This does indicate to some degree how much demand there is for lesser known axe heads. I gather you were highest bidder on this. Re-sizing an 'inexpensive' head to suit your own purposes might just start a trend!
Betcha though that this is much more work than meets the eye if you're relegated to doing it with portable hand tools and you want the end product to look good. Do you know anyone with a home or hobby milling machine to do the stock removal?
 
That thread is pretty much exactly what I'm looking to do!

Also I have more pictures and another problem:
NCM_0117_zps5e0cf8de.jpg

Basically all I wanna do is cut the top portion off at the line here.

NCM_0119_zps124dcd76.jpg

Is this fixable somehow? This was the only handle I could find that was the length I wanted but obviously this part is too small.
 
Definitely the wrong handle. Your head has a full sized axe eye. If you want straight handle with full eye at 28" I know where you can look. If you want curved handle, I think you might have to go to 32".

Playing with vintage axes can be fun and creative but sometimes problematic.

Bill
 
So there's no way to use this one?? I've already sanded all the gross plasticy finish off of it though. I was thinking maybe I could cut out a piece of wood to roughly the same shape as that gap and then use lots of wedges or something?
 
The amount of wedging that it looks like you'd have to do would seriously compromise the integrity of the handle. It could easily lead to splits. Keep looking for the right handle- they're out there.
 
mwpdx said:
So there's no way to use this one?? I've already sanded all the gross plasticy finish off of it though. I was thinking maybe I could cut out a piece of wood to roughly the same shape as that gap and then use lots of wedges or something?
Click to expand...

That's a great axe head. Find the proper handle and re-hang it. You can trade it for the axe you want. Don't get in a hurry and you can restore a vintage axe to new or better condition. A shapleigh's might be worth some money. Nice find!

Welcome to BladeForums.
 
Last edited:
bbforstr said:
That's a great axe head. Find the proper handle and re-hang it. You can trade it for the axe you want. Don't get in a hurry and you can restore a vintage axe to new or better condition. A shapleigh's might be worth some money. Nice find!

Welcome to BladeForums.
Click to expand...

I think I'm probably going to go this route. As far as restoring the head itself, what would you say needs to be done? As far as I can tell, it only has a couple small rusted spots, which should be pretty easy to take care of, but beyond that, how 'clean' should it be?
 
mwpdx said:
I think I'm probably going to go this route. As far as restoring the head itself, what would you say needs to be done? As far as I can tell, it only has a couple small rusted spots, which should be pretty easy to take care of, but beyond that, how 'clean' should it be?
Click to expand...

You could re-profile the edge a little to make it look the way you like. With a new haft, you're going to have a nice tool. It usually takes me about 3 hours to convert a commercial axe handle into something I can stand.

I remove all of the factory finish then shape it to fit the head. After hanging, it's a minimum of 3 coats of BLO. Don't forget to take photos of the process so we can see what you went through.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top