Found an HB Axe Head

C

CoryTheCowboy

Joined
May 8, 2015
Messages
5
Hey folks,

First post here, sorry if it's in the wrong place.

My Dad and I found this axe head in a river about 10 years and I'm wanting to restore it a bit better than it is now. This is after a vinegar bath and some light sanding.

540147_10201555431281284_1054086689_n_zpspct47hfh.jpg


993403_10201555426401162_784650224_n_zpsxm6br06c.jpg


It will obviously never be a looker, but I think it should work as a boat/truck axe with light duty (mostly clearing limbs, splitting small firewood, etc) at duck and deer camp. Last summer I stuck a cheap 28" handle from the hardware store on it and while it's functional, it doesn't really "feel" right.

5B86FD47-E5F8-4384-8F0C-E5E9D070A28E_zpsx5sstfsq.jpg


Does anyone know what size handle would work on this? I found this handle that I think would suit it better (http://www.workwearcanada.com/products/detail.cfm?product=1003) but thought I'd ask you guys what you thought first.

I've been keeping it lightly oiled with gun oil, but was wondering if it would be "acceptable" to paint the head except for the edge?

Thanks guys,

Cory
 
I'd sand the head (around the stamp of course) to even it out a bit and then I'd paint it, you might as well. From the sounds it was rough when you got it, no point in not making it how you want it to look!
 
Welcome to the forum. I think you are right with a head that size I would go with the shorter handle.
 
DarthTaco123 said:
I'd sand the head (around the stamp of course) to even it out a bit and then I'd paint it, you might as well. From the sounds it was rough when you got it, no point in not making it how you want it to look!
Click to expand...

Any suggestions on paint? Or just whatever I have handy? Rough when I got it would be putting it nicely :barf:

shaving sharp said:
Welcome to the forum. I think you are right with a head that size I would go with the shorter handle.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome! I'm thinking since it's just a cheap hardware store handle, cutting it down to that size wouldn't be a bad idea before I ordered a new one.

DocT said:
Try this: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf99232823/pdf99232823Pdpi72pt05.pdf
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Thanks for the link! Lots of good information there.

Cory
 
I think you could make a standard boys axe handle work with that. As I recall those Hults Bruk Montreal patterns have a lightly different shaped eye than American axes - wider and flatter at the poll. They're designed for ash handles not hickory - it's what's available in Europe.

Does the eye look like this?

10.jpg



The handle length you have seems right to me. You say, "it doesn't really "feel" right." What feels wrong about it? Length? Thickness? Maybe it just needs some slimming.
 
As SquarePeg says it's a Montreal pattern. The one I have (made in Hull, Quebec in the mid-1960s) has a 2 1/4 lb head and has the original haft which is 27 inches long. Your's is stamped 1.1 (for kg), and what looks like 2 1/4 (lb). The Swedes tried their hand at competing in the export market with n. American patterns after WWII but mostly gave up by the 1980s. Your's may not be pretty anymore but the steel will be 'top drawer' compared to whatever is currently available at Home Depot etc.
To me painting the handle is a non-issue, unless a strategic dab of International orange will keep you from losing it in the bush. Oils keep a handle from drying out and reduce the effects of weathering, paint is merely a coating.
 
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Only ever seen one of these (saw it Friday) except it was made by Walters. 30 dollar price tag but I didn't bite. This axe here is a fantastic axe, the length should be fine for that head (I've used similar weights on similar haft sizes).
 
CoryTheCowboy said:
. . . but was wondering if it would be "acceptable" to paint the head except for the edge?

Thanks guys,

Cory
Click to expand...

I'm not going there. :) However . . .

If you decide to paint and want the original color, here is an example. You can also make out the original paint line.


I'm not saying that your particular axe was painted this way, but most I've seen have this color. What I don't remember seeing is the stamping on the left side of the head like yours. It appears to have the weight on the left side with the H B logo. I'm used to seeing the logo on the left and the weight on the right. It would be interesting (to me) to know more about it.
 
Its been my experience with vintage HB axe heads that the eye size is not standard. I have a 1 1/4lb like the one that rjdankert posted that is on the wide side for a boys axe but it will fit. I also have one in the same pattern and weight that you posted. Mine is a full size eye and then some. It will fit a full size single bit handle but you must move the head further down onto the shoulder to compensate for the extra width of the HB eye.

Apparently yours is a boys axe handle size? If its a full size eye House handle makes one in a 28" length. Throw in an extra buck or two and get hand selected no lacquer.

Painting axe heads is a very good way to protect them from the elements. Been done for better than a hundred years and works just as good today as it did then.
 
Square_peg said:
I think you could make a standard boys axe handle work with that. As I recall those Hults Bruk Montreal patterns have a lightly different shaped eye than American axes - wider and flatter at the poll. They're designed for ash handles not hickory - it's what's available in Europe.

Does the eye look like this?

10.jpg



The handle length you have seems right to me. You say, "it doesn't really "feel" right." What feels wrong about it? Length? Thickness? Maybe it just needs some slimming.
Click to expand...

My eye looks like this

A2D09881-A145-4558-BE10-12B32392A68B_zps1amcvyn5.jpg


It definitely needs to be slimmed down, and I was thinking it could do with a bit of a trim job as well.

300Six said:
As SquarePeg says it's a Montreal pattern. The one I have (made in Hull, Quebec in the mid-1960s) has a 2 1/4 lb head and has the original haft which is 27 inches long. Your's is stamped 1.1 (for kg), and what looks like 2 1/4 (lb). The Swedes tried their hand at competing in the export market with n. American patterns after WWII but mostly gave up by the 1980s. Your's may not be pretty anymore but the steel will be 'top drawer' compared to whatever is currently available at Home Depot etc.
To me painting the handle is a non-issue, unless a strategic dab of International orange will keep you from losing it in the bush. Oils keep a handle from drying out and reduce the effects of weathering, paint is merely a coating.
Click to expand...

Thanks for telling me what the numbers mean, I guess that makes sense when you think about it. I've always been a fan of Swedish steel and found it cuts pretty well. Sorry if I wasn't clear, I meant painting the head of the axe.

rjdankert said:
I'm not going there. :) However . . .

If you decide to paint and want the original color, here is an example. You can also make out the original paint line.


I'm not saying that your particular axe was painted this way, but most I've seen have this color. What I don't remember seeing is the stamping on the left side of the head like yours. It appears to have the weight on the left side with the H B logo. I'm used to seeing the logo on the left and the weight on the right. It would be interesting (to me) to know more about it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reference picture, I appreciate it. The opposite side of my head is blank, or if there was anything, it'd been pitted anyway.

garry3 said:
Its been my experience with vintage HB axe heads that the eye size is not standard. I have a 1 1/4lb like the one that rjdankert posted that is on the wide side for a boys axe but it will fit. I also have one in the same pattern and weight that you posted. Mine is a full size eye and then some. It will fit a full size single bit handle but you must move the head further down onto the shoulder to compensate for the extra width of the HB eye.

Apparently yours is a boys axe handle size? If its a full size eye House handle makes one in a 28" length. Throw in an extra buck or two and get hand selected no lacquer.

Painting axe heads is a very good way to protect them from the elements. Been done for better than a hundred years and works just as good today as it did then.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Any suggestions of paint or just anything I have laying around?

Thanks for the help everyone!

Cory
 
 
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Hi folks,

I found an older picture of the head before I cleaned it up too much and it looks like originally it was painted red or a dark orange?

1391872_10201552411285786_1266162643_n_zpskefpm77b.jpg


Cory
 
I think there were some surplus ones brought in a few years ago that were orange painted.
 
CoryTheCowboy said:
My eye looks like this

A2D09881-A145-4558-BE10-12B32392A68B_zps1amcvyn5.jpg


It definitely needs to be slimmed down, and I was thinking it could do with a bit of a trim job as well.



Thanks for telling me what the numbers mean, I guess that makes sense when you think about it. I've always been a fan of Swedish steel and found it cuts pretty well. Sorry if I wasn't clear, I meant painting the head of the axe.



Thanks for the reference picture, I appreciate it. The opposite side of my head is blank, or if there was anything, it'd been pitted anyway.



Thanks. Any suggestions of paint or just anything I have laying around?

Thanks for the help everyone!

Cory
Click to expand...

I like the implement paint and primer sold at auto parts stores. They come in all the colors that tractors and heavy equipment come in. A pretty good variety. They are made to with stand the weather and are about as durable as you are likely to find. They come in bomb cans so application is easy with no clean up. Be sure you start with a clean degreased axe head and the results will be very good.
 
garry3 said:
Bet you wish you had bought a crate of them. Nice axe.
Click to expand...

Actually I bought 5 all different sizes over the course of a year including an Arvika five star racing axe. Some I used though. That was the start of my axe obsession.
 
I think that head looks great the way it is and the handle strikes me as right as well. Maybe it could use thinned but that looks like a winning set-up from this angle.
 
Weird about the significance of Swedish axe head colours; I have a 2 1/4 lb Sandvik (bought new in the early 60s) that was orange and I've seen a 1960s double bit that is blue and at one time I bought a Swedish full size axe in the early 1980s that happened to be blue.
Take your pick or flip a coin, I guess.
 
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