GB Handles on Vintage Axes

DeadFall27

DeadFall27

Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
1,476
Hello Everybody,

Its been a long time since I've bee here on the forums it feels like. How is everyone? I hope you are all doing well and in good health.

So, after a phone call with my family back home, I was informed that the handles of my two beloved axes from my grandfather were done for. One was broken, and the other severely warped (I haven't been home in 4 years, so how could I be mad?). Since that call, I have been wondering how I wanted to hang them up again. Since they are family axes, I want to make them look really nice.



Has anyone used Gransfors Bruk Handles to hang their axes? More specifically, has anyone used one of their handles with the overstrike collar for a re-hang? I'm going to be hanging a 5lb Plumb Rafting axe and a 3lb Plumb head. I would like to hang the rafting axe on one of their splitting axe handles with the collar, but I have not been able to find the dimensions of the eye on them. Think it would fit? Are there any manufacturers that produce handles with collars on them like the Gransfors Splitting axes?




I'm gonna search through my old images and see if I can get pics up for you all. Thank you for your time. Have a good one all!

-Jim
 
Last edited:
DeadFall27 said:
Hello Everybody,

Its been a long time since I've bee here on the forums it feels like. How is everyone? I hope you are all doing well and in good health.

So, after a phone call with my family back home, I was informed that the handles of my two beloved axes from my grandfather were done for. One was broken, and the other severely warped (I haven't been home in 4 years, so how could I be mad?). Since that call, I have been wondering how I wanted to hang them up again. Since they are family axes, I want to make them look really nice.



Has anyone used Gransfors Bruk Handles to hang their axes? More specifically, has anyone used one of their handles with the overstrike collar for a re-hang? I'm going to be hanging a 5lb Plumb Rafting axe and a 3lb Plumb head. I would like to hang the rafting axe on one of their splitting axe handles with the collar, but I have not been able to find the dimensions of the eye on them. Think it would fit? Are there any manufacturers that produce handles with collars on them like the Gransfors Splitting axes?




I'm gonna search through my old images and see if I can get pics up for you all. Thank you for your time. Have a good one all!

-Jim
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There handles don't have a real nice fawns foot and just wouldn't look right on a vintage American axe. I also think that their handles are probably already mostly shaped to fit a GB ace with minimal work ( after all a lot of people buy them because they don't know how to hang an axe so they just buy something that's new )
Also I wouldn't want a steel collar attached to my handle as it won't dampen an impact, just shield it a little so damage would still eventually occur.
If I were you I'd just find a nice regular handle and put a leather collar on it if needed.
 
Seeing as they are conventional eye domestic Plumbs I suspect that Tennessee Hickory Products or House Handle will have 'just the ticket' in stock for you. Poke around in their websites to have a look. With an HB you'll be paying through the nose for a piece of hickory that was shipped from America over to Sweden, milled and then sent back. And it's also highly unlikely they'll be a direct fit.
 
Thank you both for the responses.

Honestly, i was lookng at the GB handles for asctetic purposes since they mean a lot to me. Im probably going to end up making an order with house handles for some octagonal ones.
 
I would hang the 3lb on a NewEngland(thin curved) handle. The straight octagonal handle would look great on the 5lb.
 
House has been 'hit and miss' on here for expectations so make sure to tell them you are a member of this forum and that (for extra fees incurred) you want pick of the litter (vertical end grain with no lengthwise grain runout for curved handles, anything goes for straights). And maybe consider ordering two of each (they're relatively cheap) since shipping is going to be a major expense irregardless.
Where all these genuine 'rafting' axes have been coming from lately I don't know but count your blessings that you have an example of the genuine article (your grandad knew his stuff!) and not some lookalike that won't stand up to real pounding.
 
Woodcraft said:
I would hang the 3lb on a NewEngland(thin curved) handle. The straight octagonal handle would look great on the 5lb.
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Im not too fond of curved handles, but ill consider. I do agree on the rafting axe though, i feel it will look great. I feel like i am more accurate when im using straight handles, but that could just simply be inexperience.
 
DeadFall27 said:
Im not too fond of curved handles, but ill consider. I do agree on the rafting axe though, i feel it will look great. I feel like i am more accurate when im using straight handles, but that could just simply be inexperience.
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Ha, it was less a recomendation and more an internal thought shared externally. I know lots of people who prefer straight handles. For splitting wood I agree with you. For limbing and bucking I like a curved handle. For felling I prefer a double bit, so straight again.
 
300Six said:
House has been 'hit and miss' on here for expectations so make sure to tell them you are a member of this forum and that (for extra fees incurred) you want pick of the litter (vertical end grain with no lengthwise grain runout for curved handles, anything goes for straights). And maybe consider ordering two of each (they're relatively cheap) since shipping is going to be a major expense irregardless.
Where all these genuine 'rafting' axes have been coming from lately I don't know but count your blessings that you have an example of the genuine article (your grandad knew his stuff!) and not some lookalike that won't stand up to real pounding.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the tips, i appreciate it.

Granddad beat the snot out of that thing. It has two or three chips missing from the poll. Besides that, it is pristine. Before i left home, it was my favorite splitter. It cleaves through knots that the maul cant.


The 3 pound head was taken to a grinder, however. Now that i have more experience, i should be able to make it look nice again. It had his initials in it, so im going to do the best i can to fix it up.
 
Woodcraft said:
Ha, it was less a recomendation and more an internal thought shared externally. I know lots of people who prefer straight handles. For splitting wood I agree with you. For limbing and bucking I like a curved handle. For felling I prefer a double bit, so straight again.
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Noted, but i agree that it would look great with a curved handle regardless.
 
i'v got a kelly perfect jersy. to me, a straight handle is a little harder to hold on to but is more satisfying of a hit. a curved is the opposite and feels more effortless, which would you guys recommend? i cant decide
 
phantomknives said:
i'v got a kelly perfect jersy. to me, a straight handle is a little harder to hold on to but is more satisfying of a hit. a curved is the opposite and feels more effortless, which would you guys recommend? i cant decide
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What are you doing more of? In my opinion if you are bucking alot then curved. If you are splitting more than anything straight. If you do a lot of felling straight. Just my 2cents.
 
If you're planning to use the poll a lot then get a straight haft. If you'll mostly be using the bit then get a curved haft.
 
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