Handle grain wrong

[Blue Sky]

I just about finished fitting the handle of my Norse Hawk and only then realized the grain was perpendicular to the head, completely opposite what it should be. It figures too, It's got about the best fit I've ever managed. The question is, has anyone ever used a handle with grain like this and how has it held up? I hate to trash the handle and all my work unnecessarily.

 

[omniviking]

I know alot of people make a big deal of this and I understand the concept, but I have used alot of hammers, hatchet, mauls, and sledges with handles with the grain not right way, but they work ok. beat it till it breaks. when you rehandle it maybe you can pick a better handle, butif you order one the seller may not understand what you are asking for and you get another handle with the grain running sideways. If your handle is sturdy and not rotten it should work a long time anyway. at time this subject gets run in to the ground. Pat

 

[mhawg]

To me a cross grained handle is just firewood shaped like a handle. It will hold up until you need it the most then it will fail. I have an ax handle for a ditch bank blade hand carved from an oak stave by my old boss's father and the grain is true. The blade has been sharpened down to about nothing but the handle has lasted over 25 years. Cheap hardware store handles break before the year is over if you don't choose wisely. I'm lucky to find one decent ax or hatchet handle in the store and if I find two I buy them both.

 

[vector001]

To me a cross grained handle is just firewood shaped like a handle. It will hold up until you need it the most then it will fail. I have an ax handle for a ditch bank blade hand carved from an oak stave by my old boss's father and the grain is true. The blade has been sharpened down to about nothing but the handle has lasted over 25 years. Cheap hardware store handles break before the year is over if you don't choose wisely. I'm lucky to find one decent ax or hatchet handle in the store and if I find two I buy them both.

amen.

finding good wood in a stock handle is a lesson in patience.

vec

 

[Bushman5]

extreme patience!