Hard to Find Handles That Match the Eye

Yes sir,bowman boys axe handles are the worst for that.Find them with perfect grain large swell and so skinny in the tongue it will rattle in a hatchet.

 

Yeah, it's one of the many things you have to watch for when you pick 'em.

 

Only once over the past 20-30 handles I've installed did I have one that was an immediate fit. The handles I'm finding now haven't even seen an effort to dimensionally shape the eye end (tongue?). As long as what you start with is oversize it becomes a question of diligently rasping and filing away until the head fits. It'll be slow going the first time you do this. Draw reference lines along the top and the bottom (that you don't remove until last) to maintain alignment of the head with the handle. There'll be lots of youtube tutorials (check out 'an axe to grind' series from USFS) on this. If you're not confident initially, do a trial run with a 1 x 4 piece of soft pine which'll be much cheaper, easier and faster.
And ... good luck!

 

Perhaps this "problem" has been around longer than we consider..thus, all the ax
hafts with 2-12 nails/screws adorning the eye ?

Charles

 

It's rare for me to have that issue. Most of the handles I get are manufactured by Link or House(not sure if that is why). I will on occasion come across an over sized eye on a vintage head though. The foreign made heads can be a problem and one of the reasons I usually don't keep them.

 

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The story of my life....I have several Craig Barr T-hawks I haven't been able to find handles for. I've purchased 3 handles that all haven't fit, maybe mine will fit yours...hahaha.