Hatchet Handle Question

[whtshdwwz]

I am carving out my first hatchet handle and my question is do I work down the height or width of the 2"×2" piece of wood I am starting with....or do I i just jump in and start removing material? thanks in advance for the suggestions

 

[quinton]

You can do it however you like, but I would draw some layout lines and go from there.

 

[300Six]

You can do it however you like, but I would draw some layout lines and go from there.

Sage advice from a lad that is plenty skilled enough that he carves his own hafts from split logs!
Very few folks have the skill to attain symmetry without some sort of reference lines to guide them. Draw the handle out with pencil on the wood and cut out the shape with a coping saw/jig saw/bandsaw and then scribe a centreline along the full length to mark the crowns of your curves and swells. Keep rasping and filing until you're satisfied and then go ahead and sand off the scribed lines. For sure there will be various versions of how to do this on youtube, betcha even Wranglerstar has one that'll work.