hatchet head - help please!

S

samek

Joined
May 7, 2003
Messages
208
This hatchet is my recent flea market find. I think it is an American hatchet. It has an animal head stamped on blade, I think a ram or an other beast with wicked horns, and »H 1940«. I am from Europe, Slovenia, so I am not very familiar with American axes and hatchets (but I have three in may collection :)). My questions are:
1. Who made it and when (is 1940 a year?)
2. Name of this pattern? Is poll (butt) shape original?
3. What for it was used?
4. What is proper handle shape and size fot this hachet?

Perhaps you axe specialists can help me! Thanks in advance!





Samek
 
Would surprise me that the Jerries were exporting metal goods in 1940 but then again would surprise me even more had it been stamped 1945. Then again maybe there was a Wehrmacht soldier affiliated with the implement when it arrived in Slovenia.
 
That's a really interesting piece. That's like a Kent pattern. I'm trying to recall if I've ever seen a German axe of that pattern. If I have, I don't recall it.

How much does it weigh? Thanks for posting it.
 
Thanks for sharing; the logo looks like a satyr...

Just noticing that the Wörder & Pandel 'hatchet' from the other bladeforums post had the number 1000 stamped under the logo. In that case the number was not the date, but the weight in grams, so maybe it is not the date on this one either (though it seems unlikely a hatchet would weigh 4 1/3 lbs).

To repeat M3mphis' question, how much does it weigh?

edit: A quick visit to the google translate page led me to the German verb "hergestellt" commonly translated as "to manufacture, make, or produce", which might explain the H in front of 1940 and give further support to that being the date of manufacture, as well as explaining the discrepancy with the W&P from the other thread, which has no H before the number.
 
Last edited:
Here is the hatchet with new handle.
And guess what? Top of new handle is exactly the same size as 74 years old hatchet eye !
Hatchet weights 0,8 kg, with handle 1,04 kg. Quite heavy for its size!
Black hairy thing is Zverinko.










Thanks again for your help,
Samek
 
Nice job.

Curious, how difficult is it to get quality handles in Slovenia?
 
Hi Samek. Nice restoration. Nothing compares to using a steel tool that's older than yourself. You share the energies of those who used the tool before you.

By the way,...are you a beekeeper also? If so, please show us your tools.

Sal
 
Nice of you to have initiated this thread. Interesting history behind this "klauenbeil" (claw axe: I learned German in school). Would have been very handy for opening ammo and supply crates. No pictures of any stamps after 1942. As a collector item it is unfortunate that the claw was ground off but now at least it's become useful to you as an ordinary hatchet. For use and appearance though I would be looking for a way to straighten-up or align that poll. Unlike most axes and hatchets the head may have been fully hardened in order to expedite the tempering of both the blade and the claw. Hopefully whoever ground off the claw did not overheat things too much and ruin the overall hardness.
 
wdmn said:
Nice job.

Curious, how difficult is it to get quality handles in Slovenia?
Click to expand...

Slovenia is a country with rich forestry tradition and tradition of wood processing. 65 % surface of Slovenia is covered with forests! At the same time we also have old and rich history of iron and steel production and blacksmithing. There were always enough of axes and hatchets in Slovenia – from timber axes and splitting axes to broad axes and carpenter axes. There is still quite a few factories and manufacturers – blacksmiths, who produce variety of quality axes and hatchets from excellent material.

Here are some links to slovenian axes.

http://www.jekloruse.si/rocno-orodje/sekire/kranjska-sekira/
http://www.jekloruse.si/rocno-orodje/sekire-s-plus/
http://www.jekloruse.si/rocno-orodje/sekire-columbus/columbus-danes/

http://www.struc-holding.com/struc/index.php?id=products&catid=19&language=SI
http://www.struc-holding.com/struc/index.php?id=products&catid=41&language=SI

http://www.kovastvo-krmelj.si/gozdarsko/gozdarsko-orodje.html

http://orodnokovastvobizovicar.si/gozdarska.html

Old broad axes and carpenter tools from Slovenia:
http://www.etno-muzej.si/en/spletne-zbirke/klasifikacije/tesarstvo

Connected with plenty of forests and traditional wood processing skills, is also production of all sorts of wooden handles, among them axe and hatchet handles. Today they are made in factories where axes are produced and beside that, there are is also a big number of little manufacturers. Traditional wood for axe handles is primarily ash, in the second place is beech, here and there they make small handles from pseudoacacia and white hornbeam. In big tool stores is also an offer of imported handles.

From my own expirience I can tell, I have never had a problem getting a suitable handle for my axes. If I couldn't buy it I customized a simmilar handle or simply made my own.

Few pics from stores and market:





















Samek
 
Now there's a Hardware Store tour that I thoroughly enjoyed! Chainsaws (not the good ones mind you) have become so inexpensive in n. America that axe numbers, quality and selection has dropped off considerably over the past 10-15 years. Nice to see that in your Country many folks still rely on fool-proof hand tools. And that your Hardware Store stocks implements that were not made somewhere else!
Samek: your command of English language is very good. Where did you learn this?
 
With all the allure (singular word for: to be attracted to) of 'Hudson Bay pattern' axes over on this side of the pond may be a chance for you to make a few 'bucks' (or Euros) and also to promote Slovenian manufacture. I have axes 'coming out of my ears' (colloquial for: I have many) but the idea of being able to buy a newly-made Head is enticing. See what you can do for me in the way of 'head only 1 kg' in what look to be Hudson Bay type.
 
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