Hatchet just got a big brother

Operator1975 · Jun 22, 2012

Here is the hatchet -

And here is his long lost, but now found big brother.....

Families are wonderful!

Thanks!

Pipeman · Jun 22, 2012

That's the kind of Big Brother who can look out for the little guy ;-))) Nice stuff Mike.

R

Section10 · Jun 22, 2012

On the main street in Ashland WI there is a store with the name GARNICH up high on the front. I have a nice double bit with the same name. The other side says Kelly.

Square_peg · Jun 23, 2012

Operator1975 said:
And here is his long lost, but now found big brother.....

Sweet! That thing has been well cared for. And interestingly it's a lefty. A while back I noticed a slew of lefties on the 'bay.
Can you give us a shot showing the skew of the haft?

screened porch · Jun 25, 2012

Operator, you sure find some nicely stamped ones.
Is that one reversible? Sometimes you can flip the head over to change from right- to left- handed.

Operator1975 · Jun 25, 2012

I am no hewing axe expert by any means, in full size axes I think I only have around 6 - I got into a debate with Memphis about what "hand" this axe is - left or right, what side of the log to stand on when using, hand placement, etc.

I guess this one is called a lefty because the handle angles out toward the left with the front part of the axe also left, as I understand it, though not 100% sure.

I can swing my axes either handed, so I dont really get the lefty or righty hand deal when it comes to axes - oh well.

screened porch · Jun 25, 2012

Operator1975 said:
I am no hewing axe expert by any means, in full size axes I think I only have around 6 - I got into a debate with Memphis about what "hand" this axe is - left or right, what side of the log to stand on when using, hand placement, etc.

I guess this one is called a lefty because the handle angles out toward the left with the front part of the axe also left, as I understand it, though not 100% sure.

I can swing my axes either handed, so I dont really get the lefty or righty hand deal when it comes to axes - oh well.

To the limited extent I understand it, the helve bends away from the work and the flat side of the head faces the work, but I haven't squared many timbers myself.

Square_peg · Jun 25, 2012

Operator1975 said:
I guess this one is called a lefty because the handle angles out toward the left with the front part of the axe also left, as I understand it, though not 100% sure.

You've got that right. An axe so configured will be used on the left side of a timber with the flat side of the axe against the work. Also, the power in the blow of a broad axe is generated with the hand furthest from the head. With that configuration it will be the left hand. Most people put the dominant hand at the swell or end of the haft. It's that dominant hand placement which makes this axe a lefty - at least in my view.

G-pig · Jun 25, 2012

Square_peg said:
You've got that right. An axe so configured will be used on the left side of a timber with the flat side of the axe against the work. Also, the power in the blow of a broad axe is generated with the hand furthest from the head. With that configuration it will be the left hand. Most people put the dominant hand at the swell or end of the haft. It's that dominant hand placement which makes this axe a lefty - at least in my view.

I thought it was left hand forward for lefty and right forward for righty, otherwise you'd have a crossover grip.

Square_peg · Jun 26, 2012

I'm not sure I follow you. I would use that axe with the right hand forward and work along the left side of the timber. No crossover.

G-pig · Jun 26, 2012

Square_peg said:
I'm not sure I follow you. I would use that axe with the right hand forward and work along the left side of the timber. No crossover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYNHWH6ipic

I always thought it was gripped like Bernie's at around 20:00.

Square_peg · Jun 26, 2012

I could be handing it differently than others do. I started with a broad hatchet. A right handed broad hatchet will be flat on the left side (as seen by the user holding it) and beveled on the right side. A right hander trying to use a left handed broad hatchet will find himself in a crossover.

When I scale up to the broad axe my right hand stays in the same place, at the end of the haft, and my left hand joins the fun ahead of my right. I see in the video that Bernie does it differently. But I'd still call that axe he's using a right handed broad axe (and so does he). Like Bernie, I prefer to work backwards down the timber to get a better sight line.