Iltis - Ox Head

[Uncle Timbo]

You know, sometimes I might spell it ax and sometimes axe. Does it depend on what side of the tracks you were born on or how fer up in the hollar you were?
Cause I was born in southern WV up in a holler.
Reckon it don't matter.

 

[Square_peg]

Either one is the same. 'Axe' has been and is more widely used but 'ax' is still favored by many. Use whichever you like.

 

[300Six]

You know, sometimes I might spell it ax and sometimes axe. Does it depend on what side of the tracks you were born on or how fer up in the hollar you were?
Cause I was born in southern WV up in a holler.
Reckon it don't matter.

Apparently 'axe' is British Commonwealth spelling (Oxford Dictionary) whereas 'ax' is American (Webster). Interestingly the French language often feminizes objects and names by tagging an 'e' at the end and I think that suits here. Items (cars/boats/guns/engines etc) that gents value, or become attached to, are often referred to as 'she'.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

300six, I reckon I have ancestors from France somewhere in the tree cause I'm always referring to something as, she's got a lot of life left in her or the ol girl keeps chugging along.
Her's a good ol girl.

Either that, or it's the hillbilly in me.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Guys, believe or not, I'm fairly new to this smart phone crap and you may or may not find it a revelation to learn, I'm not a, High Tech Redneck.
In other words, I'm having heap big problems displaying a pic of the Oxhead.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Here is the pic.

https://imgur.com/gallery/eB6fq

 

[Square_peg]

Here is the pic.

https://imgur.com/gallery/eB6fq

We've seen those 3 mushrooms forming a triangle before. Is that a guild mark?

 

[Uncle Timbo]

SP, I don't know. I bought her second hand.
I do know my haft has been delayed a few weeks from the Mother Country.
This brings to mind a saying I once heard about patience.
The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient.

Agent_H wanted to see the picture.

 

[jake pogg]

We've seen those 3 mushrooms forming a triangle before. Is that a guild mark?

Not stamped on the handle, but on the label, is the “Dreipilz” (dry-plitz) seal that indicates a high quality, processed controlled steel was used. Dreipilz translates to “three mushrooms” in English.

https://www.germantoolreviews.com/ochsenkopf-ox-635-h-3009/

 

[Ernest DuBois]

"The hickory handle is very nicely finished with a coat of varnish and a painted end."

I wonder why?

 

[Agent_H]

Littleknife, glad you find it interesting!

This is my Google-fueled attempt at Czech:

Obr. (Giant/full-size). 105. Několik seker (various axes)

1. Bavoroská (Bavarian pattern)

2. jihoněmecká (South German)

3. Berlinská (Beliner)

4. Jednotná ke káceni a odvětvovaní (Felling and Branching)

*Zlata* – Gold – I assume that is the quality reference with the 3 mushroom deal on them.

*Several years ago I worked with a young lady named “Zlata” who was Eastern European – Now I know what her folks were thinking lol.

Also, if anyone else speaks/reads Czech – please step in.

I couldn't find the quote here on the forums but this is what I remember - it seemed to cross makers as well.

Something along those lines in regards to the mushrooms? Thanks for the picture - looks like a nice example Kootaga.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

"The hickory handle is very nicely finished with a coat of varnish and a painted end."

I wonder why?

Thanks guys. The picture I looked at when ordering the haft was on the generic side. The internet sales person stated the actual haft does look more like the one you show with the yellow paint in certain places. Which is what I was after.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Not stamped on the handle, but on the label, is the “Dreipilz” (dry-plitz) seal that indicates a high quality, processed controlled steel was used. Dreipilz translates to “three mushrooms” in English.

https://www.germantoolreviews.com/ochsenkopf-ox-635-h-3009/

Jake, this article is ironically from the same company I ordered the haft from.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Well, heck, the haft that the dude from KC Tool said was prolly the "one" I needed came in and yup, wrong haft. Good thing I'm not in a hurry.
He said he's going to check with Gedore (I believe) and get back with me.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

So the dude from KC Tool gets back with me and said that he sent a top view of my Iltis head to Gedore and basically I'm SOL. My head is too old to get a haft for it. The dude told him the ones produced in the last 30 years or so have a symetrical head on them. (Oval?) In other words, non egg shaped like mine.
KC Tool suggested I use a Wetterlings 26" from Bailey's, part # SAW 26H
I'm going to try to post an image of the top of the head. Please bear with me.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

This is the bottom of the head. I don't know why it looks as deformed as it does.
Was it from a previous owner using it as a sledge?

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Here's the top view.

 

[garry3]

Here's the top view.

What size haft are you looking for and what does that eye measure on the bottom?

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Garry, may I get back with you tomorrow?
Thank you kindly for inquiring.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

What size haft are you looking for and what does that eye measure on the bottom?

Good evening Garry, the inside eye of the head at the bottom measures almost exactly 2 5/16 at it's longest point.
She measures 3/4 at the widest point across.
As far as length, I'm not 100% sure. I'm thinking 28 to 32" You all might know better than than me. I'm 6'2" and I have long arms. It's actually a curse because I always have to buy my shirts in a tall size or the sleeve lenght makes me look like Jethro Bodine. Shucks yall.