Lets use those axes for what they were ment for.

howdy,

haven't been on here in a while but here's some recent trail chopping (in the White Mountain national forest). Various axes but usually Mainers, except for my best made felling (made by council tool) which I find handy for really large diameter trees. I've broken a few handles this year hitting the belly of the handle on the center piece of the chop. Still learning and trying to improve.

thanks for looking.

sugar maple.

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balsam fir.

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Old Yank Maine / Connecticut pattern (made by Emerson & Stevens??)
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some really big and old tree.

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f-in big hemlock perched on the root ball of another tree. Broke one axe handle and went back for my best made 4 pounder. I chopped a big enough cut and let it split itself.

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Nice looking bucks there coop! Sweet chip 👍

My good friend and I went up to the lower big Quilcene river yesterday for a little 10 mile hike. Had lots of fun! Cleared a small log over the road, and cut up some standing deadwood for a fire by the river at lunch. We got the fire on the second light. We're rusty.











The axe is my personal flint edge cruiser on an octagonal. Really love that axe.
 
I was out in the woods with a friend yesterday, had to take a break from gathering all the spruce branches while making a small campsite, and so I sheathed my axe, my friend took it and whacked it into a stump. Took a big chip right out of the edge, and completely destroyed my sheath. S.o.b.... that's not what axes are made for!
 
I feel your pain. I had a buddy crack a sweet vintage haft with an overstrike. He was trying to show off how hard he could swing and forgot about accuracy. :p
 
This old tree had been dead several years and finally back in March the rain brought it down. So the power company comes out and cuts it off the lines and leaves it laying there.
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Here it is this morning. It's an eyesore so I went to work on it.
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We've had so much rain this week I was working with some water logged wood and some was already rotten. The dry stuff that hasn't started to rot is tough chopping. I enjoyed trying out my jersey for the first time. It's a pleasure to swing.
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quinton said:
Nice to see that old jersey put back to work! Nice to meet you too, rockman!
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Yes sir, It sure handles better than my other single bits. She bites deep and pops chips like no other axe I own. I'm glad I took the time to make a handle from a stave and thanks again for the stave! I'm hooked on the air dried hickory!
 
Square_peg said:
Some pretty heft dinner plates you got there, Coop.

And long time no see. Good to see you.
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I just wish he wouldn't post pics when he shows up from time to time. Nothing more crappy than reading through a thread with dead picture links! After searching this forum for a couple of years, cooperhill is the damn king of the big red X in the box.:confused:
 
rockman0 said:
Yes sir, It sure handles better than my other single bits. She bites deep and pops chips like no other axe I own. I'm glad I took the time to make a handle from a stave and thanks again for the stave! I'm hooked on the air dried hickory!
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You're welcome!
I've been educated on this forum about hickory as well. I now know grain orientation don't matter at all on bought handles, seems the best one can do is still a crapshoot! Not so with a handle made from an air dried stave, they are lifetime handles. Never fear putting that jersey to the grindstone, that handle will take it.. It'll never let you down with use, guaranteed!
 
quinton said:
You're welcome!
I've been educated on this forum about hickory as well. I now know grain orientation don't matter at all on bought handles, seems the best one can do is still a crapshoot! Not so with a handle made from an air dried stave, they are lifetime handles. Never fear putting that jersey to the grindstone, that handle will take it.. It'll never let you down with use, guaranteed!
Click to expand...
I agree, I used a Kelly perfect Dayton pattern on a house octagon straight haft today to compare. It's a thicker handle but I watched it flex more as I flicked it out. The jersey had an almost imperceptible flex as I flicked it out. And the fawns foot feels great on the jersey, whereas the straight octagon house made my hand tired quick.
 
I think your hand always tires faster with a thick handle. I always cut a slim taper haft on either a straight or curved (yes, I do use curved handles), oval or octagon handle.
I think I read somewhere that it does not get any better than a Kelly Perfect Jersey.
 
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