Mechanical advantage to different haftings?

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
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Seems that there's four main ways of hafting an axe like object.

First is to split the stick and wedge the head in. Then tying it into place.

Second would be where the head has a bit of point at the back that's jammed into a stick. Similar to oetzi's or the African hatchets shown in previous threads

Third is the classical hawk haft. The haft is tapered and one end is threaded through the eye until it's wedged tight.

Fourth is the hatchet haft where the haft goes in through the bottom, split on the end, and then a wedge inserted to wedge it tight.

What are the mechanical and/or inherent advantages of each hafting style?
 
My thoughts about the advantages in bold type. I'm sure I'm leaving things out.

Shotgun said:
Seems that there's four main ways of hafting an axe like object.

First is to split the stick and wedge the head in. Then tying it into place.
Works with simple heads (like grooved stones) and simple sticks.

Second would be where the head has a bit of point at the back that's jammed into a stick. Similar to oetzi's or the African hatchets shown in previous threads
Resists chopping forces better than the tied split stick. Uses metal head with simple design, easier to make than other metal heads.

Third is the classical hawk haft. The haft is tapered and one end is threaded through the eye until it's wedged tight.
Very strong, easy to remove the haft, easy to make new haft.

Fourth is the hatchet haft where the haft goes in through the bottom, split on the end, and then a wedge inserted to wedge it tight.
Eye doesn't have to be as big as handle (to let handle slip through), resulting in better performing head for felling, etc.

What are the mechanical and/or inherent advantages of each hafting style?
Click to expand...
 
I think Steve Tall covered just about everything, so I will mostly repeat what he said:

First is to split the stick and wedge the head in. Then tying it into place.
Very simple design, used mostly on stone axes where the head is large enough to allow for this method.

Second would be where the head has a bit of point at the back that's jammed into a stick.
Much more secure than the above method. The axe head does not require an eye, simplifying the required metalworking.

Third is the classical hawk haft. The haft is tapered and one end is threaded through the eye until it's wedged tight.What we now consider the classical hawk haft allows one to work with a loosely attached head without it flying off. The loose head allows for an easy removal of the haft.

Fourth is the hatchet haft where the haft goes in through the bottom, split on the end, and then a wedge inserted to wedge it tight.
It provides for a very secure connection and eliminates head movement in either direction of the haft. It allows for a handle design that is not dependant on the shape of the eye. Allows for a narrower head, improving performance.
 
There's a fifth style--that of the bronze-age socketed axe where the head is attached to a bent stick. Very tough haft, but tough to find a suitable piece of wood, also. :)

socketed_axe_12_mei_2005_1.jpg
 
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