Mortising Axe Handle

[Ah Pook]

I recently picked up a mortising axe head off eBay. Been looking for a straight single bit handle. 28"-36" seems too long. I was thinking a miner's single bit 22"-26" might work.

What length handle should I use?

Edit: A little more research and this may actually be an ice harvesting axe.

 

[Square_peg]

I think you're on the right track by looking for a shorter handle. 22" sounds about right to me, assuming you want to use it 2-handed. How much does it weigh?

 

[bearhunter]

I just started a part time job helping a fellow out mortising timbers.
He has a handheld machine to do some of the work, but the rest is done with chisel and mallet. Pretty neat stuff!

I'm not sure that that is a mortising axe. From my understanding, you need to pound on the back of a mortising axe and yours has a spike.

I believe the GB mortising axe comes with a 20" handle.

 

[bearhunter]

Here ya go;

http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/produkter/bilortimring/p_knutyxa.html

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yeah that's DEFINITELY an ice axe. Nice one, too!

 

[omniviking]

ICE AXE
used ub uce house to cut up big blocks of ice and then spike'm and drag them around onthe floor or on top of other blocks of ice, but it is a nice old axe head.
I have seen both longer say 24" to 28" handles and shorter handle ones like 14 - 16 inches.

 

[Ah Pook]

Thanks for all the comments.

The head weighs about 2 3/4lbs. Got a chance to sharpen it up today. Nice edge. I'm thinking a 24" handle would be about the right size.