Need advice on my very first ax - used heads, new handle

J

jviss

Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
12
Greetings,

After reading "The Ax Book" by Cook, on the recommendation of someone here, I decided not to buy a regular store-bought ax, and go a different route. I got a straight 28" handle of hickory from the Hickory Handle Store on eBay. I bought an ax head before I got the book, and the seller gave me another. I'm not even sure they are what I want or need. I'm thinking, since I'm a beginner, and starting late at age 50+, I need something around 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 lb.

One head I have is marked Sager Chemical Axe 1945. It's 3 1/4 lb. It's 6 1/2 by 3" at the poll. The bit is 4 1/4" The eye is 2 3/8 x 3/8".

The other is a Weeterlings, only 1 3/4 lb. It's 6 by 1 7/8". The bit is 3 1/2". The eye is small, only 1 3/4 x 3/8"

Here are some pics.

axes1.jpg

axes2.jpg

axes3.jpg


The handle fits the Sager, but would need considerable trimming to work with the Wetterlings.

The Wetterlings is in tough shape. The poll is severely peened over, from use as a hammer, I suspect. The top opening of the eye is also peened such that it is smaller, with a substantial internal ridge, so it would have to be filed to open it.

I like the Sager, but feel it might be too heavy for me; and, I'd like to straighten out the bit, a bit.

So, please, any and all advice and information is sincerely appreciated. As it stands now, I think I'll hang the Sager, sharpen it up, and see how it goes.

Thanks,

jv
 
Looks to me like you're off to a great start! Both of those are well made axes and will be serviceable with a little work. Congrats!

Personally, I would put the 28" handle on the Sager and order another handle for the Wetterlings, maybe around 20". Happy filing!
 
I get my handles from the same place and they have all been very good quality so far. The Sager seems a bit big for that handle and the Wetterlings seems a bit small. There's a bunch of clean 2.5lb heads on the bay right now you might grab one of those for that handle. Sounds like a fun project.

If I were to hang one of those heads on that handle I'd go with the Sager since it's a closer fit to begin with.
 
28" and 3 1/4 sounds like a reasonable combo. keep in mind at that weight it is not ideal for fine work, but it should chop and limb just fine. A nice size in my opinion. I would put the wetterlings 25" or so handle, that would be ideal for fine trimming work and whatnot.
 
Thanks. I will go with the Sager, since it's my first hafting, and the handle matches that head nearly perfectly. It seems like it will be a pretty good axe. (link to a good hafting thread?)
 
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