New to the forum and need some help

M

Mike from OK

Joined
May 24, 2015
Messages
8
Hello all!

My name is Mike. I live in NE Oklahoma. New to the forum, so please forgive any shortcomings in decorum and etiquette.

Anyhow, I recently purchased an axe head that I would like to restore and re-haft. It appears to be a Hudson Bay pattern and has an unusual diamond-shaped eye. Never before seen an eye configured like this. Would love some pointers on where to find a replacement handle...

Let me see if I can figure out how to post a few pics.

Mike
 
You have to host your pictures offsite unless you're a paid member.

Those diamond eyes are often Maine axes and of very high quality. Depending on condition you might have an excellent axe. I don't know of a source for diamond eye hafts buy many modern hafts are fat enough that they can be shaped to fit a diamond eye axe.
 
I haven't recieved the head yet Darth. Just photos. Seller says he cannot locate any markings/stamps.( makes me think cheapo )

Still trying to figure out how to load pics from my phone.

Mike
 
Well... possibly good news on the axe. Bad news on the pics.

Let me see what I can come up with for a host site.

Mike
 
IMG_20150524_193715_zpssewtgylk.jpg.html


http://s375.photobucket.com/user/bo...150524_193642_zpssenxkpoh.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
 
That's due to someone beating on the poll of the axe and using it as a splitting wedge I think, at least that'd be my guess if I was a betting man.
 
DarthTaco123 said:
That's due to someone beating on the poll of the axe and using it as a splitting wedge I think, at least that'd be my guess if I was a betting man.
Click to expand...

I agree that it looks deformed. The rear portion of the eye is somewhat curved. That's quite a narrow poll.

 
Looks like it's rounded uneven, maybe ground the mushrooming off and rounded the poll? Hard to tell in the pic.
 
Depending on eye dimensions when you get it you may have to shape a full sized axe handle to fit it, or make your own.
 
That eye is unusually narrow at the back as well as the narrow poll. Almost like a double bit eye. Maybe the axe was fabricated from a double bit? I think it is deformed a little but not too bad. You might try to hammer it back in shape. Or just hang it as is with a tight fit and it should work.
 
halfaxe said:
That eye is unusually narrow at the back as well as the narrow poll. Almost like a double bit eye. Maybe the axe was fabricated from a double bit? I think it is deformed a little but not too bad. You might try to hammer it back in shape. Or just hang it as is with a tight fit and it should work.
Click to expand...


Exactly!

That was cut out of a double bit. Then someone opened the eye for a single bit haft. Look at the length of the eye - about 3" long - correct for a double bit.

Here's a good example of an actual diamond eye axe.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...making-film!-Awesome!?p=12842085#post12842085
 
The seller I bought this head from had a family emergency. I wound up having to wait a few days. But it arrived today.

I looked it over. This is either a small axe head, or a largish tomahawk head.

The diamond-shaped eye is not from the poll being pounded on. It's in very good shape. And if someone reforged this from a double bit axe head, then they were a master smith. There are a couple very minor dings. A few small chips in the bit and some light surface rust. Otherwise it is in very good shape.

No discernable stamps or markings which leads me to think cheap import. Not sure.

Anyhow, going to clean it up and try to rehaft it.

Mike
 
I have never seen or even heard of anything even closely resembling that head coming from a factory. Side profile looks nice but top down it is an alien thing. I agree with Halfaxe and Square Peg, that thing is a home made jobber.

BUT! I would made lemonade. It is a finely shaped HB head. Hang it and use it, just don't ever think about hitting the poll. Wait, what poll?
 
Here is a small mattock I have that could probably be made into a tomahawk.


Eye is not so elongated as the OP's.
 
Surprisingly long bits on a mattock. The eye is odd but its uniformity suggests it was made that way - not deformed. Curious piece.
 
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