Old Boys Axe Brought Back

Operator1975

Operator1975

Joined
Sep 24, 2010
Messages
2,395
So here is an old unmarked head that I was going to throw out, but got to looking at and thought this might make a nice boys axe. I am not crazy about boys axes for my own reasons, though they are growing on me. So I cleaned this head up and sharpened her up and put on this handle I had laying around, which has excellent grain pattern (sorry, not pictured) and also looks really nice with the patterns in the handle(well I think so anyway).

The head weighs 2.5 lbs, and has the interesting bevels - not too sure about those. Overall I think it is a very workable head, and the overall feel and balance is real good.

Again, sorry, bored in the winter, and this stuff keeps me busy and out of trouble, to some point.

Thanks.

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Thats a nice clean up. What are the reasons for the big bevels? I would assume to reduce contact surface in case of sticking, is that the design idea?

R
 
Bevels, from what I can gather, were designed to make it so the axe head would "throw" or "burst" the wood chip out, thus preventing the axe head from sticking. I have read where this was mostly a marketing ploy more than actually having true woodsman value. Ross did a review a while back comparing a beveled head to a regular head, and there was no difference overall.

Personally I think the bevels where marketing and way to set your axe apart from other manufactures. And it has worked. You look at the popularity to this day of the Kelly Perfect with its bevels, whether it is on a double bit, single bit, or the very popular jersey with bevels, and basically, I think guys like it cause it looks damn cool. Whether it truly helps you I would think is more than up for discussion.
 
Nice since you cleaned it up. Boys axes are not bad as camping axes. My wife and grandsons enjoy using one that I have on our camping trips.

Howard
 
Nice Operator. A nice piece. Are you doing something to force the nice black patinas that I see on many of your pieces or are they coming to you like that?

Matt
 
nice work! i like a 'boys axe' for general camp chores. the bevels on that thing are quite odd...
 
Bevels can also drop the weight in front of the handle, making the balance better overall, I suspect.
 
I hear ya on the boring winter part-we have no useable snow, and the moisture content makes playing outside much more of a motivational challenge. What better use of your time if you can't play with your toys than to maintain the ones you've got or make more?
 
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