Pig Killer Cleaver-Blade

Now that's pretty dang cool. I agree that a dedicated hammer probably would have made more sense, but it seems that whatever procedure that the killing axe above was designed for made use of the axe blade fairly immediately after the hammer? Perhaps immediately after the killing blow was dealt the head was removed?
 
I think that design was originally used in ship building and it just caught on at the slaughter houses.
 
Yeah, I suppose it could have just been a new marketing angle on an old pattern and it just happened to have the narrow striking surface and the desired length/weight they liked. I could also see it being used in a situation where you have cattle pastured someplace that isn't just open grassland. It'd be a good tool for taking care of pasture blowdowns after storms as well as dispatching sick/wounded livestock, etc.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Yeah, I suppose it could have just been a new marketing angle on an old pattern and it just happened to have the narrow striking surface and the desired length/weight they liked. I could also see it being used in a situation where you have cattle pastured someplace that isn't just open grassland. It'd be a good tool for taking care of pasture blowdowns after storms as well as dispatching sick/wounded livestock, etc.
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The curved handle should mean that the bit was more often used than the poll, no?
 
Presumably, yes! But again, it could just be the whole "new marketing, old item" thing. Firms were a bit more of the "build it and they will come" attitude back then as well.
 
It was generically called a hammer poll axe and used for many things by different trades.


Hammer%20Poll%20Axe.jpg



Photo from 'Axe Makers of North America' which I highly recommend to those interested in old axes.
 
Mmmmm...separately formed and welded poll...Good luck finding that kind of work these days! Probably aren't even any large scale manufacturers left that could pull it off if they tried.
 
KingKoma said:
I have never done that myself but the processing of the animal fascinates me, from a knife use perspective. I have seen it done in widely different ways, with widely different tools but none as impressive as this at the 42:25 mark

[video=youtube;Iq0rZn8HFmQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Iq0rZn8HFmQ#t=2546[/video]
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That's standard fare when cleaning rabbits. Nothing that unusual about the technique. If you've not done it, I can see how it might strike you.
 
MOCraig said:
That's standard fare when cleaning wild rabbits. Nothing that unusual about the technique. If you've not done it, I can see how it might strike you.
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Fixed that for ya'. As mentioned earlier in the thread, if you were to try that technique on a domestic meat rabbit you'd be in for a rough time. They still dress out easy, but a knife is definitely needed. Still takes only about 5 minutes per rabbit though.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Fixed that for ya'. As mentioned earlier in the thread, if you were to try that technique on a domestic meat rabbit you'd be in for a rough time. They still dress out easy, but a knife is definitely needed. Still takes only about 5 minutes per rabbit though.
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Interesting, and I didn't know this. Thanks for the information and clarification.
 
A lot of it is the massively better diet and age is a factor as well. The older the animal, the thicker the skin and the stronger the adhesion. European wild rabbits can be dressed in the same manner as wild ones here on account of their nearly paper-thin skin but a well-fed domestic meat rabbit hits 5lbs live weight in only 8 weeks and dresses out to 2.5-3 pounds. :)

On a related note, I had one of mine for dinner last night with triple ginger teriyaki sauce. :D
 
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