Plumb Scout Hatchet Questions

Halfneck

Halfneck

Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Messages
4,245
Really like the size & look of the old Plumb Scout Hatchets. Thinking of getting one, but have a few questions first.

Seen a few posts about avoiding the "epoxy" ones. Why & how do you know?

Seen a few that look like they need new handles. Can you get new handles for them & where?

Thanks.
 
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i have several of the Plumb hatchets, same as the boy scout hatchets expect not marked as such.
the handles show slight variations in shape, some are epoxied some are not.

good steel all, i would consider just buying one of the old plumb's whether they are marked BS or not as they are good tools

buzz
hope this was helpful
 
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Some people don't like the permabond. The only reason I can think of is it's harder to rehandle them. On the other hand, it seems to work, because you see a lot of old Plumbs with handles that don't need replacing.
 
Square_peg said:
When did they stop using Permabond?
Click to expand...

Beats me. I have a couple without it, and I've assumed they're older. Cooper tools is still making the old shingling and lathing hatchets with the Plumb name in red-colored hickory, but I can't tell from their website whether the permabond is still there.
 
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I have a Plumb BS hatchet with the permabond and have been pretty happy with it. The steel seems good, even after butchering the edge with a bench grinder, a couple hours with a file seemed to fix everything and put a nice edge on it.
 
I have an 80's plumb boy scout hatchet with the origonal haft and permabond in the eye as well. I imagine it would be difficult to add a new handle to but i haven't had to navigate that yet. Me and my father have both put it through some pretty hard use camping and have thrown it several times as well. As markv said, pretty much any plumb is going to be some exceptional steel.
 


I have had a BS Plumb hatchet and carried it regularly since the mid 1990s. The permabond has not been an issue for me, but like everybody else I have not had to deal with a new handle yet. I also have a couple from the 50s and 60s all seem to be good quality. Got the older ones from ebay for around $40 best I remember. Also had and old shoemaker make me a sheath with a small pocket for a magnusium fire starter
 
The Permabond doesn't make rehandling any harder. I cut old handle off flush with bottom of head.I then drill a bunch of holes through handle from top down. Take a punch and punch out rest of wood. I then take a burr or small grinding stone on a dremel and clean out any left over bits and pieces. If I remember there aren't any metal wedges.
 
i tried driving out a permabond handle, it was stuck half in -- half out. man was that a job.
i wouldn't do it again. i was trying to save the handle even though it was split all the way down.

buzz
 
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