Bought a Sager Chemical, Puget Sound pattern axe with a 40 inch handle at a local flea market. Had never seen a Puget sound axe before. It appeared to have been laid on its side and struck with a large hammer. Perhaps to tighten the handle? It has a depression in the sides of the eye. I obtained a 40" handle for it. I found out that the eye is smaller on the straighter side of the axe head - the side away from the user. Very strange! Is this normal for these axes? I also saw pictures of several of these same type of axe heads on E-bay with the same depression in the side of the eye. Was bending the sides of the axe eye a common method of tightening the handle?
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Puget Sound AXE question.
- Thread starter jumbo jim
- Start date
I'm not a pro, but, I own a few Pugets and have been around (Washington) for a while. It seems that most used, working axes in this area have been trashed. The PNW folks treated these as tools, and, did their best to make them last as long as possible. They have been sharpened (badly), beat on (to tighten), left in the dirt (rusty), and pried on (twisted).
It seems tough to find a really clean Puget in the wild (but they are out there).
I still love them and prefer them (for collecting).
It seems tough to find a really clean Puget in the wild (but they are out there).
I still love them and prefer them (for collecting).
The main reason I bought it was that it was unusual (for this part of the country anyway.) Had no idea what I had until I did a little research. It's not in terrible shape. I've seen worse. But can't figure out why the eye would be tapered the "wrong way". I know the eye should be larger on the side opposite the user so that the head will not come off the handle after it is wedged. How this axe ended up in possession of a Navajo in the middle of New Mexico, I can't fathom!!I'm not a pro, but, I own a few Pugets and have been around (Washington) for a while. It seems that most used, working axes in this area have been trashed. The PNW folks treated these as tools, and, did their best to make them last as long as possible. They have been sharpened (badly), beat on (to tighten), left in the dirt (rusty), and pried on (twisted).
It seems tough to find a really clean Puget in the wild (but they are out there).
I still love them and prefer them (for collecting).
Tool swappin' aliens!The main reason I bought it was that it was unusual (for this part of the country anyway.) Had no idea what I had until I did a little research. It's not in terrible shape. I've seen worse. But can't figure out why the eye would be tapered the "wrong way". I know the eye should be larger on the side opposite the user so that the head will not come off the handle after it is wedged. How this axe ended up in possession of a Navajo in the middle of New Mexico, I can't fathom!!
Sometimes, the story (history) behind the piece is more important than the condition. Personally, I will pay more for an axe (or anything) that has a cool patina and history that one with a perfect condition.The main reason I bought it was that it was unusual (for this part of the country anyway.) Had no idea what I had until I did a little research. It's not in terrible shape. I've seen worse. But can't figure out why the eye would be tapered the "wrong way". I know the eye should be larger on the side opposite the user so that the head will not come off the handle after it is wedged. How this axe ended up in possession of a Navajo in the middle of New Mexico, I can't fathom!!
I have one (well worn) PS pattern and though I live in the area I still only rarely come across that style in the junk/ antique stores. I'm still on the lookout for one in better condition for my collection. That and a rafting pattern are still on my wish list.
Square_peg
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Most likely circumstance made it necessary to use the axe as a hammer. The side of the eye suffers some abuse when this happens. It's pretty easy to open a dented eye back up.It appeared to have been laid on its side and struck with a large hammer. Perhaps to tighten the handle? It has a depression in the sides of the eye.
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Its been about 70 years since the chainsaw replaced the Puget Sound in the NW woods. Puget Sounds are not very useful for anything but dropping old growth trees so they tended to get junked when they were no longer needed. The Swamper lives on in fire tool boxes and on the bunk of every log truck around here.
Tried to open the eye up by driving a steel wedge into the eye and hammering around the edges of the dent. Only succeeded in starting a crack in the eye. Decided to quit before I made things even worse. Haven't decided whether leave it like it is or try heat. Does not appear to be very easy to open up.Most likely circumstance made it necessary to use the axe as a hammer. The side of the eye suffers some abuse when this happens. It's pretty easy to open a dented eye back up.
Square_peg
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Yes, use heat. You don't need to get it to forging temperatures because you're not trying to change the cross section of the the steel. You're just pushing it back in place.Haven't decided whether leave it like it is or try heat. Does not appear to be very easy to open up.
If you want to be safe then tie wet rags around both bits before heating so you have no chance of damaging the temper of the bits. The eye isn't tempered to begin with so you're not worried about ruining its temper.
Heat the mooshed side of the eye with a propane torch for a minute. Hold the eye over the open jaws of your vise with a pair of channellocks or vise grips. Then use a large punch or cold chisel as a makeshift drift to open the eye. The dented eye should move easily without causing any cracking. If it's not moving easily then give one more minute of heat. I've opened up lots of eyes like this.
Metal moves easiest where it's hottest. The cool side of the eye will resist the drift while the hot side moves. If both sides are dented then fix them one side at a time, cooling the first side before you start heating the second side.
I think I am going to try pushing the eye back into shape using the method you suggested. Right now, though it's not very high on my priorities list.
But I'm still wondering why the eye would be tapered the wrong way. (it's definitely smaller on the OUTER end) Both sides of the eye are mashed in - one more than the other.
But I'm still wondering why the eye would be tapered the wrong way. (it's definitely smaller on the OUTER end) Both sides of the eye are mashed in - one more than the other.
Seems to me the obvious answer is, Someone hung it backwards.But I'm still wondering why the eye would be tapered the wrong way. (it's definitely smaller on the OUTER end) Both sides of the eye are mashed in - one more than the other.
O.B.
All axes I have ever seen, the straighter side is the side away from the user - the curved side is toward the user. So, the eye should be larger on the straighter side. After the handle is wedged it can't come off. I've never seen an axe hung with the curved side away from the user. On this axe head I have, the eye is LARGER on what should be the handle side. Maybe that is why it appears to have been hit HARD on the side with an 8 pound hammer. To try to keep the axe head from coming off the handle?
Square_peg
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Not every eye is drifted properly.
All axes I have ever seen, the straighter side is the side away from the user - the curved side is toward the user. So, the eye should be larger on the straighter side. After the handle is wedged it can't come off. I've never seen an axe hung with the curved side away from the user. On this axe head I have, the eye is LARGER on what should be the handle side. Maybe that is why it appears to have been hit HARD on the side with an 8 pound hammer. To try to keep the axe head from coming off the handle?
I've seen an improperly drifting eye get men into trouble on more than one occasion.Not every eye is drifted properly.
Please tell me how. I have a single bit that someone smashed on the side of the eye. I was going to forge a drift in the correct shape, then press it thru the eye in a hydraulic press. Should that not work, I thought of doing it in my forge, then reharden and temper. is there an easier way?It's pretty easy to open a dented eye back up.