Rafting Axe

K

Kansaswoodguy

Joined
Feb 17, 2016
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Does anybody know of a current production rafting style axe. For some reason that design has caught my eye I like its lines particularly the old Plumb's with the longer pole, its balance may or may not be any good I don't know. I may just try and be patient and see if I can't pick up a vintage Plumb off a auction site at a reasonable price.
 
I would say that even if one were made today, it would cost a good amount more than a good vintage example. I would say that you can get a good Plumb National head for $35-50 if you actively look. If you want the pattern and you see one that you like, I would recommend buying it.
 
jblyttle said:
I would say that even if one were made today, it would cost a good amount more than a good vintage example. I would say that you can get a good Plumb National head for $35-50 if you actively look. If you want the pattern and you see one that you like, I would recommend buying it.
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While the National is often confused with rafting pattern heads, they're their own distinct pattern and the overwhelming majority didn't have hardened polls. Circumstantial evidence has suggested that a few very early examples had hardened polls, but I haven't personally laid eyes on one that was.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
While the National is often confused with rafting pattern heads, they're their own distinct pattern and the overwhelming majority didn't have hardened polls. Circumstantial evidence has suggested that a few very early examples had hardened polls, but I haven't personally laid eyes on one that was.
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Yes. I know this but wasn't thinking. The rest of my comment still holds. :thumbup:
 
jblyttle said:
Yes. I know this but wasn't thinking. The rest of my comment still holds. :thumbup:
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:thumbup:

The National pattern rocks, though I think I'd like 'em with just a smidgen more depth to the bits. A shame they ever faded from the scene, like so many other excellent patterns.
 
Plumb often advertised that their axes were forged from a single piece of steel. So there's nothing stopping anyone from hardening a poll. Seems natural for one of those National patterns.
 
If you are simply interested in the rafting pattern in general, there are a couple others to keep an eye out for - True Temper, Collins, and even the Mysterious "M5's" among others I suppose.

None of those mentioned are the fit and finish of those Plumbs but I use my "Collins in a box" rafting/construction axe on a 32" handle and find it does the job well. Juniper and fir have said yes to it but I haven't used it as a sledge hammer so I can't tell you how much abuse they are capable of taking. I use an axe as an axe and a hammer as a hammer but it is cool to have the option in a pinch.
 
IMO if you want a real rafting axe then it cant be the plumb national :)
Not to take anything away from the national pattern they are a beautiful axe...but its the national pattern, not the miners/construction/rafting pattern.

They both have a beveled poll, but that don't make a national a rafting.

The majority of national pattern axes for sale are listed as rafting axe, which in my opinion is either an attempt to play off the popularity and rarity of the real rafting heads or its just so common for people to mislabel them combined with the fact that most people are not experts on what the are selling and simply search it on the auction site before listing it/calling it something and fall into the same cycle of mislabeling them.

Whether purposeful or not who knows. But IMO the national is the national. And the Rafting is the rafting/miners/constructors axe.
 
nzedge said:
IMO if you want a real rafting axe then it cant be the plumb national :)
Not to take anything away from the national pattern they are a beautiful axe...but its the national pattern, not the miners/construction/rafting pattern.

They both have a beveled poll, but that don't make a national a rafting.

The majority of national pattern axes for sale are listed as rafting axe, which in my opinion is either an attempt to play off the popularity and rarity of the real rafting heads or its just so common for people to mislabel them combined with the fact that most people are not experts on what the are selling and simply search it on the auction site before listing it/calling it something and fall into the same cycle of mislabeling them.

Whether purposeful or not who knows. But IMO the national is the national. And the Rafting is the rafting/miners/constructors axe.
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Don't forget about folks listing Nationals as cedar axes. :p
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Don't forget about folks listing Nationals as cedar axes. :p
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lol NOW your confusing me. I thought the national pattern was in fact a cedar pattern?
I though the "national pattern" was, I suppose you could say, plumbs version of the cedar pattern.

e.g. "national pattern" relating to a trademark name for plumbs "cedar pattern", whereas anyone could make a cedar pattern and call it a cedar pattern.

now im curious, what is the difference between the two? weight maybe? trick question? not sure!! lol :)
I think cedar patterns may only come in lighter weights but im guessing.
 
nzedge said:
lol NOW your confusing me. I thought the national pattern was in fact a cedar pattern?
I though the "national pattern" was, I suppose you could say, plumbs version of the cedar pattern.

e.g. "national pattern" relating to a trademark name for plumbs "cedar pattern", whereas anyone could make a cedar pattern and call it a cedar pattern.

now im curious, what is the difference between the two? weight maybe? trick question? not sure!! lol :)
I think cedar patterns may only come in lighter weights but im guessing.
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Oh goodness, no! Plumb very much indeed made a dedicated cedar axe! A few different iterations, in fact, including a double bit. Here's a pretty typical one (photo not mine.)

3a95601442d92e305d4d487058e8981f.jpg
 
nzedge said:
IMO if you want a real rafting axe then it cant be the plumb national :)
Not to take anything away from the national pattern they are a beautiful axe...but its the national pattern, not the miners/construction/rafting pattern.

They both have a beveled poll, but that don't make a national a rafting.

The majority of national pattern axes for sale are listed as rafting axe, which in my opinion is either an attempt to play off the popularity and rarity of the real rafting heads or its just so common for people to mislabel them combined with the fact that most people are not experts on what the are selling and simply search it on the auction site before listing it/calling it something and fall into the same cycle of mislabeling them.

Whether purposeful or not who knows. But IMO the national is the national. And the Rafting is the rafting/miners/constructors axe.
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I think it started with some people confusing a beveled poll with a rafting axe. Then some tried to capitalize on the confusion. Then others followed suit because they didn't know any better. I've even seen hatchets with beveled polls labeled as 'rafting'. It's gotten pretty ridiculous.
 
I didn't know about differences but by browsing eBay I was a little confused on rafting/cedar axes. Glad I looked at this thread


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Oh goodness, no! Plumb very much indeed made a dedicated cedar axe! A few different iterations, in fact, including a double bit. Here's a pretty typical one (photo not mine.)

3a95601442d92e305d4d487058e8981f.jpg
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thanks for the schooling :) that's a nice axe.

Square Peg, agreed. Speaking of hatchets, i do like those plumb boy scout hatchets that are in the national pattern / with the bevel poll. I do want.
 
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