Photos S.O.B.

Miller '72

Miller '72

Joined
Jul 25, 2017
Messages
2,462
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4lbs
29" oak haft
Collins Legitimus Old Timer
Beautiful 5⅛" bit Connecticut

I hung this fella the past couple three days. Brought him in ladt night to be with family...

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Then i wanted to take some pictures just now to share here.
Carrying my coffee and moving a log the old timer head fell flat onto the standing log and the ole' oak haft snapped like a dry twig under foot.
It only dropped maybe 12"
I stood looking down at it mumbling "S.O.B. i didnt even get a chance to swing you yet."
Damn dry, old, beautiful oak S.O.B!

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:eek::(

Dry oak. Should burn well...now i need a haft:thumbsup:
 
Miller '72 said:
At least the head didnt bounce off, hit a rock and chip the bit...to look for the positive
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking, at least it had a soft spot to land.

Sometimes these things happen and make sense in the end. You'll probably stumble upon a sweet haft or make one that'll you'll be gaga over.

Anyways, it's a strange looking break, looks like how punky wood breaks. I wonder what was going on with it.
 
Fmont said:
That's what I was thinking, at least it had a soft spot to land.

Sometimes these things happen and make sense in the end. You'll probably stumble upon a sweet haft or make one that'll you'll be gaga over.

Anyways, it's a strange looking break, looks like how punky wood breaks. I wonder what was going on with it.
Click to expand...

Right on!

Truth be told i was not completely happy with it, my wedge expectations fell short. The cross wedges failed and both snapped near flush to the top of the eye on the same side. Just snapped on the last blows driving the wedges in.

I have a nice vintage hickory haft and will use a nice single wedge to bring my Old Timer to the woodpile by the weeks end...the goal.

Thanks man:thumbsup:
 
Fmont said:
That's what I was thinking, at least it had a soft spot to land.

Sometimes these things happen and make sense in the end. You'll probably stumble upon a sweet haft or make one that'll you'll be gaga over.

Anyways, it's a strange looking break, looks like how punky wood breaks. I wonder what was going on with it.
Click to expand...

I meant to also include...

I dont know the back story sadly.
I obtained these two oak hafts, both poorly, loosely hung on Legitimus connies. Both handles and heads very much used and abused and i suspect, left in a corner somewhere for the past 30 plus years till i came along.
The other surviving haft is holding my Patent Applied 3lb National...yes its now resting on pillows with a saftey net:D
When i rehang with a vintage handle like this, i dont intend to use it at my woodpile or during any real processing...i like to swing them time to time, but i refrain from real use to keep the handle and axe for posterity and my collection.
Lol! I didnt even break it swinging the ole boy!
Butter Fingers :eek:
 
I picked up a real nice True Temper Woodslasher Jersey pattern a couple of summers ago. It had a few worm holes in the haft but I had seen worse. I tightened the wedge up and soaked it in BLO. I was driving a wooden stake for a tomato plant with the ax poll and the first lick I made the handle basically crumbled in two. Looked a whole lot like your break. I hope you get it worked out. I absolutely love the Connies but don't see them in the wild here in SE KY. Thanks for taking time to share your heartache.
 
As has been said it could've been so much worse! Still a bummer... I was afraid as I kept scrolling it was going to be a real tragedy with a chipped bit or something. Thank goodness that wasn't the case.
Looking back on it now, were there any signs it was weak?
 
Yankee Josh said:
As has been said it could've been so much worse! Still a bummer... I was afraid as I kept scrolling it was going to be a real tragedy with a chipped bit or something. Thank goodness that wasn't the case.
Looking back on it now, were there any signs it was weak?
Click to expand...

Mornin'
I can't say i picked up on any signs of weakness, i knew it was dry just from fitting and i did think it felt and sounded differently from hickory.
Hindsight, that sound now more accurately reminds me of whacking dried, fallen oak limbs and branches against trees and friends playing pirate when a kid. Then the end would break off and hit another buddy off to the side lol! Them the good ole days :D:)

Coffee
 
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