Soviet Axe. Help me identify it?

M

Mark Kislyanka

Joined
Apr 19, 2019
Messages
1
Hello,

So here's an axe I need help identifying. Some background: My dad brought it over from Ukraine when he immigrated in the early 90's, right after the soviet union collapsed. Yes, this was pre 9-11 so he just plopped it into his luggage along with his other belongings (mostly salo & vodka) and flew it over here :)

Don't know the Slavs reputation for forging or axe making so I'm not expecting it to be of any quality. Just want to know what type of head it has, proper use for this type of head, and ideal handle length. I'm planning on rehanging it this weekend.

Handle is 24in long as of right now. It also has an unusually large eye measuring 2.75in x 1.2in

tkiSll1.jpg


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Mordor axes are often not very easy to ID exactly,the factory stamp being so worn out and dysfunctional that you can't tell what's on it.
Your photos are as good as can be,but this is the case here.
In the circle around the stamp,to 10 o'clock it says "У8"(i think...could be "-9")
The 8 is points of Carbon,so it's 0.8% C,or roughly equal to AISI 1080 or so.
Then going around the circle is the manufacture date,it looks to be 19...,you may try to make it out...
In the middle is the illegible factory logo...I can't make it out,but it'd be some Tractor Factory or Electric Motor Mfg or the like...
Here's a cousin of the article...https://imgur.com/dsi4deA
But they're really all the same...
IF you must rehang it,once off the haft,measure around inside the eye...It can be Any random shape,not much in Mordor was produced to be actually Used,and axes are no exception...
(Mordorese often handle their axes having to use layers of epoxy-saturated fabric for padding out the eye to Any kind of shape...)
 
The eye`is so large because there's not really much there in terms of harder/tougher woods,and it evolved to accommodate birch handle(what your Very original,factory,haft probably is;it looks to be in ok shape yet,you may consider keeping it all original).
Birch is weaker by far,but it's warm,softer wood,pleasant to hold on to,and absorbs shock well.Not the worst for tool handles.
 
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