Straight Helve?

[Briarbrow]

Anyone use straight helve on their axe/hatchet as was typical pre 19c

 

[Shotgun]

I prefer straight hafts to curved. Curved ones give you more power but straight ones are more accurate.

 

[Kentucky]

I have a swedish, a plumb, a bluegrass and a collins (I beleive) hatchet with curved hafts. My hawks and my Kelly woodworking hatchet have straight hafts.

 

[Steve Tall]

Some straight hafts on axes up to 5 pounds or so, from a previous thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=726853&page=2

 

[Briarbrow]

Thanks guys! I always like pics and info. More?

What I'd like to do; redo my husqv. The handle I made is ok but I like to do it again, straight(er)

 

[Shotgun]

Well back in the day hafts were like heads, you could get any number of configurations and shapes. I believe the writer of an "axe to grind" prefers straight handles with octagonal cross sections. It really is whatever you like. Problem is that we're no longer in an axe culture so you are pretty much stuck with one style from each manufacturer or a single style in a hardware store aisle. Not sure if there's a company out there that offers multiple styles anymore.

 

[Steve Tall]

Not sure if there's a company out there that offers multiple styles anymore.

I see that TennesseeHickory has straight single bit helves from 18" to 36", as well as shorter (straight) broad axe and tomahawk handles, in their online catalog. I don't know if they do direct retail sales.

 

[Briarbrow]

Thanks guys for the info.

I always liked an octagon handle on my hammer. It just looks nice I suppose.

I really don't feel stuck to the hdw store offerings but I am sometimes miffed when I return to the store and see some product that I like, and consider to be quite good is no longer stocked because it doesn't sell fast enough.

You can't even buy a sledge hammer without a ridiculously huge 1/2 inch or larger chamfer on the head just because some moron lost an eye. sheesh. there isn't much respect given to simple hand tools these days.

 

[Steve Tall]

I believe the writer of an "axe to grind" prefers straight handles with octagonal cross sections.

I see that vintageaxes still has 32" and 36" straight octagonal handles with ideal grain available.

 

[omniviking]

Straight handles are good for tomahawks.

In hatchet or single bit axes I like curved or deer footed shaped handles.

On hammers and even some hatchets like small GB Mini and Wildlife sizes with "straight" handles have some flair or swell in places, at the end or up from the nd some for a better grip so the tool does not slip from your hand.

throw your tomahawk and that straight handle slides from hand and heads for the target, chop with the straight handle on a Gransfors Wildlife hachet and the swell on the endkeep a better grip and you can wail on whatever you are chopping.

Pat

 

[Briarbrow]

Good point Pat! I still see a lot of guys hawk chopping. what do you make of that?

This is my axe as it is now. I never wedged it so it should pop out. I also keep a close check to make sure it hasn't slipped-which it has- about 1/16".
Steve I may check those vintageaxe just to have one as an example