The Current Collection:

[Duzzy]

I signed up for BladeForums.com to read a review of a knife I wanted to buy... About $600.00 I shouldn't have spent (and 6 days) later I thought I would share some of my axes. None of these are lookers, but they all have history.

This first one is a "planking" axe that I received from my Grandfather before he passed away.

I don't actually think that this was used to split planks in the beginning. The handle (which has a slight upward curve) is too small for the eye which makes me think that it isn't an original. Although it could be very dry I suppose...

This is the second Rigging Axe I was given, about a year after I started working as a carpenter. IIRC the head weight is 24 oz. (I'm going out of order here but bear with me.)

I don't know why but I prefer this one over the nearly identical one listed below. It was given to me by my Uncle (who got it from my Grandfather) because he switched the style of axe he uses.

This is actually the first hammer I was ever given. It came to me when my Great Grandfather passed away. I believe that I was five at the time. At age 14 I decided to replace the handle and then proceeded to ruin it. So it needs to be replaced soon.

 

[Duzzy]

There used to be a weld line running the "height" of the blade right where the nail paw is. It was given a going over with a grinder by my well intentioned Uncle who was sharpening the waffle on all my axes at the time. (The square headed Shingler's Hatchet refit with an 18" handle is his axe of choice for framing.)

This next one is the one my Grandfather gave me my first day of work, along with one of his old nail aprons. It doesn't have any markings left that I can decipher, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Plumb.

The head on this one is 28 oz, and it's noticeably heavier than the second one I was given. Not debilitating by any means, but you definitely feel it when the day is done.

So for those of you who have been counting, I'm a fourth generation carpenter. And at some point I'll have to pick up an axe of my own to pass along. Which is why I picked up this last one.

The idea of a claw on the bottom of the hammer face seems absolutely brilliant to me. The average rigging axe has the little paw for pulling nails, but in doing so you torque the weakest part of the handle. And, after a while, you generally snap the handle where it meets the head. So at some point I want to design and make my own axe that incorporates this style face with the blade shape found on the others.

Unfortunately, that day is probably a long way off...

 

[savageknives]

awesome pics duzzy. its good to see someone with an appreciation for a well used tool.

 

[Dusty One]

Nice pic's and nice collection you got started there.

 

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

Look's like your on a Roll Duzzy,i've got a feeling they'll be alot more :thumbup:

 

[Duzzy]

There darn well better not be that many more... I don't think I could afford it.

As a PS, anyone have any information on the top axe? It's from Reynolds and Sons out of Norwich Connecticut.

 

[Sparljo]

I like them all. I like the one your grandfather gave you the best.
All of them could use a touch up on a slack belt imo.

If a claw on the back of the rigging axe is that much handier then the little notch in the front, you could probably use a triangular file to make a suitable notch in the hammer face couldn't you?

It might compromise the hammer function, and the backs of rigging axes are hardened steel for all I know... if they were mine I would add to the history of the messed up one and give it a shot

 

[Duzzy]

Which one? Technically 3 of them were my Grandfathers and 2 were given to me directly by him.

As to notching the hammer face? I've thought about ways to do that actually. The fundamental problem is that the blades are the secondary tool for us. You use it to cut the straps on a pile of lumber, kick the heel of the blade into a piece of wood you can't quite reach to pick it up, etc.

So altering the hammer face isn't the best alternative. Most of the time I carry a cat's paw, small wonder bar, or a small crow bar. Although it is very good motivation not to screw up.

 

[762 shooter]

The handle on the planking axe is supposed to be tilted up the way it is. It is to allow the user to skim the wood without hitting his hands on his work. If you ever have that re-handled, have it done by an expert! They are becoming harder and harder to find. The planking axe and the experts, that is.

 

[Duzzy]

I assumed the curve was intentional, but the handle has over 1/2" of dead space on either side. So I wasn't sure if it was the original, or if it had just dried out an absurd amount.

Either way, thank you for your input.