The Making of a Hickory Handle

rjdankert

rjdankert

Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
2,659
Found an interesting article on making axe handles.

Picture of handle making at Hartwell Brothers.
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From:

Click above and scroll up to read the article.


Hartwell Brothers handles and trademarks (1928 advertisement):
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An explanation for "split strictly bastard".
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Bob
 
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Thanks, Bob.
I never could get that link you posted the other day to load the pics. Anyway you could get those pictures in this thread?
 
Thank you for this.
Notice that the copious drawknife shavings dangerously (by any recent fire code standards) litter the shop floor. Not surprising that this indicates that 3/4+ of any processed premium sawlog was waste. But wood was cheap back then. Those factory fellas knew precisely what they were doing and I wouldn't have blinked an eye 'sight unseen' to order a wonderfully slim contoured haft from them.
Today's wood is entirely saw cut and then machine turned and any deliberate version of 'bastard' cut will be nixed as too inefficient/costly. One) this (using of saws) seriously reduces the quality of the blanks, Two) relying on machinery seriously reduces the number of skilled handlers along the line that double as 'quality control inspectors' as the piece takes shape, and Three) selecting entirely for vertical grain hafts (bastard cuts?) wastes a mountain of wood that otherwise could have been used to indulge the Walmart-type and factory seconds market.
 
Some interesting stuff. We'd probably be amazed at how fast one of those guys could crank out a finished handle.
 
I like that there used to be several grades available and priced accordingly. Marketing was honest. You want the best? Here it is, it costs this much and here is why. More than you need? No problem, we have a mid grade that costs this much and here is why. Still too much? Ok, we have the bargain handles too, they cost this much and you get what you pay for....It's honest, everyone knows what the choices are and everyone accepts them.

These days the only choice is one size fits all, it is bargain basement but they try to convince everyone that it is the best. Some people will choose to spend on quality if you just give them the chance.

Edit- I'm talking in general, not limited to axe handles!
 
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quinton said:
Thanks, Bob.
I never could get that link you posted the other day to load the pics. Anyway you could get those pictures in this thread?
Click to expand...

I have found that most images on the internet allow you to right click on the image and a box opens with a list of options for that image. One option is to save the image. If the image does not have a copyright mark on it, I figure it is fair game to use it. The pictures I linked to did not open the option box. I emailed the company asking for permission to post them on this forum and state the photos were provided courtesy of their company. Since I did not get a reply, I did not make screen captures and post. Instead I posted the link. Unfortunately that page is slow to load. It takes 3-4 minutes with my machine and internet connection.

Here is the link again:
http://tennesseehickory.com/pictures/
1/30/2025 edit: Page not found pictures added to post

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Bob

ps check your visitor messages.
 
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I see more straight than curved... Kidding.

Interesting info. Basically what jblyttle said, and 300. They really did make great handles, and their low grade would be above the current 'high grade' I suspect. The waste may just be used for stoves or farm animals.
 
It's really interesting that the company offered a premium line of blue oak handles in addition to hickory. I would presume these to have been some version of a White Oak (rounded lobe leaves) and not porous grain Red Oak (sharp edged leaves).
 
An important note for me was this, "It is split strictly bastard". That will produce a grain parallel to the eye - something we have discussed here ad nauseam.
 
Square_peg said:
An important note for me was this, "It is split strictly bastard". That will produce a grain parallel to the eye - something we have discussed here ad nauseam.
Click to expand...

The other important note is this; "Many hand-shaved handles are not kiln dried, as this process has been found to have a tendency to destroy the flexibility and injure the fiber of the wood" After recently reviewing the facts accumulated in my mind over the years, I find that statement to be true.. I have never witnessed a broken hand made handle from air dried stock regardless of grain orientation..
 
quinton said:
The other important note is this; "Many hand-shaved handles are not kiln dried, as this process has been found to have a tendency to destroy the flexibility and injure the fiber of the wood" After recently reviewing the facts accumulated in my mind over the years, I find that statement to be true.. I have never witnessed a broken hand made handle from air dried stock regardless of grain orientation..
Click to expand...

True for sure and 'somewhat cured' wood is much easier to work than 'bone dry/oven baked" and these guys knew when, during the life of a drying log, to 'go for it'. I know that you (Quinton) continue to have a 'hard on' toward trying to justify horizontal grain handles but only miners and non-fallers, in seeking out best-durable straight hafts, would have specified this.
 
I just checked the grain on the ax the guy next door used to chop off the turkey's head for our thanksgiving dinner. The grain is horizontal ! But I am OK with that because the ax was only used to kill something other than a tree.
 
Old Axeman said:
I just checked the grain on the ax the guy next door used to chop off the turkey's head for our thanksgiving dinner. The grain is horizontal ! But I am OK with that because the ax was only used to kill something other than a tree.
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Welcome back, Bernie. You should try to trade your neighbor out of that good handle.:D
 
rjdankert said:
Hartwell Brothers trivia
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Wonderful ad! Wouldn't fly today because naive consumers cannot judge quality for themselves and buy entirely based on price. A $20 haft has gotta be way better than a $10 one so tell me shopkeep where do you hide the $40 ones? I came here specifically to buy the best.
 
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