These people deserve to be remembered-

[screened porch]

You know how all beers are "premium", and the only quality is "top"?
Here's an axe-helve made of "fair grade hickory".
I don't think I've ever seen that before.

 

[Operator1975]

What?

 

[M3mphis]

I've noticed that to old timers the term "fair" means "good" whereas to younger folks "fair" means "not that good."

 

[screened porch]

What?

Any better?

 

[Steve Tall]

In contrast, Link Handle only lists Good, Better, and Best quality levels in their catalog.

 

[screened porch]

In contrast, Link Handle only lists Good, Better, and Best quality levels in their catalog.

Interesting. Maybe I haven't been paying attention to the fine print on handles.

 

[Operator1975]

Who deserves to be remembered?

 

[screened porch]

I've noticed that to old timers the term "fair" means "good" whereas to younger folks "fair" means "not that good."

Sort of like glass half full vs glass half empty.

 

[screened porch]

Who deserves to be remembered?

Is there a way for an original poster to delete his own thread?

 

[M3mphis]

Is there a way for an original poster to delete his own thread?

I don't think so.

Operator's just not getting it. You'll have to help him along. The point is that there was a time when marketing was a bit more truthful than it is today. Am I right?

 

[Operator1975]

The thread doesn't need deleted, I just don't get it, sorry.

 

[screened porch]

That's where I was going. Kind of refreshing to see such lack of hype. Thanks.

 

[Operator1975]

Don't the other handle companies still do this, they just don't imprint it on the handle? Say house asks you what grade you want?

 

[M3mphis]

Yeah, but it's "A" or "AA" right? Plain old English got left behind by the marketing spinners.

 

[Operator1975]

Oh so if Chris from house handle said "This is a fair handle" - I would be more or less inclined to buy it than if it was a "A" handle?

I bet the gent that bought that handle in the pic bought it because it was there to buy and never even saw the "fair" grade.

The "fair" grade is pretty cool though, so I guess I now somewhat see the point of the nostalgic of it at least.

 

[Square_peg]

That's where I was going. Kind of refreshing to see such lack of hype.

Definitely.

 

[CedarEater]

I would like to see more pictures to see exactly what you would get for a fair graded slim haft. From what I can see the grain orientation looks fairly good.

 

[screened porch]

I would like to see more pictures to see exactly what you would get for a fair graded slim haft. From what I can see the grain orientation looks fairly good.

I've got a couple I took in the sun. I think it's got heartwood intertwined with sapwood. I'll go get those pix.

This one shows it a little better. There's a lighter section with less visible grain at the middle of the eye area, emerging again in the grip area on the finger side.

 

[daizee]

Fair weather is a good thing.
Fair treatment is a good thing.
When did 'fair' come to mean lukewarm in other contexts?

 

[Square_peg]

The second image shows the characteristics of good grain alignment. The grain should run out on the side of an axe handle not the top or bottom. In the first image the grain is running out a little more toward the underside of the handle. I guess it to be about 20° off vertical from the image - still very good. Also, the difference from one side to the other tells you that this haft was made from wood close to the center of the tree, probably within 3-4 inches of the center.