They Don't Make Them Like They Used To?

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garry3

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Sep 11, 2012
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I have had this old Fulton Tool Co hatchet for a while. Its just a little guy at about 12 oz. I knew that the eye was punched off center.

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I suspect this smith was a rookie or very hung over, maybe even still drunk. I really think he tried to correct the off center eye by knocking the bit back in line with the off center eye. It's the crookedest bit I have ever seen. Close to the edge it even has a pronounced bow in it. It doesn't all show up in the picture. The bit is bent along its length


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Not a bad idea to correct a screw up, but he went the wrong direction! Ya, he made it worse.

I can't wait to see what it looks like on a haft.

Might make a pretty good carving hatchet for a lefty?
 
Whoops!
I did a job for the son of the former general manager of Walters Axe 15 years ago. He told me his dad always brought stuff home to distribute amongst the children and relatives and to set aside for future grandchildren. At the end of the job he gave me a brand-spanking new hatchet (NOS because the company folded in 1973) which I noticed instantly was a 'factory second'. At least Walters was conscientious enough to deface the stamps on the head and handle before in-house paint and finishing and allowing them to go out the door. Interestingly the leather sheath was also a second but I guess they couldn't be bothered to mess up that emboss.
 
Wow. That is really off.

You're right about it making a nice little carving hatchet. You could even enhance the whole effect by flattening out the bevel on the one side.
 
In all fairness we don't know how this hatchet was sold or even if it was. It's not the norm for Fulton Tool Co that's for sure.

If I was left handed I would just roll with it. As it is I won't flip it to some pore soul on the auction site. I guess I will just haft it and correct everything in the hang.

I suspect this little hatchet came from a lot that I purchased from an old logger and axe buff. I suspect he may have been a lefty and this served him well. I don't remember for sure but many of the axes and hatchets I purchased from him show the file work that this one has. He knew how to profile a bit.

I old like to see that second from Walters sometime 300. Interesting story also.:thumbup:
 
garry3 said:
I old like to see that second from Walters sometime 300. Interesting story also.:thumbup:
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It's the one at the top with factory blue head. The poll was damaged or off square and the grinder correction removed too much material, and the handle is chipped at the butt. Also notice the crease in the leather sheath, which does retain the Walters stamp. Easiest marking, that you can plainly see, that has been removed with a rasp, is the emboss on the handle.

WaltersAxe001Large_zps5c2536e1.jpg
 
I bought a Kelly Registered double bit head that someone smashed the top of the eye in an effort to keep it on the handle. I filed off the mushrooming. When I went to haft it, I noticed a half dollar sized piece of metal slag inside the eye on one side. No wonder the handle wouldn't stay tight. Even Kelly's top of the line serial numbered axes could be defective.
 
garry3 said:
I have had this old Fulton Tool Co hatchet for a while. Its just a little guy at about 12 oz. I knew that the eye was punched off center.

P1010003_zps2jsmmaki.jpg
Click to expand...

Canadian Mojo said:
Wow. That is really off.

You're right about it making a nice little carving hatchet. You could even enhance the whole effect by flattening out the bevel on the one side.
Click to expand...

Maybe even a slightly offset handle?

300Six said:
WaltersAxe001Large_zps5c2536e1.jpg
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I’m struck by how neat the swell/knob is on those Walters every time I see this picture.
 
Agent_H said:
I’m struck by how neat the swell/knob is on those Walters every time I see this picture.
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Would have been interesting to be involved with the handle department because they were made 'in house' from hickory imported from the southern US. Because Henry's son Morley Walters ran the show for 60 years (and was actively involved in it for all of his 99 years) he must have trusted whoever was in charge of wood and also dictated the degree of fussiness (ie time and effort = expense) allowable for curves and swells. Here's a few more Walters that probably span the entire era of production.

axe%20handles%20001%20Medium_zpsqszzhrk6.jpg
 
i have a bingmaster handle, it's the same swell, i actually really like it, its low profile and extremey effective, even with cotton gloves, im gonna take the head off to fix it, it's tilted, but i'll send some pictures up, it's my second favorite handle
 
A picture of it. It's on a Hartwell Bros. Michigan single bit 3 1/2 lb. but I don't have a picture of the head.


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garry3 said:
I have had this old Fulton Tool Co hatchet for a while. Its just a little guy at about 12 oz. I knew that the eye was punched off center.

Well to look on the brighter side. You have a one of a kind that prolly isn't duplicated. Little things like that make things like that keepers in my book! To quote Billy Boy Thornton in Slingblade voice - Little Fellar! Little Fellar! WHY DID You punch the Eye off center! LOL! Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks Bama. I will indeed keep it or maybe find it a home after I haft it.

Those knob ended handles are probably the way they should all be made. I don't make them all that way but they make a lot of sense.
 
halfaxe said:
A picture of it. It's on a Hartwell Bros. Michigan single bit 3 1/2 lb. but I don't have a picture of the head.


DSC01324_zps998b66fb.jpg
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Hey, Halfaxe! Any chance or re-posting photos of your knob end axes on someplace other than photobucket?
 
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