What use was the Tommy Ax designed for? I bought a tommy ax head with a chipped puller. I was going to grind off the pullers and make my own 19" forest ax with a 1.5lb. head. On inspection, it seems to have a blade profile equally suited to chopping and splitting. Forest axes appear to be much more chopping than splitting oriented. I'm re-thinking it's final use. Any thoughts?
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Tommy Ax Purpose?
- Thread starter vcbvcbvcb
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I can't answer your specific question, but I have had 3-4 of them and in fact bought another one today. What I can tell you is that they are great. Great tool, great steel, great shape, great length/size/weight. If you are thinking about keeping it to use you have a winner. If you put it to use and try it out, you Will find that you have a very versatile tool that you could not replace for 4x the price.
Square_peg
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It's a high quality multi-purpose axe. Sadly many of them had the nail puller used as an impact tool and ruined them.
They have very good steel. The polls are hardened for use as hammers. The claws are hardened - as claws must be. They have a nice high centerline that makes them good for chopping and light splitting.
Their one weakness is that the long poll makes the claw less efficient. I ended up swapping out my Tommy Axe for a claw hatchet in my kit for short backpacking trips. More bang per pound in my opinion.
I think the Tommy Axe would be better if the factory hafts were replaced with a 17"-19" haft.
They have very good steel. The polls are hardened for use as hammers. The claws are hardened - as claws must be. They have a nice high centerline that makes them good for chopping and light splitting.
Their one weakness is that the long poll makes the claw less efficient. I ended up swapping out my Tommy Axe for a claw hatchet in my kit for short backpacking trips. More bang per pound in my opinion.
I think the Tommy Axe would be better if the factory hafts were replaced with a 17"-19" haft.
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http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1153543-True-temper-tommy-axe?highlight=Tommy+Axe. . .
. . .
There was a post sometime ago about a Tommy Hawk modified in the way you describe. It sticks in my mind because I remember admiring what a great job the OP did. I can't be sure, but thiis may have been the thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...True-Temper-Tommy-Axe-Mod?highlight=Tommy+Axe
Unfortunately the picture links are no longer valid. Maybe they could be reposted?
Bob
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Agree, great axe. In fact, if I could only keep three axes the tommy axe would be one (tough to pick between the tommy axe and my plumb claw hatchet)
I need to get my hands on one of these...especially the Tomahawk, as I feel it simply looks fantastic and I don't think I would use the nail puller claws. And the recommendations per this thread make it sound like everyone seems to love theirs. The hunt begins.
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I think it's remarkable that these axes were sold directly by the manufacturer (True Temper) using ads in popular magazines. The price of $1.50 in 1941 corresponds to $24.30 in 2016 (according to the CPI Inflation Calculator).
Square_peg
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That claw is still functional. You might leave it.
Try a house axe handle. That size head benefits from a longer handle than was supplied by the factory.
Try a house axe handle. That size head benefits from a longer handle than was supplied by the factory.
I might leave the pullers, but there's something about my brain and asymmetry that doesn't get along. I'll either grind them even, or take them off. It weights about 1.70 lbs. I got it cheap with the intention of removing the damaged pullers and grinding the poll down until I got to 1.50 lbs.
I see Steve's ad. says I can get a nice leather sheath for $.65, do you know where I can pick that up? Imagine, $1.50 for the ax, and an American got paid for making it, and he could also afford to raise a family and buy a house on his salary. Me thinks the people we elect aren't thinking straight. We keep electing them, so we aren't thinking straight either.
I see Steve's ad. says I can get a nice leather sheath for $.65, do you know where I can pick that up? Imagine, $1.50 for the ax, and an American got paid for making it, and he could also afford to raise a family and buy a house on his salary. Me thinks the people we elect aren't thinking straight. We keep electing them, so we aren't thinking straight either.
That's a fancy one. I've never seen a mark on a Kelly like that before. Then again, I haven't been doing this very long. If that's pristine, it looks like the toe comes from the factory slightly farther back than the heel. However, Steve's picture from the catalog doesn't look like an even toe and heel. Why is it that people file down the toes disproportionately more than the heels? I'd like to know before I do the same thing while filing.
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It's not a pristine hatchet but the toe and heel is actually nearly even on this one. I have another true temper that is even.