"Unbrako" Handles

[FortyTwoBlades]

Pretty impressive, this. From a Sequatchie Handle Co. catalog printed in 1965.

 

[Steve Tall]

Some of the same photos appear in this 1967 catalog from Madden Handle Corp., based in Mount Vernon, Indiana (with a factory also at Princeton, Kentucky, according to the back cover):

https://archive.org/stream/MaddenHandles1967/Madden Handles 1967#page/n0/mode/2up

 

[Square_peg]

The Sequatchie plant is still there operating.

 

[jblyttle]

I'm amused that a handle company has a picture of axe abuse in progress in their catalog.

 

[quinton]

These are the type of axe handles I grew up with. The only thing that would cause one to break was rot, strenuous work wouldn't phase one. With proper care, and storage they would last a lifetime, or wear out the axe.

I was a married man before I saw my first broken handle at my neighbor's house, even though he had moved in from the city, and was using a brought on axe and handle, I still couldn't believe it.

The horribleness of that tragic sight was etched into my mind forever, and as much as I've tried over the years I can't clear those shocking images from my head.

 

[The Zieg]

. . . . .

 

[Hacked]

I'm amused that a handle company has a picture of axe abuse in progress in their catalog.

Can't tell if it's a metal sledge or not from the picture, but I had the same thought cross my mind.

 

[quinton]

I'm amused that a handle company has a picture of axe abuse in progress in their catalog.

Axes back in the day were viewed like motor oil, and toilet paper is now.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Personally I'd love to see a struck tool that was basically a splitting wedge with a handle. The Estwing Fireside Friend almost counts, but it has a hardened hammer face.

 

[Square_peg]

^^^
Thick eye walls are key.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

^^^
Thick eye walls are key.

Totally. Like a cut devil made for wood.

 

[Kentucky]

I was a married man before I saw my first broken handle at my neighbor's house, even though he had moved in from the city, and was using a brought on axe and handle, I still couldn't believe it.
.

I grew up in a green woodworking shop. My first job as a 7 year old was draw-knifing chair rounds. Then skinning hickorys for bark bottom chairs. I made extra money selling bean poles cut with my old bluegrass hatchet.
I didn't see a broken tool handle for years. even with what most these days would call "bad grain"..That includes axes,hatchets,hammers woodworking tools and all manner of garden tools..It just hardly ever,ever happened.

 

[garry3]

Sequatchie Indian Fire. Their budget handle. Less than perfect...

Fire hardened handle. Some color issues in the handle. The grain is orientated to conventional wisdom but obviously some issues on the top or eye end.

Unfortunately the price tag is no longer legible.
I will probably hang this one.