US Military hatchet - where to find handle?

K

kenb86

Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Messages
6
Hello,
I recently cleaned up a hatchet head I found. It's one of the small US WWII models. The handle unfortunately was beyond saving. The head looks good- I'll post some photos later. My problem is finding a handle. I tried the usual suspects, Lowes, Home Depot, farm stores. Nobody had handles that small. The original was about 11" below the head. Any thoughts on where I could find one?
Thanks,
Ken
 
ooh, post pics. I might have the same one. It looks not to hard to shape a handle that small from a piece of wood, but if the eye size can be matched up with something standard I bet it's available online.
 
House Handle (online and at some retailer stores) has one with a smaller eye size 9/16 x 1-5/8. It's the 14" Scout Axe handle. You could cut it down to 11" if you really want it that short, but you would lose the swell at the end.
 
Steve,
Thanks for the suggestion. Do you have a direct link to one online? I'm having trouble finding one.
Below are photos of the head. It is marked "U.S. American Fork & Hoe Co 1942"
000_0231.jpg

000_0239.jpg

000_0235.jpg


When I got the head it was all rusted. I wire wheeled it until the rust was gone and refinished it. I was practicing for some gun work so I used a rust bluing. It's a nice blue color and seems very durable.

--Ken
 
If you google:
house handle 14" scout axe
click on the first result and scroll down the page.

(Links to non-member sellers is against the rules here.)
 
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