Warren re-hang

[daizee]

On Saturday I picked up some stuff at the Ace a couple towns over. They had some really nice handles (I know!), so two came home. They were both 28" boy's axe handles, marked identically, but one was much slimmer overall and for a smaller eye.

Well TODAY I picked up a Warren small axe/hatchet from one of our favorite flea market vendors. It was hung on a 22" handle that was really too small for the eye. Hmmm.....

Broke my rule and didn't take any 'before' pictures, but you may assume the usual decoration of rust, obtuse edge, slightly mushroomed poll, and general lack of sharpness.

The head alone weighs just shy of 1.75lb. Nice weight! It has convex cheeks and looks to be evenly worn. The steel is noticeably harder than the recently purchased Husqvarna/Hults Bruks hatchet.

Goodies from Ace

Link Handle Division of Seymour Manufacturing. Made in USA, American Hickory.
These are nice. I recommend looking for them.

pretty!

The Warren, just hung

The top of the handle got a bit short front-to-back, so I used a wide wedge. It's jammed in good at the bottom, but stopped about 3/8" short of where I'd planned. If it loosens I'll seat it deeper. I'm still learning how to do this.
Look at that incredibly aligned grain. It's the same at the other end... this is why I bought this handle before having a head to hang on it!

Compared to the apparently heavier HB on the much shorter handle

It's too late to try it out. Perhaps tomorrow, if there's a a lull between gusts...
If it works out, I may have found my truck axe.

-Daizee

 

[John Frankl]

Lookin good!

Any recommendations for flea markets in New England?

 

[daizee]

Lookin good!

Any recommendations for flea markets in New England?

I go to the one in Jewett City, CT. There's another on Rt-1 in RI, but when I was last there I bought a griswold pan from a lady at closing time and she told me never to come back. ;-)

 

[Square_peg]

Well done. It's worth keeping an eye out at Ace for those Link handles. Like you I often see one or two handles with excellent grain on the rack. I'm interested in seeing how those two compare head to head, the Warren and the Hults.

 

[daizee]

Well done. It's worth keeping an eye out at Ace for those Link handles. Like you I often see one or two handles with excellent grain on the rack. I'm interested in seeing how those two compare head to head, the Warren and the Hults.

I'm curious too, but the Hults will have to be re-hung first. I still lack the pair of needle-nose vise grips that you recommended for the job. The crappy ones at Tractor Supply just didn't appeal...

 

[M3mphis]

I see that you are a cat person.




Nice job! That looks great. I'd love to find one with that Warren stamp. What's wrong with the hang on the HB?

 

[CedarEater]

I still lack the pair of needle-nose vise grips that you recommended for the job. The crappy ones at Tractor Supply just didn't appeal...

Stop buying axes and handles and stuff and you could afford a nice, quality pair of needle-nose vise grips. Haha, like thats going to happen.

Nice find on those handles and that Warren looks good on that one. The Links handle I bought at the Ace in town here is nowhere near as nicely aligned as those. In fact, I went to 3 places in town and didn't find a single 36" haft that had excellent alignment. Of the 3 stores there probably weren't more than 8 to choose from. Sad times.

 

[M3mphis]

I've been seeking out those same Link handles. A local store carries them in boy's axe and cruiser size, but their full size Link handles are lacquer coated and not nearly as nice. I wonder if these with the wax coating and the red label are a higher grade, anyone know????

I wish my local store had a full range of sizes of these. In fact, around here no one carries anything but 36" and 28" handles (plus hatchet handles). Sucks.

 

[daizee]

well you've got the part numbers there on the stickers in the picture if that helps.
My 3 handles from JHollywood arrived at the PO today, TWO DAYS EARLY ahead of the storm. or with it...
it's getting breezy here...
I'll unpack them shortly.

Stop buying axes and handles and stuff and you could afford a nice, quality pair of needle-nose vise grips. Haha, like thats going to happen.

Yeah, right?
I've spent about as much on axes and accessories now to afford a single nice GB axe.
Of course I'll have 5 instead.

The HB hatchet handle is too thick and too short. It's just too heavy to be a one-hand tool.

 

[M3mphis]

well you've got the part numbers there on the stickers in the picture if that helps.

The one you pictured is exactly one of the models that they already carry.

I've spent about as much on axes and accessories now to afford a single nice GB axe.
Of course I'll have 5 instead.

You have chosen a very wise alternative IMO. :thumbup:

 

[John Frankl]

Great thread.

On handles, I saw a nearly perfect one the other day, but they wanted 20 bucks for it. It was made by New England Handle Co. Anyone know about this company?