Westline Riggers Hatchet or Hammer - Interesting

[MikeLV]

Found this Westline Riggers Hatchet (or hammer?) at a garage sale over the weekend - head is in decent shape, handles has been traumatized. Will clean-up and re-heft.

Am curious on the history of the name, and possible age of the hatchet and found this info - Westline was a name used by Western Auto, apparently for quite a while before filing as a trademark in 1968.

https://www.trademarkia.com/westline-72289851.html
http://alloy-artifacts.org/western-auto-supply.html

 

[Hickory n steel]

This is just your typical general purpose half hatchet for carpentry and really whatever else.
A riggers axe will have a larger poll like you'd see on a framing hammer.

I would say 70's is probably a good time frame for this.


Btw to clean it up , just use a wire wheel in an angle grinder...ect.
If you use some care and don't bare down on it it'll clean up great

 

[MikeLV]

This is just your typical general purpose half hatchet for carpentry and really whatever else. A riggers axe will have a larger poll like you'd see on a framing hammer.

Thanks - I had not bumped in to the term "half hatchet" before - now I know. Talked to co-worker that is/was a framer and roofer and he said they were pretty handy tools for the framers - but roofers tended to hurt themselves when using an actual roofing hatchet.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Thanks - I had not bumped in to the term "half hatchet" before - now I know. Talked to co-worker that is/was a framer and roofer and he said they were pretty handy tools for the framers - but roofers tended to hurt themselves when using an actual roofing hatchet.

Riggers axes were commonly used for framing simply based on size weight and balance, with the larger head and milled face they were known as excellent one shot drivers in the right hands.
It became a common practice to have the bit cut off a riggers axe and have rip claws welded on, this was the birth of the California framing hammer.

 

[MikeLV]

Brief soak in mild citric to remove oil and most rust. Now to get a handle. Weight is 1lb 3oz. Also time to put an edge on as well.

 

[BamaDADx3]

I found one of these myself over the weekend. From what i could find it was sold by Western Auto Stores. I picked mine up on the HWY 11 Yard Sale. Mine has a handle that has the marking Scout- Hunters 14" 747 Hickory. Ill try to update with picture this afternoon.