What did you rehang today?

While your new haft may not be period correct in it's profile, it is exactly my choice for a user haft--straight profile, no large swell under the hatchet eye, good butt swell, and a SHORT haft protrusion out the top of the eye. I make the protrusion about 3/16" and chamfer (bevel) the edges off so the haft protrusion does not hang up or break off during use. If you are ever interested in trading it let me know !
 
ron55 said:
First off - I'm not an axe guy. Kinda a knife guy - how I found this thread. And I'm more of a woodworker. Got this axe from my brother in law. It was my sister in law's grandfather's axe. Broken handle, mushroomed poll. No markings. I'm going to rehang it (I think that's what you guys here call putting a new handle on it)

Do most rehangers make their own handles or buy ready made handles? I was thinking about getting a chunk of white oak or hickory, and getting out my drawknife, spokeshaves and rasps and making one.

But if making one is a lot of work - say more than 20-30 hours, then I'll by a replacement handle and rehang it with that. If I can get a replacement that looks the old one.

My plan is to do nothing to the head. I want to leave it old looking and hanging in my shop for decoration.


So - Should I attempt to make my own handle or just buy one?

View attachment 2580045
Click to expand...
Ha! Just my 2 cents worth, but heck, I'd leave the ol' girl just like that and put 'er up on the shed wall as is. At least until you can find an appropriate oldie handle that looks right. That thing just oozes with a story to tell. We just haven't heard it yet.
 
Gary W. Graley said:
Walnut and pine ;) my wife's nephew is moving south to VA joining a Fire Station down there, having a going away party for him and his family tomorrow so I made this smallish fireman's axe for him to take along.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

overall length about 4 1/8" long, didn't need a wedge but the handle goes up through the head.

Finished up a small stand for him to display it, the upright is a piece of maple angled at 15 degrees that has a shelf cut in for the axe to rest against and is also angled towards the corner so it puts the handle at a diagonal on the block of walnut. The maple is glued down to the walnut and also has a bamboo dowel going through the walnut base and up into the maple for strength, not that it will need much, but, it's there ;)

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2
Click to expand...
Love it.
 
DirtDawg said:
Ha! Just my 2 cents worth, but heck, I'd leave the ol' girl just like that and put 'er up on the shed wall as is. At least until you can find an appropriate oldie handle that looks right. That thing just oozes with a story to tell. We just haven't heard it yet.
Click to expand...
Well I found an appropriate old handle, rehung it, and took it out for a couple of swings. Then hung it on the wall.

IMG_2695.HEIC.jpeg

IMG_2698.jpeg
 
We're cleaning out the old shed since my dad and mom are moving out of the house to something smaller they can manage. Since I've been into cutting and splitting recently I scrounged for axe stuff while remembering how we heated by wood back in the day. I already found and repaired an old unknown mfr dayton pattern splitting axe, but I just found & rescued these pitiful examples;

small-IMG_20240922_123515.jpg



Back in the day I dug quite a few feet with this mattock but thats another story. The little 28" I think my dad found in the field with the handle eroded- its a 3.5lb felling/kindling axe, we never used it much but I'll rehang it at some point.

But the right-hand axe is an approx 4lb Belknap, the logo is just barely legible- Louisville, and the 4 lobe logo with Trade on the left and Mark on the right are kind-of legible. I have a 32" and 36" handle on the way and I'll put it back in business with whichever swings better. I have a modern 5lb Council head on a 36" haft which is great- sort of a mini-maul, but once the rounds are quartered down I like a shorter, lighter axe to finish.

small-IMG_20240922_132142.jpg


Before getting the maul and sledgehammer/wedges, we had this axe, and the unknown dayton pattern I repaired previously, and we beat on the polls a few times to get the wood to split. I've been grinding off the mushroomed steel and getting a nice clean edge with a sanding disk- really loving bringing these ancient abused tools back from the dead.

Once we upgraded tools we didn't use the axes much so they've sat untouched for 40 yrs or so. As for cutting & splitting these days I'm a weekend warrior working on the neighborhood rails-to-trails cleaning up the deadfalls and giving away the firewood to whomever will take it. Sure do like splitting wood vs being bored out of my mind working out in a gym.
 
Last edited:
Hi all,

I got the Belknap hafted- I put it on a 32" Buckin Billy Ray haft. Fitting the lugs was certainly a bit of a pain.. I used a flap-wheel to rough in, then a die grinder w/ burr, and then a little sanding disc and some round filing. The hang is a touch closed but quite reasonable. Shown here the haft is soaking in linseed oil overnight. Tomorrow I'll pull it out, then submerge just the head for a 2nd night. If its not too rainy over the weekend I'll have a bunch of black locust and some other mystery wood to split and we'll give it a try 🥰

I've never had a large palm swell haft like the BBR, so wanted to give it a try.

belknap-hafted-bbr.jpg
 
FInished rehafting today- pic of the linseed oil bath for the heads.. the other two being previous axes I worked on here just getting another drink;


linseed-oil-axe-heads.jpg


I've been experimenting with paracord wrapping for overstrike protection, adding in some weaving to keep the loops snug.. some fun string art to mess with in the shop for an evening :)


And below the Belknap and eroded small axe, rehafted. Hopefully the weather will permit getting busy with them on Sunday. The little axe is quite pitted but the steel is good and its one from the old days that I want to keep around. I think it will be good for kindling for sure, maybe for whacking on felling wedges too. I have a much nicer Collins 3.5lb head ready to haft at some point, but that was an ebay purchase so not as meaningful.

The color change on the small haft vs the BBR haft is very interesting. The 28" was linseed oil only, no danish oil or stain- it started at nearly the same color as the BBR. I put linseed and walnut danish oil on the BBR haft which barely changed color. The BBR haft's kerf was also noticably harder to put in.. a different grade wood perhaps.

rehafted-old-bville-axes.jpg
 
1944 Spiller
Oakland Maine
Jersey

Whiskey River Handle & Wedge
Single birch wedge
28" NEC, New England Curve Handle

26½" X 4¼lbs

Handle shortening occured when hanging and fitting down closer to the shoulder.


Here going thru its paces yesterday.
A superior axe here at the woodpile

20250124-135924.jpg


20250124-112928.jpg


20250124-113051.jpg


Pictured here with The Rogers MFG Superior Connecticut my son was using when helping me yesterday

20250127-162323.jpg


Todays chopping

20250128-124921.jpg


I just have it cut and ready for my son to get home from school

20250128-131458.jpg
 
GW Bradley
P3
Connecticut
Whiskey River 30" Heritage White Oak
Walnut Wedge

I have had this head for several years now. Picked off the www as is.

I have had this white oak Whiskey River Heritage 30" for a year maybe 2.

Yesterday they both spoke to me and we started.
Today we finished and i am happy with the result.
Wallhanger.
Trimmed the handle down, removing the mallet nob and removed at least 2" from the tongue.
Down to a 28" French Curve Fawns Foot

20250226-170752.jpg


20250226-170808.jpg


20250226-170803.jpg


20250226-171432.jpg


20250226-171355.jpg


20250226-171338.jpg


20250226-171359.jpg


20250226-171334.jpg


4¼lbs X 28" X 5¼"Bit
GW Bradley
 
20250305-081041.jpg


20250305-081028.jpg


20250305-081037.jpg


20250305-125747.jpg


20250305-125838.jpg


20250305-125847.jpg


20250305-125800.jpg


20250305-130021.jpg


20250305-130026.jpg


20250305-125738.jpg


Hartford and New Haven were in a tight race, each fighting to be named the states capital.
In 1875, Hartford won the bid, their payout/offer to the state of the land, properties and constructuon being more than New Haven offered.
Not sure if that has anything to do with the stamp, but its a great story of politiking, backroom deals and greasing the wheels of legislature if you delve into it.

Thank you TravisV. for this head in a massive trade of axes and planes a couple maybe three years back.
I finished up on the filing you started, and hung it on this fitting handle that i do not recall when i acquired.

Hartford

Boys/House/Pack Axe

2¾lb Head
Hand Filed

Totals:
26" X 3¾lbs X 4"Bit X 6¼" Long
Walnut Wedge
Sweet Palm Swell
Relief Bevels

Thanks for looking
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top