What does an axeman carry?

[Chignecto Woodsman]

Interested in what old-time woodsmen and lumberjacks carried and wore for clothing, as well as what some of you have found useful. I got a book about lumberjacks for Christmas so if I find good information I will try to post it.

I'll post what I carry. Generally I go out for about 2-4 hours, either dedicated to silviculture, trailmaking, trailclearing, limbing and bucking, or felling.

Gransfors Scandinavian forest axe if I am limbing, exploring, or making a new trail. Great limbing axe but I find it lacking once you get into the size of trees generally found fallen across trails or roads. Need at least 2.5 pounds for that. For winter bushcraft, general work, or trail work I like the 3.25 lb size, Gransfors Felling axe or my new E&S. Strictly felling, either the E&S or my old double-bit 3.8 lbs.

Rubber boots. Some won't like this, but I generally don't wear steel-toe boots. Too much weight for me. I find rubber boots are quite light and good for wet-cold conditions. Calked boots are also crucial here, or at least crampons, since there are lots of ice storms.

Whistle/compass combo.

SAK and puukko. Probably not really necessary, but I always carry one or both in the woods religiously.

Fallkniven DC4. Easy to carry and works well enough on axes.

Deerskin chamois or towel attached to my belt with a carabiner. I find this incredibly useful for drying my hands and keeping the axe clean without getting my clothes wet. May also provide some stropping benefits. Also can serve as emergency first aid if necessary.

Firesteel/matches.

Carhartt hooded jacket. Works much like an anorak, can waterproof it in areas if necessary. I've also been working on a homemade anorak.

Carhartt pants. Comfortable and keep me dry, durable, the side pockets fit a DC4 sharpening stone perfectly.

Hooded sweatshirt or wool sweater. Whatever is comfortable for working movement, and also good for venting warm air/moisture.

Headlamp of some kind. Recently came in handy when looking for a sheath that fell out of my pocket at dusk and the subsequent walk home.

My dog brings companionship and some protection from animals. Have to be careful when felling though.

I try to go lightweight if possible. Generally don't even bring a bag with me, but I've considered taking one more often to include a wool/emergency blanket, rope, and more first aid/emergency items. Perhaps a limbing axe. Would also be good to carry head protection for falling trees, which I keep telling myself I will do.

So what do you carry? Or what have you heard that lumberjacks of old carried?

 

[sideways]

Lumberjacks of old would have carried some lunch, some water, and a big honking two man saw... and some sharpening equipment. For little jobs that's pretty much what I carry. Only swap the saw for a chainsaw or brushcutter, throw in some spare chains, a helmet with muffs and a face guard (like the one in the picture down below), combo gas & oil canister, and finally the tool for opening up the saw. Clothing is whatever long sleeved rags I don't mind getting sap and sawdust on. Gloves and safety shoes are the norm.

For trail clearing and micromanaging saplings people use brushcutters tpday. Back in the day they would have used axes, machetes, brushaxes or some other form of bladed tool.

In today's commercial outfits the machines are so big they'll just knock anything small out of the way. Today axes don't really come into commercial lumberjacking. See the video for the tools of the trade. You can wear what you like in the cabin. A hard hat and some safety shoes are probably regulation compliant but understand they won't do much to save you when you are working with big equipment. You'll just move slower if you have to bail in a hurry to avoid being crushed.
[video=youtube;d2Z7n6xfqxg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Z7n6xfqxg[/video]

 

[halfaxe]

In the old days of the lake states lumber camps, They had axes and crosscut saws. The lunch was brought out to them in the woods. They didn't carry anything. They wore wool. The pants were cut off above the ankle a ways. They hung up their one pair of wool socks near the wood stove at night. You had to keep a close eye on a new pair so they weren't stolen. River drivers wore calked boots.

 

[Ugaldie]

Here in the western Pyrenees they lived in camps near or in the forest they worked.

To work they used crosscut saws, axes, ropes, trunk moving tools (hookaroons, hooks...) and trunk thansporting chariots usually with oxen.

It was not inusual (sometimes very common) in the mediterranean watershed to transport the trunks by the river in rafts.

They dressed the way you can see in the photos, their clothes were maid of wool and linen. The shoes were espadrilles or "abarkak", a kind of leather shoes.



The last century were maid of rubber, making them a very efficient working shoes.

One of the workers dedicated to premare meals and to weare them with water and wine or cider to his workteam.

 

[flexo]

Here in the western Pyrenees they lived in camps near or in the forest they worked.

To work they used crosscut saws, axes, ropes, trunk moving tools (hookaroons, hooks...) and trunk thansporting chariots usually with oxen.

It was not inusual (sometimes very common) in the mediterranean watershed to transport the trunks by the river in rafts.

They dressed the way you can see in the photos, their clothes were maid of wool and linen. The shoes were espadrilles or "abarkak", a kind of leather shoes.

View attachment 504290

The last century were maid of rubber, making them a very efficient working shoes.

One of the workers dedicated to premare meals and to weare them with water and wine or cider to his workteam.

agur dana,
you forgot to talk about boina ,basque beret ,whatever you name it,waterproof garement ,...

(clothes were more rarely maid than made )

 

[Ugaldie]

Agur hirire,

We call them txapela. Here old people say that anglosaxon military beret origin comes from the Napoleonic war in Spain, when English soldiers fought in our territory and they liked it.

LOL you are right, I mean made. Sorry, english is my third language.

 

[Chignecto Woodsman]

The book I'm reading mentions 'blouses' in Eastern Canada. I wonder if this means something like the shirts the men on the raft are wearing.

I think food would have depended on location and what the men's jobs were. I know the water boil event in woodsmen's competitions intends to represent a lunchtime fire.

As well, most camps had warming fires, so getting wet wouldn't be as big of a concern. When you're on your own you have to be much more careful not to get wet, so wool outerwear may not be the best in wet-cold and snowy days.

 

[Arathol]

If you want a good idea of what life was like at various times in the logging industry, there are plenty of vintage films on YouTube. In these films you can see what sort of tools were used, what the people wore, how they ate, just about every aspect of life in the woods is covered.

Heavy canvas pants, wool shirts and coats, heavy wool socks and caulk boots were the order of the day in cold weather. Wool is absolutely preferred as it still retains its thermal insulation properties even when wet. Many of the men wore what ever clothes they owned as times were hard and stuff cost money that just wasn't there. In some dialects a blouse is just a loose fitting button down shirt.

Before the advent of the chain saw axes were the primary cutting tool, used to make the face cut when felling large trees. Saws were used to make the back cut and to buck the logs. The saws could not really be sharpened in the field as they were big and needed special tools and skills to get them right. It could take a few hours to file and join a crosscut saw properly.

What you carried around would depend on your job. There were cruisers, toppers, fellers, buckers, drivers and skidders, and many other job descriptions. Axes, saws, wedges, measuring tapes and rods, hammers, ropes and rigging, pike poles, pickaroons and peaveys were all used in various jobs. The tools you needed to do your job are what you had with you every day.

 

[sideways]

*snip*
What you carried around would depend on your job. There were cruisers, toppers, fellers, buckers, drivers and skidders, and many other job descriptions. Axes, saws, wedges, measuring tapes and rods, hammers, ropes and rigging, pike poles, pickaroons and peaveys were all used in various jobs. The tools you needed to do your job are what you had with you every day.

Good point... there were other jobs to do around a logging camp besides the actual wood stuff. Many guys would have had several hats to wear at the same time. Some guys would be taking care of the horse teams or the rafts depending on what they were using to transport the logs. Others would spend part of their time sharpening, repairing and maintaining tools, and there would be cooks and managers too.

The clothing being whatever was available is a good point too. Earlier generations did not have the luxury of a varied wardrobe the way we do and the people in lumber camps would have been pretty far down on the social hierarchy.

 

[Chignecto Woodsman]

Sweet photos.

I would consider most of the wool shirts today unavailable given the cost of 300-400 dollars. I buy used stuff if I find it but those wool jackets are hard to find cheap. I have considered just sewing some bits of wool blanket over the cheap plaid flannels (we call them county tuxedoes since plenty of people still wear them into town).

 

[300Six]

Sweet photos.

I would consider most of the wool shirts today unavailable given the cost of 300-400 dollars. I buy used stuff if I find it but those wool jackets are hard to find cheap. I have considered just sewing some bits of wool blanket over the cheap plaid flannels (we call them county tuxedoes since plenty of people still wear them into town).

Check out Stanfields of Truro, Nova Scotia. Folks in the fishing, mining and logging industry all over Canada for over a century wore Stanfields "woolies". I've had two of their wool pullover (called Henleys and still available for $62 (the 'Relic' character of the Beachcombers TV series always wore one!) shirts for 35 years now and they just refuse to tear or wear out.

 

[Arathol]

Sweet photos.

I would consider most of the wool shirts today unavailable given the cost of 300-400 dollars. I buy used stuff if I find it but those wool jackets are hard to find cheap. I have considered just sewing some bits of wool blanket over the cheap plaid flannels (we call them county tuxedoes since plenty of people still wear them into town).

$300 for a wool shirt is way high. I have a bunch of them, mostly under 50 apiece. Woolrich, Pendleton, Johnson Mills have good ones.Cabelas, LL Bean, just about any decent outdoor outfitter type store will have wool shirts of some sort.

 

[Ugaldie]

Nice photos sideways. I like the first one most. What is the name of this tool, axkaroon, hookaraxe?

I want, no, I NEED one!

 

[quinton]

wrong button..sorry

 

[Chignecto Woodsman]

Check out Stanfields of Truro, Scotia. Folks in the fishing, mining and logging industry all over Canada for over a century wore Stanfields "woolies". I've had two of their wool pullover (called Henleys and still available for $62 (the 'Relic' character of the Beachcombers TV series always wore one!) shirts for 35 years now and they just refuse to tear or wear out.

Actually, they're not too far from me and I asked for one for Christmas. Can sometimes find factory seconds there, I got socks and other stuff instead *their old-style socks are really good.). Thanks for the recommendation, definitely will be getting one at some point.

Anyone know about old rainwear? Or did they just wear wool? I've been trying to come up with an adapted anorak that I can treat with nikwax or beeswax. Today I was out for three hours+, two above freezing and snow, by the end I was getting pretty wet. I've also considered oilcloth slickers, but don't know how well they'll breathe.

 

[Sparky415]

You Guys might enjoy this/the second part, (I was suprised at his shoes)

Timber getting in Western Australia 1920's - 1030's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knTYjI66Yzw

 

[Arathol]

Anyone know about old rainwear? Or did they just wear wool? I've been trying to come up with an adapted anorak that I can treat with nikwax or beeswax. Today I was out for three hours+, two above freezing and snow, by the end I was getting pretty wet. I've also considered oilcloth slickers, but don't know how well they'll breathe.

Oil cloth is quite water repellent but it does not breathe well. I have a Filson jacket and bibs made from oiled tin cloth and they are absolutely water proof. Down side is oil cloth is usually pretty costly. Its also tough as nails and will stand up to a lot of abuse. Its pretty darn near indestructible.
Filson started as a supplier and outfitter for men who worked outdoors in tough conditions. If you watch old logging videos chances are you will see at least one guy wearing a Filson tin coat or tin pants.

 

[trailtime]

I wasn't around for the old-timey logging, but this is typical of what I carry with a small trail crew. Crosscut saw and extra handle, SB axe to drive wedges and use for under bucking (see notches on handle) Maasdam puller with blocks and steel carabiners or shackles, slings, hanging wedges (not shown). Cold weather clothing preference is layered polypro under wool sweater or wind block fleece. The heart of this kit -- axe and saw -- are living relics from the hand logging days. Saw was originally seven feet long but was damaged, so I made a big one-man out of it, like a topping saw.

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[Chignecto Woodsman]

Nice setup. Thanks for the photos.

"They used the Blenkhorn axe 'til a nice little axe come out they called the Spiller in 1920 or '21. The Blenkhorn was the number one axe, the best one you could buy. We thought they had somethin' if they got a Blenkhorn. It wouldn't cost maybe a dollar and a half. There was always somebody in the village made handles and sold them. The Spiller was a nicer little axe. They was thin, and the Blenkhorn was a heavy axe and quite thick; it would be approximately two and a half, three pounds. You had to do a lot of grindin' on it, but the Spiller you didn't. And she stood up too, as good as the other one unless you missed and hit a rock or somethin', you'd have to do some grindin'. But you give 'em a good grindin' when you started, without you ground 'er too thin that she bent."
- Nova Scotia logger James Moore in "Woodchips and Beans"

Seems there was quite a respect for the Maine axes. I'll post a couple pictures of my Blenkhorn axes:

Both of these are 3.25 lb axes. Blenkhorn & Sons, 1871-1915.

 

[Alocksly]

Oil cloth is quite water repellent but it does not breathe well. I have a Filson jacket and bibs made from oiled tin cloth and they are absolutely water proof. Down side is oil cloth is usually pretty costly. Its also tough as nails and will stand up to a lot of abuse. Its pretty darn near indestructible.
Filson started as a supplier and outfitter for men who worked outdoors in tough conditions. If you watch old logging videos chances are you will see at least one guy wearing a Filson tin coat or tin pants.

Filsons has an outlet store near where I live. While I don't log for a living I still like my Filsons oiled canvas coat for Northwest winter weather, particularity when I find myself shouldering my way through wet brush. I do have a co-worker who used to log and he swore by his Filsons Tin-Cloth pants. He said that even Carhart pants didn't tend to last more that a season but the Tin-Cloth held up for years. My wife picked up some Tin-pants at the outlet for gardening and although she doesn't exactly test them to their limits she quite likes them as she can kneel in the wet without getting wet and thorns aren't normally able to poke her through them.

edit: You can also go to Filsons and get a can of their "wax" which they sell for re-treating their product. I have used it on a number of other canvas items and one nylon one with (so far) apparent success. I have a ball cap I'm allowed to wear at work that I had been trying for years to Scotch Guard, Kamp-Dry, etc with limited success but the Filsons wax has finally rendered it waterproof.

A side note of wool gear; I too appreciate the advantages of natural wool but often balk at the cost of new stuff. Wool shirts in the jack-shirt style and wool sweaters can be had from military surplus stores for around $30 for almost new condition. My wife picked up a small sized shirt with a wool patch on one elbow for $5. You do have to like Olive Drab Green though.