What handle length?

A

asmith80

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Oct 19, 2011
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Just got a vintage Cruso axe head from eBay and am planning on restoring it. This will be my first attempt at something like this. I was thinking of going with the 28" boys axe handle from House Handle. Would that be a good length for this size head (7 inches long, 4 1/4" blade, almost 4lbs.)?

 
What is the intended use for the axe?

Mostly splitting - 36"

Felling/bucking - possibly less, but will depend on your size (some people like 30" or so)

Either way a boy's axe handle won't work as that's a full size head, and the boy's axe handle is likely way too small in the eye department. If you want a 28" handle, you'll need one with a full-size eye.
 
You can run whatever length you like. Gotta echo SC T100 though, when you order from House, get the 28" made for a full-size eye. I think 30" handles correlate to my body structure, so that's what I put on full-size heads. For 3lbs or less, or heads with a more compact profile, 28" just to keep them compact.
 
SC T100 said:
What is the intended use for the axe?

Mostly splitting - 36"

Felling/bucking - possibly less, but will depend on your size (some people like 30" or so)

Either way a boy's axe handle won't work as that's a full size head, and the boy's axe handle is likely way too small in the eye department. If you want a 28" handle, you'll need one with a full-size eye.
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I'd entirely agree with this. I hung a 4 pound head on a 28 inch handle 30 years ago (during my younger days; in anticipation of 'magnum' application) but it never felt comfortable nor useful. 32" might work for you, if you can find one.
 
I can't speak from personal experience, but of the hundreds of vintage axes that I have found, I have never, not once, found an older full sized head on a 36" handle unless it was a replacement. 3.5lb or so heads always used to be on 28-32" handles. You still need to correct eye size though.
 
jblyttle said:
I can't speak from personal experience, but of the hundreds of vintage axes that I have found, I have never, not once, found an older full sized head on a 36" handle unless it was a replacement. 3.5lb or so heads always used to be on 28-32" handles. You still need to correct eye size though.
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There is a marked difference between 28 inch and 32 inch; you can't just lump them together as universal 28-32!
 
Oh, and just FYI - event the replacement 36" handles will usually end up shorter one the head is hung and the excess cut off...so you may end up with something in the 33-35" range once hung.
 
asmith80 said:
Just got a vintage Cruso axe head from eBay and am planning on restoring it. This will be my first attempt at something like this. I was thinking of going with the 28" boys axe handle from House Handle. Would that be a good length for this size head (7 inches long, 4 1/4" blade, almost 4lbs.)?

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It won't fit, but House makes a 28" full size eye that will. I like the shorter handles myself, its personal preference.
 
jblyttle said:
I can't speak from personal experience, but of the hundreds of vintage axes that I have found, I have never, not once, found an older full sized head on a 36" handle unless it was a replacement. 3.5lb or so heads always used to be on 28-32" handles. You still need to correct eye size though.
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That's a regional thing JB. Here in the North West it can be hard to find vintage hafts shorter than 36". I think the longer hafts where needed to fell the bigger trees.
 
garry3 said:
That's a regional thing JB. Here in the North West it can be hard to find vintage hafts shorter than 36". I think the longer hafts where needed to fell the bigger trees.
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Same in the upper Midwest. Lots of old 36" handles on both single and double bits.
 
300Six said:
There is a marked difference between 28 inch and 32 inch; you can't just lump them together as universal 28-32!
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I'm not lumping anything together. What makes you think that I am?

I only stated that the full sized axes that I have found were on handles within that range. That is a true statement. I am not giving an opinion, only an observation. Chastise those that hung them.
 
jblyttle said:
I'm not lumping anything together. What makes you think that I am?

I only stated that the full sized axes that I have found were on handles within that range. That is a true statement. I am not giving an opinion, only an observation. Chastise those that hung them.
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Easy man! We're all in this together and it is/was not my intention to slander anybody. Beauty of re-hafts is 'you' can decide, and do, exactly what it is 'you' think 'you' want. Been there already more than a few times over the past 40 years and have become less and less inclined to experiment on either side of convention because of it.
 
If it's just for splitting I'd go with a 36" haft for the added power. If you might use it for bucking or felling then I'd shorten it to 32"-34". A full size axe (3.5 pounds or more) on a 30" haft feels clunky to me. Save the 30" haft for 3 pound axes.

BTW, fine looking axe - Michigan pattern. Made to be a working axe. Put it to work.
 
300Six said:
Easy man! We're all in this together and it is/was not my intention to slander anybody. Beauty of re-hafts is 'you' can decide, and do, exactly what it is 'you' think 'you' want. Been there already more than a few times over the past 40 years and have become less and less inclined to experiment on either side of convention because of it.
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No worries, an irritating day, my apologies for being wound too tightly. As Sergeant Hulka said, "Lighten up Francis.".
 
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