Hey... Woods, thanks. I have used this axe a little on limbing some big spruce I cut. I wanted to give it a workout to see if the haft held up....so far, so good. I am also making and editing some other vids about my new homestead project. I will (of course) be doing more axe stuff, but I want to share some other material as well. The weather here has turned cool and wet again, 9C and heavy rain. I hope all is well with you, Chris
Thanks!....I might put out a small video about a bushcraft axe I am building for a 'lady bushcrafter'. Actually I have a bunch of clips I am editing of my other property (the one on this video is where I live, it is a semi-arid area, whereas the place I am developing has much higher precipitation). Although I make a lot of axe videos, there are other things I will be making videos focusing on homestead development, ecology, canoeing and some bushcraft stuff. I hope all is well with you and your family.
Thanks!...yes, Sagebrush and cactus country, very dry and hot to 42C in summer. There are not many trees below 2,500 feet, mostly Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine. Although the new site is only one hour away it is totally different, higher precipitation, different ecology.
Hey Chris! Good to see you. Took a trip over Mt Rainier down to see my 91 year old Dad this week in Oregon, and Canadian fire smoke was thick on the mountain and in the canyons. Hope all is well with your BC properties. Appreciate the hafting tips. I'm re-hafting a couple of old Plumb carpenters hatchets that have the single bevel and a 2 1/4 lb old Collins rafting axe single bit I've had for 30+ years. Never had a split but think the drilled "stop" is a great idea. Good health my friend!
Hey Martin! Just had our first week up on our new property living in our little RV. Yes, the smoke has been very bad for 2 weeks all throughout the Interior of BC. Thankfully, up where we are is not to bad but Kamloops was dreadful on Thursday. Some friends of mine who live with their two sons on the other side of the mountain from us lost their homestead on Tuesday. I am pleased you found some practical tips in my videos. All the Best to you and your family :)
I picked up the exact same axe some time ago and was lucky enough to get it with the original handle, judging by the shape of the handle I would say this model came out some time in the sixties.
Glad to hear you're okay. Sure sorry about your friends though. But as I recall, those folks in rural BC are tough and will land right side up. Give them my sympathy and best wishes. Take care my friend!
I just completed a 3.5lb Montreal pattern head marked Made in Sweden with a 36" straight haft. The head had been found lodged in a tree with the tree starting to swallow it. Also I am stealing your idea to drill stops. Ive only rehafted maybe 8 axes and I havent ever had one split but cant be too safe.
Haha, what a great story you tell, I like the image of the tree swallowing the axe vengefully! It sounds like you have developed some good skills in re-hafting your axes.
Woodsman Spirit based on research I think Swede may be a Hults Bruks. Im also thinking about pulling the heavy haft and replacing it with one the same 36" length but slimmer.
HB's are much more common, but very good. Choosing the right length of shaft is a matter of personal preference. The 3.5 HB, Sater Banko and HB 2.5 I restored recently all have hafts slightly shorter than typical (around 2"). Thinning shafts is a good move, I usually leave them at least full thickness beneath the eye then after 2"-3" slim them off leaving a full knob on the end. The difference is noticeable and pleasing particularly with extended use.
Say Heah, I made a House Axe out of a 2 1/2lbs vintage Iltis Oxhead. House Axes were used by miners and some fire people for close quaters use. I had one made for its compact. The head has very thin cheeks but with enough weight to fell reasonable size dead fall. But also the weight allows it to split. Alot laughed saying I made a mistake putting a 19" White Hickiry Handle on such a thin cheeked Axe head. But now they want to use it.,,.p
Thanks paulie 4x, my dad's axe would fit with the 'house-axe' design. It is a 4lb Gilpin with a 23" Mohogany Haft...he used it for firewood processing and coppicing White and Crack Willow Trees.
That's a Nice handle and good Idea with drillning the hole! Ive never split a hickory handle But a few birch handles.. makes you mad for a week.
Howdy Chris...another Axe project...nice!
it'll be great to see it finished and put back in use...great to see you my friend...woods
Hey... Woods, thanks. I have used this axe a little on limbing some big spruce I cut. I wanted to give it a workout to see if the haft held up....so far, so good. I am also making and editing some other vids about my new homestead project. I will (of course) be doing more axe stuff, but I want to share some other material as well. The weather here has turned cool and wet again, 9C and heavy rain. I hope all is well with you, Chris
great video.. thank you for sharing. I appreciate the time and effort that went into your axe. Look forward to seeing more of your property.
Thanks!....I might put out a small video about a bushcraft axe I am building for a 'lady bushcrafter'. Actually I have a bunch of clips I am editing of my other property (the one on this video is where I live, it is a semi-arid area, whereas the place I am developing has much higher precipitation). Although I make a lot of axe videos, there are other things I will be making videos focusing on homestead development, ecology, canoeing and some bushcraft stuff. I hope all is well with you and your family.
I love the background in this video, beautiful!! Can't wait for our other homestead development videos.. excited to see them. Cheers!
Thanks!...yes, Sagebrush and cactus country, very dry and hot to 42C in summer. There are not many trees below 2,500 feet, mostly Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine. Although the new site is only one hour away it is totally different, higher precipitation, different ecology.
Hey Chris! Good to see you. Took a trip over Mt Rainier down to see my 91 year old Dad this week in Oregon, and Canadian fire smoke was thick on the mountain and in the canyons. Hope all is well with your BC properties. Appreciate the hafting tips. I'm re-hafting a couple of old Plumb carpenters hatchets that have the single bevel and a 2 1/4 lb old Collins rafting axe single bit I've had for 30+ years. Never had a split but think the drilled "stop" is a great idea. Good health my friend!
Hey Martin! Just had our first week up on our new property living in our little RV. Yes, the smoke has been very bad for 2 weeks all throughout the Interior of BC. Thankfully, up where we are is not to bad but Kamloops was dreadful on Thursday. Some friends of mine who live with their two sons on the other side of the mountain from us lost their homestead on Tuesday. I am pleased you found some practical tips in my videos. All the Best to you and your family :)
I picked up the exact same axe some time ago and was lucky enough to get it with the original handle, judging by the shape of the handle I would say this model came out some time in the sixties.
Thanks for the information Ray. This one had a handle on it, but it was cracked along the grain.
Glad to hear you're okay. Sure sorry about your friends though. But as I recall, those folks in rural BC are tough and will land right side up. Give them my sympathy and best wishes. Take care my friend!
Thanks friend for conveying your best wishes, yes they are resourceful Metis People. ATB, Chris
I just completed a 3.5lb Montreal pattern head marked Made in Sweden with a 36" straight haft. The head had been found lodged in a tree with the tree starting to swallow it. Also I am stealing your idea to drill stops. Ive only rehafted maybe 8 axes and I havent ever had one split but cant be too safe.
Haha, what a great story you tell, I like the image of the tree swallowing the axe vengefully! It sounds like you have developed some good skills in re-hafting your axes.
Woodsman Spirit based on research I think Swede may be a Hults Bruks. Im also thinking about pulling the heavy haft and replacing it with one the same 36" length but slimmer.
HB's are much more common, but very good. Choosing the right length of shaft is a matter of personal preference. The 3.5 HB, Sater Banko and HB 2.5 I restored recently all have hafts slightly shorter than typical (around 2"). Thinning shafts is a good move, I usually leave them at least full thickness beneath the eye then after 2"-3" slim them off leaving a full knob on the end. The difference is noticeable and pleasing particularly with extended use.
Say Heah, I made a House Axe out of a 2 1/2lbs vintage Iltis Oxhead. House Axes were used by miners and some fire people for close quaters use. I had one made for its compact. The head has very thin cheeks but with enough weight to fell reasonable size dead fall. But also the weight allows it to split. Alot laughed saying I made a mistake putting a 19" White Hickiry Handle on such a thin cheeked Axe head. But now they want to use it.,,.p
Thanks paulie 4x, my dad's axe would fit with the 'house-axe' design. It is a 4lb Gilpin with a 23" Mohogany Haft...he used it for firewood processing and coppicing White and Crack Willow Trees.
Woodsman Spirit nice job their tyke you sure you not in parley bridge there lol great to see you again look forward to next video
Parley Bridge...do you mean Pateley Bridge? Or is it the 'Theakstone Old Peculier' speaking...cheers mate!