Show off your Axes/Hatchets

I saw the thread "Hey TW! Let's see your knives!" and thought this could be another good topic. I figure at least some of us are wearing flannel for reasons other than driving our Tacomas!

I'll start. This is my Norlund hatchet which I found in my grandfather's barn and restored. Near as I can tell, the handle it had was not the original and couldn't be reused, but I did save it to maybe create one in the future when this one is ready to be replaced.





I also have a hewing hatchet I haven't started on yet, which is clearly much older, but in better shape than the Norlund started in. The handle on that is definitely not original as it doesn't fit in the eye very well at all. It is also from the same barn and likely was my great or great-great-grandfather's.

 

Pro Tip: 2:1 water and molasses... submerge, forget about it for a few weeks, remove, scrub off the black iron bacteria slime with a wire brush...

let the bugs do the work and only the rust gets consumed.

 

I have one of those orange/black Fiskars axes, got it a couple years ago. Works well for what I need it for, which isn't much aside from camping in remote areas.

It did fly off my truck on the highway once a couple years ago at bout 75mph, that is something I hope I never have to relive again. Luckily no one was behind me and I was in the slow lane so it bounced and landed off the side of the road. Cover came off (didn't break surprisingly), and the axle blade took a bit of a beating but it still works great.

I keep it buried beneath other stuff in the bed now when I take it with me on trips

 

Thanks for the tip. Will that help preserve the bluing effect?

 

No photos? That's definitely scary!

 

Its one of these guys


Yeah it was kind of a shit-your-pants moment to see your axe swinging in the wind behind your truck when going down the freeway lol. Luckily I heard it when it came loose. I'll try to remember to get pics of it later tonight

 

I know the bacteria will eat the iron oxide (Fe++) and, I’m no expert, but I think ‘bluing’ is Fe+++, so my guess is no, but I’m not sure...

Make sure the metal is completely de-greased before you soak it in the molasses mix. I just use citrus dish soap. Your molasses to water ratio may vary depending on temp.... warmer=more water 6:1 is about as dilute as you want to go, otherwise it takes forever.

 

GB small forest axe. Always on the pack when hunting and camping. Just put a new Handel in it last month after it took a tumble down a hill and cracked the original.

 

Given how old it is, I'm guessing it could have to do with the forging process. But, as you saw with the Norlund, it produced a pretty nice silver surface and not the traditional axe look, but I liked the look. It's pitted, but I restored it to use it so I don't mind at all.

 

Those are beautiful axes. I don't think I could justify the cost, but I love those.

 

if had personally bought it I don’t think I would have either. My grandfather bought it for me for my hunt. Been going strong for close to a decade.

 

try the molasses soak.... can’t hurt it and I think you’ll like the ‘patina’ you get. The pitting will be there, but it’ll be completely free of rust.

The whole thing (new handle and head) get smeared with peanut oil.

 

lives in my truck...

 

I live vicariously through others. I don't yet have an axe or hatchet but it feels like something I should have

 

believe it or not, a good buck/bow saw and BAK is probably more practical...

 

Excellent products for sure

 

I'll have to look into that. Currently I also use boiled linseed oil, but I know that can also be dangerous too if not taken care of properly when disposing of it.

 

Here is my Genuine Norlund. It still has the original green finish and axe mask and cuts real well. I carry it a lot doing trail work on my local mountain bike trails when I don't feel like packing in a chain saw.

 

That's a nice Norlund, I would like to find a hatchet to go with my axe.

 

Thanks! I wasn't actively looking, but had an interest. I saw it laying on the floor of my grandfather's barn as I was gathering some things before it was sold and it was meant to be.