Show me your axes!

Discussion in 'Knives, Gear, Guns And Other Tools' started by Klynesquatch, Sep 8, 2016.

  1. Wisdom

    Wisdom Member

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    I consider myself an Axeaholic. I come from a long line of axe lovers. I have 4 axes used by my grandfather. Here's one of them. I'm the 4th generation to own this one. Used mostly for limbing and hog slaughters. It the most valuable thing I own. image.jpeg
    Here's a couple of my favorites. The GB outdoor axe is awesome for its size. image.jpeg
     
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  2. FortyTwoBlades

    FortyTwoBlades Moderator Staff Member

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    Hold on a moment and I'll grab some diagrams. :)
     
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  3. Theodore

    Theodore Member

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    Lol, ok. I will babble back at you;). The entire axe manufacturing community of the U.S disagree with you. Or, that is to say they did when they changed from polless, to axes with poles. (That looks horribly incorrect) Ill tell you what, help me find a Connecticut pattern head user to hang, and ill meet you for a little challenge.(I live in Maine) We will buck two hardwood logs of equil diameter from the same tree. (One apiece) Then some of that great Maine pine. Then for kicks we will split. And you can post the results up here.
     
  4. FortyTwoBlades

    FortyTwoBlades Moderator Staff Member

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    Hmmmm...you didn't answer my question. Let's try again: how many poll-less axes have you used, what were they, and for how long did you use them and what for? If you're ever near Shapleigh you're welcome to come try some of mine. Consistently every single person who has ever gotten their hands on a Rinaldi axe (and we're talking serious axe users among them, who use their axes for their livelihood) have been blown away by how deep they bite. They simply take a fundamentally different approach to design that you're probably unfamiliar with the strengths and weaknesses of the Italian approach to axes.

    In what way did the manufacturing community disagree with me? You'll find that what I've described is merely dynamics of how axes inherently function, and that manufacturers and makers all the way back to the stone age have followed those same principles.
     
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  5. FortyTwoBlades

    FortyTwoBlades Moderator Staff Member

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  6. Theodore

    Theodore Member

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    They disagree with you in that the entire North American manufacturing community stopped making axes the old way, and started making axes with poles(or double bits) the second they were able to. I am not speaking specifically to the Italian style, but the polless style in general. I am not speaking about carving ot other chores, but felling or chopping. I have never held one of your italian axes. As far as some old style polless Im sure at some point. I have some experience with the dane axe. And the francesca axe. Im sure your axes bite deep. (That is not the only benchmark of a good axe) When i find again there is a video of you online using one of your thin polless axes to fell a dead pine. I will put up a comparison video with it of an american style felling axe to show my point. Once i wade through all the videos of people trying to fell trees with hatchets. Lol.(edit.) As an example when axes were used to fell trees, here in maine or anywhere, what style was used?) There is a reason the abandonded the old polless style, and speed wobble and balance were given as reasons. As well as many others.
     
  7. FortyTwoBlades

    FortyTwoBlades Moderator Staff Member

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    American axes are in many respects a very generalist style of axe, and would be great for "you can only have one" circumstances. If you need to pound, split, and chop all with one axe, they're fantastic, and I own and use American axes all the time. But there are lots of reasons for why that style became the preference in America that do not contradict what I've asserted in the slightest. I'd be happy to go into detail for you, but I warn you that it does require a lot of technical explanation of things that are more easily simply felt in use.
     
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  8. FortyTwoBlades

    FortyTwoBlades Moderator Staff Member

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    You didn't read the above linked article, did you...?
     
  9. Theodore

    Theodore Member

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    I just finished. You seem to have proved why large bladed polless axes are inferior as bucking and felling axes with your first illistration. Try adding the straight handled double bit to that group. Then you will see perfect center of gravity as you chose to test for it. You have shown the large bladed polless axes put undue stress on parts of the handle not made for the stress and moved the point of gravity down from the head and far away from the handle. Again all less than ideal for bucking and felling.
     
  10. Theodore

    Theodore Member

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    I love axes and do not need to be convinced of the "all around ability". So if we could keep the points to felling and bucking it would be appritiated. And still conform to my manufacturing and usage claims as well as yours i believe.
     
  11. The Warrior

    The Warrior Member

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    I need to get these cleaned up and rehandled. Have had them for at least 25 years, haha. Bought them at a garage sale for $2:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Theodore

    Theodore Member

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    What's the one on the right? Any markings left?
     
  13. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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  14. The Warrior

    The Warrior Member

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    IIRC, it has a True Temper logo on it.
     
  15. FortyTwoBlades

    FortyTwoBlades Moderator Staff Member

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    No need to add the double bit as it's self evident that it will have the handle along a unified axis. And no, it does not put undue stress on the handle, and having the center of gravity forward of the eye is not in the least problematic as it can be accounted for in either chopping technique or in the handle design. In fact, American adzes often had handles that had offset necks for the very purpose of setting the main length of the handle along a unified axis...



    And here are some American axes properly hung by fellow Mainer, Eric Callahan

    [​IMG]

    I'm not sure I follow what you're saying here...the only claims I made were here...

     
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  16. Theodore

    Theodore Member

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    That's quite the set. Hudson bay, double bit, boys axe and that true temper. Those are going to look nice all cleaned up.
     
  17. Theodore

    Theodore Member

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    Lol. You say it is not problematic then say it can be accounted for by changing chopping technique or handle design? Then it is by deffinition, problematic is it not? You say you do not need to show the double bit, but that is because of course it will have its center of gravity where it is perfect for bucking and felling. And that is the point of the poll. To balance the axe. And it does. And your own paper clearly demonstrates that the axe with a poll is closer to optimal.
     
  18. FortyTwoBlades

    FortyTwoBlades Moderator Staff Member

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    Bucking frozen-solid green pine.


    Felling dead standing pine. Note that other than the one instance noted in the video where I accidentally overpenetrated, all other moments where it might appear as though the axe is sticking is actually me giving a little sideways prying of the handle to pop a chip in the absence of thick cheeks.
     
  19. FortyTwoBlades

    FortyTwoBlades Moderator Staff Member

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    Not problematic because it can be accounted for. Much like it's not a problem that the handle isn't sharp because you hit stuff with the other end. Did I say that having a handle with a unified axis was a bad thing? Having an axe with a handle along a unified axis is certainly preferable, and a poll simplifies the handle making process by reducing the amount of offset required in the neck to produce such an effect. However, that does not negate the advantages that are, at the same time, afforded by having a deep, thin, broad bit. By shifting the eye rearward on the head you get an axe with a deeper bit for equal head weight without increasing the distance between the edge and the center of gravity. I'm not saying that the Italian method is inherently better in any broad sense, but rather that it prioritizes different strengths and has different weaknesses. It's simply a difference of approach. And it works. Visit me and you can try it yourself. :)
     
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  20. ManOfSteel

    ManOfSteel Member

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    I love healthy debate. Anyone have a nice Scandinavian Forest axe or Hoffman they want to trade me?
     
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