Colt Country | Home of The Almighty Colt
General Black Powder => Knives, Swords, 'hawks, etc => Topic started by: ShotgunDave on October 14, 2020, 08:56:23 PM
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I have had this hatchet for 46 years now. My grandmother bought it for me when I entered Webelos. It has seen some hard use over the years, and it deserved a little love. So I went to the local hardware store and to Lowes, looking for a new handle. No one had one this small. Apparently not everyone needs a 12" hatchet handle!
So I went on a search and found a company out of Tennessee called Whiskey River Art and Trading. They make 100% American made hickory tool handles. And they had the handle for my hatchet, and it was only $14.00+ship. SOLD!! I got it today and put it on. It even came with two wedges.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50485105318_7261245b5b_z.jpg)
I think it's got another 46 years in it now. I remember it had a leather sheath to cover the edge when I got it new. So I went online and looked for Norlund hatchets and found some good pictures of it. I'll be making a replacement for it real soon.
Here's the original handle. It must have had 3lbs of nails holding the head on!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50485105293_9ebcd9b68e_z.jpg)
The head looked as bad as the handle. It was covered in "patina". In other words, rust. I took a Scotchbrite disc to it and cleaned it up.
I think my old Scout Master would be pretty proud.
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I had a boy scout hatchet but I haven't seen it in awhile so not sure I still do.
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good looking hatchet.... i use a hatchet almost daily in my life, and can appreciate a decent one. i would suggest you chuck that thing up in a bench vice and go to work on that blade next. file first then a stone, and you can shave with it.. then perhaps you can put together a sheath for it... you will be the envy of the block!!!!
mark
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I had one like that, Dave. In fact, still do! With the original handle, yet! I use it to split kindling for the fire pit out back. Dad was a Scoutmaster even before I got into Cub Scouts and somehow that little hatchet became a part of the family. It was one of the tools (along with a good, hefty axe) that I used to get my Paul Bunyan award in Boy Scouts (for felling and limbing a tree)
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Thanks guys.
Yep, you're right Mark. Next comes putting an edge back on it. I want to clean the head up a little more first.
Capt, this thing has done it's share of work over the years. I used it many times for chores in the back yard. it's also pounded in 1000's of tent stakes, and chopped up plenty of kindling wood for campfires.
After I get it all done, it's going to ride around with me in the Jeep. There's a neat little mount in the back that the hatchet fits perfectly in. So it will always be handy if needed out on the trail.
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I have a couple of hatchets, but not a boy's model.
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As I said, I have 2 regular size hatchets; but I also have a smaller hatchet head. Would this be a boys model? The head is 5-1/4" long by 3-1/4" wide at the widest part. It is quite rusty from being stored in an outbuilding and I can't see a brand name yet.
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Mine was pretty rusty too and somebody had been using it as a wedge to split firewood so it was a little battered and no identifying markings showing. I smoothed it up some and wire brushed it. It had the BSA logo and a brand name but I don't remember what it was. It may be in the bottom of my roll around tool chest. I'll have to clean it out and see.
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Yeah, probably the same with this one as the top edges are slightly rounded over. I'll clean that up and work on the "patina"! L@J
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Hawg, those BSA hatchets are quite collectable. Might be worth a buck or two.
Em, yours definitely sounds like a boys model. The place I got my handle from will definitely have a handle for it.
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Hawg, those BSA hatchets are quite collectable. Might be worth a buck or two.
I kinda doubt this one is. It was used as a splitting wedge and the top was battered and the edges were rolled over. I ground off the rollover but I'm pretty sure it lost any collectability it had.
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Hawg, those BSA hatchets are quite collectable. Might be worth a buck or two.
I kinda doubt this one is. It was used as a splitting wedge and the top was battered and the edges were rolled over. I ground off the rollover but I'm pretty sure it lost any collectability it had.
It is still really cool, just because it's a BSA though.
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Well I cleaned out the bottom of my box and didn't find it. It may still be around here somewhere but it's less likely. I did find this combination hatchet/claw hammer but the claws are broken off. I don't see a makers mark but I'll try to get the paint brushed off of it for a better look.
(https://i.imgur.com/KfTWHgGl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UXzCuBkl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dPV6jqjl.jpg)
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I have one identical to that Hawg. I'll get a picture of it tomorrow. I don't know how old it is, but mine belonged to my grandfather.
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Here is a visual showing the difference between my full hatchet and the smaller head.
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That definitely looks like a boy's sized hatchet. I bet the 12" handle like mine would work. Or maybe even the 14" size.
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If the handle was a bit oversized at the head it could be fitted, I have done that a few times. Does the company post dimensions?
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They do post the dimensions Em. The one I got has an eye that is 1 1/2"x 1/2". They will need a little shaving for proper fit. At least I had to shave mine. But it was an easy task.
Here's the link to their axe/hatchet handles.
https://whiskeyrivertrading.com/collections/whiskey-river-premium-select-handles
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Well I cleaned out the bottom of my box and didn't find it. It may still be around here somewhere but it's less likely. I did find this combination hatchet/claw hammer but the claws are broken off. I don't see a makers mark but I'll try to get the paint brushed off of it for a better look.
(https://i.imgur.com/KfTWHgGl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UXzCuBkl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dPV6jqjl.jpg)
This is a "rigging axe". It's for rough framing carpentry work. Hammer for pounding, claws for removing nails etc. (the claw were short originally) and the axe end is for cutting birdsmouths and notches in rafters and floor joists.
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This is the handle opening in the hatchet head.
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different view.
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You should check out that website Em. I'm sure they will have a handle for it.
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You are probably right Dave. I was considering making a handle, but I don't need yet another project.
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Well, we'll see, I just ordered the 12" handle.
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Well, we'll see, I just ordered the 12" handle.
I knew you wouldn't be able to resist Em.
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Wow! 2 days and the handle is here! It looks like it will work (with a little fine tuning!)
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The new handle.
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Awesome Em. I knew you'd be pleased. It's a really nice company to work with, and they have great products made in the U.S.
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fine tuning is 1/2 the fun
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And so the "fine tuning" begins. Looks like a slow process.
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I have over 2" to go!
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You'll get there! L@.
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Looking good Em!
I used a Dremel with a sanding drum on it. Skinned it right down to size in about 5 minutes. Perfect fit.
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OK, I can do that! I tried using an upright belt sander, but there wasn't much control with that so that method was dismissed rather quickly.
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I drew a line around the handle, right where it would sit in the head. Then I chucked the sanding drum in the Dremel, just far enough to reach the line, with the top of the Dremel resting against the top of the handle. It worked perfectly like a guide.
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Sounds like that should work right quick!