Half axes

[Mark]

I have a 2# polled axe head that I want to haft as a half axe. Was there a standard length for the straight handles on these axes? Thanks in advance

Mark
Snowed in in NW Montana

[Rod]

I don't know of any standard length, the handle on mine is long enough that it works with either one hand or two---not so long that it's unhandy one-handed, but long enough that I can comfortably use two for those tougher jobs. Mine's 20" long, total length including that part that goes through the head. Or, if I lay the handle on the inside of my bent arm, the handle goes from my elbow and my fingers just touch the bottom of the head (17" of handle sticking out from the head).

I suspect that you'll just have to make it to fit you---make it long, you can always shorten it up if it's too long.

Rod

[sean]

What's that old one about the guy who owned Daniel Boone's axe? "The handle was replaced 4 times and the head twice." My point is there is no standard on handles other than their being straight. I'm sure many were carved replacements in the field from local hardwoods like vine/Rocky Mountain maple or oak.

Sean

[Rod]

Just a thought, but is there any record of half axes and the like being shipped out west with handles? From what I've seen, tomahawks were shipped out by the box or barrel, just the heads. Were half axes---or full-size axes, for that matter---shipped the same way? I'll do some looking, but it occured to me that I don't recall anything about axe handles.

Rod

[sean]

Rod,

I really cannot answer your question. Most trade lists are frustratingly short on details like this. My thought is that they would have been most likely hafted when they were shipped west, but that's only a SWAG (scientific wild ass guess).

Sean