axe
 

Cleaning up the files around here this fall and found some snapshots of the tree that some wind tipped over in front of my shop a few years ago.
It was blocking the driveway so I bucked it by hand to get it into chunks that could be moved.
The axe is a seven lb. Australian single bit set up by the late Jim Alexander, one of the old (great) world Champions in professional timber sports.
Jim used my belt grinders to do the foundation grinding then finished it by hand stoning.
Jim was from Australia but traveled North America during the summer to compete. He is the one that helped me learn how use an axe a little better than when I was logging.

Nice herritage in that axe.

Reminds me of a story read way back in high school about two grown children who were in line to inherit an heirloom quilt. One was going to use it hard and pass it on; the other was going to donate it to a museum. The quilt went to daughter who was going to use it.

Are treasures to be used or locked away?

Rumblyguts,
Jim would have wanted the axe to get used or he wouldn't have put the effort into doing it up like one of his own.

Team Sergeant,
(as per phone conversation) Just measured the axe, it has twenty six inches of handle under the head and six and one half inches of edge on the bit.

Even the Australian and New Zealand choppers preferred North American hickory for their axe handles and to the best of my knowledge there was no second choice.

When Huricane Hanna moved near the Carolinas, the wind brought down a tall pine onto my backyard (thank God I didn't have my fence up yet). Anyway, being from NYC from birth 'til joining the Army, I had never handled an Axe before. I bought one from Lowes and went about reducing the felled tree to a bunch of firewood. It was not only a great workout, but it used similar principles to those used when I practice with my bokken. Now, I'm thinking of purchasing a quality cutting katana in order to begin performing tameshigiri. But, I have a newfound respect for my trusty axe.

BTW, Bill, do you recommend anyone that makes katanas?

This post just proves that you can't take a QP anywhere. First time axe use and tree is fully converted to burnable fuel. Next time I choose the tree.

Try this for a state of the craft katana: http://www.dragonflyforge.com/index.php
Michael Bell is an old friend of mine and does extremely good work.

Holy crap! Look at the size of those chips! I have to say, Bill, I don't think I've ever seen single swing shingle-making before.

Very nice Mr. Harsey. Thanks for sharing.

D.

Mr. Harsey is, in fact, 12 feet tall and he rides a blue ox.

Awesome website and equally awesome products. Thanks for the link.

Nah, 6'5" and rides a bad tempered goat. :p Don't visit him in late summer/early fall - that's firewood season, you'll either buck, split or load/stack - maybe all of the above - worst part, you have to supply the beer to "Tom Sawyer" Harsey.;)

Bump for those making axes and hatchets, this is how I expect an axe to cut and hatchets or 'hawks should do the same on smaller scale. Refer to first image.
Blade geometry is important. For reference the bit on that axe is 7 inches across edge.
Bill

judging by the jumbo sized chips I see laying around there I'd say you got a serious edge on that :lifter

Bill,

All I can say is your a remarkable man................;)

Big Teddy :munchin

Bill... We've had this discussion before, but just to let everybody know, "How sharp should and Axe be?" "What angles should the edges be?" "How polished should the edges be?"

:D

Hell, he had to learn how to use an axe!!! When he's in the woods and goes to sleep HE SNORES SO LOUD ALL OF THE TIMBER FALLS DOWN and he has to cut his way out!!!:D:munchin

Later
Martin