Axes

[wallace]

Hi all, inspired by Jimi's axe I new I had some bits burried under my workbench. I found these

Does anyone know what the item is on the right? Boot scraper?

I also found this one

I plan on makeing some handles
Mark

 

[jimi43]

Glad that you found the axe thread an inspiration...and you have a nice few tools there to make handles for.

The Skinner and Johnson axe is really lovely.. and pretty old...this is from the National Archives of Dissolution of Companies...

NOTICE is (hereby given that the Partnership
heretofore existing between us, the undersigned, carrying on business as Agricultural
Implement Manufacturers, at Ranskill, in the
county of Nottingham, under the style or firm of
SKINNER & JOHNSON, has been dissolved by
mutual consent as from the 31st day of May,
1932, so far as concerns tftie undersigned, Ralph
Skinner, who retires from the said firm. All debts
due to and owing by the said late firm will be
received and paid respectively by the undersigned,
William Henry Johnson and Frederick Topham
Johnson, who will continue to carry on the said
business in partnership under the same style or
firm of Skinner & Johnson.—Dated this first day
of June, 1932.
RALPH SKINNER.
WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON.
(153) FREDERICK TOPHAM JOHNSON

Although the company was dissolved in 1932 - it carried on under the new ownership with the same branding until 1961 so the axe may be from the second period....but it is at least 50 years old

Ranskill is near Doncaster...and they mostly made heavy agricultural and garden tools.

I think more research is needed...Professor Andy will almost certainly chip in.

The little hatchet is rather nice too.

Jim

 

[t8hants]

The item on the right is a support for heating pipes, often used in Victorian churches. the knife like edeges prevent too much heat being lost through the bracket itself.

 

[Mark A]

The bigun looks like a colliers axe - they had several in a lovely little antique shop in Brecon when I called in a few months ago.

 

[wallace]

Thanks for all that. I started a handle today but didn't have any ash or hickory, but I did have some reclaimed oak. I plan on laminating it with some mahogany in the middle, dont know if it will work but I need practice.

Mark

 

[jettagreg]

ooooh, axe's, I love axes. I've got an Elwell hatchet, a one piece Estwing Hatchet, a hultafors felling axe, and a S&J felling axe. I really REALLY want a Gransfors Bruks Hunting axe. which has a polished poll for skinning animals. If you dont know about Gransfors axes they are the very best. Hand forged in Sweden.

 

[jimi43]

ooooh, axe's, I love axes. I've got an Elwell hatchet, a one piece Estwing Hatchet, a hultafors felling axe, and a S&J felling axe. I really REALLY want a Gransfors Bruks Hunting axe. which has a polished poll for skinning animals. If you dont know about Gransfors axes they are the very best. Hand forged in Sweden.

Mark...that will look superb mate! If guitar necks made this way are anything to go by and if you used the right glue then it will be as strong as a single billet of oak or ash...nice touch! May I beg a hijack in answering Greg in the interest of axe lovers the world over....

Hey Greg...what the hell...two pictures repeated just for you of ones that passed by my hands recently...

Little Ward & Payne...(my favourite!)

....and (now) Douglas' little Eagle....

This has aged nicely now after a few weeks...and some Tru-Oil...perhaps Douglas might post a picture if he gets time!

No apologies at all for repeating that axe porn!

Oh and the strangest thing tonight....some of you may know I manage a hotel in my spare time... :mrgreen: and tonight we had a couple from "up North"...and I just happened to glance at their address and blow me...it was Ranskill home of Skinner and Johnson!!!

I had a 30 minute conversation about the factory by the railway track that leads to the largest ammunition factory in England...used during the war. The guy even had a lady's garden fork from the same factory in the boot of his car!!

How spooky is that!

Cheers

Jim

 

[Richard T]

How's the handle coming along Mark?

Inspired by all this recent axery, I looked out one I bought from the bootsale last year. It's an old English pattern - Kent? It had an interesting handle; it was a beech, wormy, Queen Ann chair leg. So I started on a new one for it and it has been left drying ever since. Nice length of Ash that has continuous grain.
This is how I had left it with it's shoulders still proud:

Started to pare the shoulders down with pairing chisel and draw knife

- notice the care taken not to overshoot and dig in with the drawknife ....

Dreadnought to take off the tool marks

Then tapping on and off to make marks and smooth them away

Until the head is seated very snugly. I will do some more seating to make sure before I put the wedge in.

But it is looking and feeling good - I have been using it as it is and the head stays put without a wedge - a good sign.

 

[wallace]

Hi Richard, nice work I like the wavey handle. I did alittle shapeing today. The oak I'm useing had some holes in, so I have made a feature of them by morticeing them and putting mahoganny pegs through.
Mark

 

[jimi43]

Hi Richard

Nice follow through on the grain there mate! Going to be as strong as an um....ox... :mrgreen: :wink:

It isn't Kent pattern as that has a diamond edge either side...like the two above...

I think it is an English felling axe CLICK CLICK

Although I am certain that it will have a county name somewhere....

Can't wait to see how yours comes out too Wallace....

Jim

 

[Tom K]

(homer) OTHER NAMES: Kent felling axe; trimming axe; rounding axe
You forgot read your own link Jimi :shock:

 

[jimi43]

(homer) OTHER NAMES: Kent felling axe; trimming axe; rounding axe
You forgot read your own link Jimi :shock:

So many famous things in Tropical Kent Tommo...don't want to show off ya know! :mrgreen:

(homer)

Jim

 

[wallace]

Hi all, I finally got round to finishing my axe.

All critique most welcome.

What do you think of my tree root ball? It's been the bain of my life for three years. When I started turning I noticed that a road was being widened near to my house, so in my infinite wisdom I asked for some of the wood. Dopey me also asked for the root ball thinking it would produce some wonderfull contorted grain when turned. Petrol chainsaw wouldn't touch it. I should of thought twice when it was dropped off and it was bigger than the JCB bucket (homer) . At least I can test my new axe out.
Mark

 

[Saxwood]

I had a gorgeous Gilping hand axe/hatchet with leather bound curved handle when i was serving my time until some scumbag maggots stole my gear :evil: , god i miss that axe and would dearly love another, btw the laminated handle on yours is nice imho :wink:

 

[Richard T]

Hey Mark - that's turned out to very nice effect. =D>

 

[heimlaga]

Two axes I recently put back in use:

I got them from a nice fellow in Sweden. The bigger one is a broad axe and the smaller one is a broad hatchet.


My broad axes and a hatchet:

I have used theese two broad axes quite a bit and like them.

 

[jimi43]

Mark...that is really worked...the lamination. Superb mate! =D>

Heimlaga...those are lovely axes....I love some of the Scandinavian designs...we don't see that many over here...especially at bootfairs! More's the pity!

Jim

 

[Aled Dafis]

Not to be left out of the new axe craze around here, I'm eagerly waiting for an ebay special to arrive at work either tomorrow or the day after.

I'd been eyeing up John Neeman and Gransfors axes for a while, but couldn't justify the cost, so I plumped for a "heavy hand axe" in the end having missed out on a couple yesterday afternoon. I understand the Jimi will be appalled by me paying over £10 for it, but I just couldn't find a suitable axe at the car boot sale for love nor money.

Cheers
Aled

 

[thick_mike]

Not to be left out of the new axe craze around here, I'm eagerly waiting for an ebay special to arrive at work either tomorrow or the day after.

I'd been eyeing up John Neeman and Gransfors axes for a while, but couldn't justify the cost, so I plumped for a "heavy hand axe" in the end having missed out on a couple yesterday afternoon. I understand the Jimi will be appalled by me paying over £10 for it, but I just couldn't find a suitable axe at the car boot sale for love nor money.

Cheers
Aled

Glad I didn't bid on that now!

 

[jimi43]

Not to be left out of the new axe craze around here, I'm eagerly waiting for an ebay special to arrive at work either tomorrow or the day after.

I'd been eyeing up John Neeman and Gransfors axes for a while, but couldn't justify the cost, so I plumped for a "heavy hand axe" in the end having missed out on a couple yesterday afternoon. I understand the Jimi will be appalled by me paying over £10 for it, but I just couldn't find a suitable axe at the car boot sale for love nor money.

Cheers
Aled

HA! Aled my friend....over a tenner! Well...I suppose that if you want one...and you live in the wilds of Wales...it's probably the only way...I would think bootfair ones would be a bit thin on the ground mate!

You will of course post some pictures of it won't you? 8)

Jim