Hawk handles

[Artificer]

Just rereadind this thread. I was a thinking about hickory. It’s our go to handle wood with ash as a second place. But I have oft wondered about elm. Elm was used for cannon carriages and later engin mountings until Dutch elm killed off so many. I’ve cut some elm and it out toughs hickory. I’ve looked at a few small elms and thought ”˜handles on the hoof’ ,hmmm.

Wow, Dutch Elm disease destroyed most Elm where I have lived, but I have to admit I haven't really looked for it for some time.

It is said that Elm used to be the preferred wood in many areas for shovel and rake handles, while hickory was used for smaller tool handles. I'm not entirely sure why, though.

Gus

 

[Elnathan]

Elm has interlocking grain that makes it very difficult to split, I believe. If you are making a tool handle that needs a pin through it or takes a tang up its centerline, then elm would make sense.

 

[mamero]

I have made a more than a few axe handles (some hawks) and by far Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO) is the only finish I will ever put on a working handle. easy to refresh and never slippery and get better looking with time.

 

[spudnut]

Slight change of subject, anyone know a supplier that sells round hawk handles?

 

[mamero]

Yes Crazy Crow and House Handles both do

 

[spudnut]

Didnt see them at CC and the other place looks like all kinds of fun stuff, but I think I'll still wind up with a drawknife when it warms up a little

 

[mamero]

Course it is better to make your own. I had trouble finding hickory blanks for the price of finished hawk handles at CC and House Handle. This way I could forge more and spend less time making handles