BROAD AX

Description: Broad ax has a 75cm oval, wooden handle with scroll end and wide, metal, single-edged ax head. Overall length of ax head is 29cm by 20cm, one side is flat and even, the opposite side is slightly bevelled in the cheek area of ax head with gradual indentation. Handle is cream colored with black stai…

Description: Broad ax has a 75cm oval, wooden handle with scroll end and wide, metal, single-edged ax head. Overall length of ax head is 29cm by 20cm, one side is flat and even, the opposite side is slightly bevelled in the cheek area of ax head with gradual indentation. Handle is cream colored with black staining and old tape wrapped around for a 11cm section. The ax head has some knicks in the edge.

History Of Use: Broad ax was used for hewing round logs into square beams and/or railway ties. Handle is slightly bent away from the vertical line of the blade to protect fingers when chopping the sides of the logs. There were two ways to use the ax: 1. By standing on top of the log, the ax was used to make scores(deep vertical cuts) along the side of the log. Then the logger walked along the side of the log and "chipped" out the pieces, leaving a flat edge. 2. Using a straight handled broad ax, a logger stood on top of a felled log and swung the ax in a sideways manner to get a flat edge. This was the way in which most railway ties were made in the early 1900's.