Estwing hatchet shank?

[WestKentucky]

I’m calling this thing lemonade. Life gave me lemons today, and this was almost a huge lemon. Driving along a country road at about 65mph behind a dually and all of a sudden I saw something pop up. Truck had hit this estwing roofing hatchet and launched it straight at me. I ducked and dodged to the right and it went just over the drivers side mirror. Close call for sure. I clearly saw what it was as it seemed to float in the air waiting to attack… so of course I went back and got it out of the road. I call it community service because it clearly was a dangerous situation.

So I have it, and I would like to save it because it’s not really in bad shape. Well used but not really worn out. The handle is bent. Possibly from the dually hitting it. It has an uncomfortable bent about 3” up from the bottom of the rubber grip. I know I could strip off the rubber grip and try to do some sort of leather washer grip after straightening the shank but I would rather just keep the thing as it is and straighten it out. Does anybody know where the shanks end on these things? Shape under the rubber? Is the steel easily weld-able?

I have always thought that these would be a nice tool for splitting a pelvis to open a deer up, and thought it would have a lot of functionality on a campsite so I’m happy to have it. Aside from putting on a roof, does anybody use these things?

 

[rust collector]

Glad to hear you avoided it. I believe the shank has an I bar cross section, similar to that of a large wrench. Good luck!

 

[earlthegoat2]

The shank of the handle ends about an inch before the grip material ends.

 

[Bazoo]

I think they are 1055 steel. I asked them once and that’s what the old memory banks have relayed.

The memory banks are telling me they recall it being 1075 steel, upon further recollection.

 

[hso]

I call it community service because it clearly was a dangerous situation.

Agreed!

 

[WestKentucky]

The shank of the handle ends about an inch before the grip material ends.

That’s critical info! I needed to know that so that I don’t clamp in a bad spot and rip the bottom off. Thank you!!!

 

[Big Bore 44]

Nice Choppa IIRC the shank ends right after the lanyard hole. That's the location my old EWing hammer is snapped anyway.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

From the shape of the head and the holes it looks like a roofing hatchet. They tend to have a thinner blade side and a useful hammer poll. It should make a handy camp/hunting hatchet with a bit of effort.
And Well Done for taking the trouble to get it off the road.

 

[Coyote3855]

Shingle hatchet. The holes were used to assist the roofer in correctly spacing shingles. I found an Estwing framing hammer that because of the wear patterns had probably been used to build and take down concrete forms. I spotted it while riding my bicycle on the shoulder of a state highway. But it didn't come flying at me, it just lie there on the side of the road waiting to be rehomed.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Perfect camping hatchet. Hammer for tent stakes, hatchet for choppin'. I can also attest to the handle ending just after the lanyard hole. My old EW axe was burned in a fire so the rubber was gone.

 

[CapnMac]

Also known as a "roofer's hawk." That's the lower-end Estwing hawk, too. The "legit" hawks have a nail pulling notch on the bottom heel of the "blade" near the shank.
Near as I can tell, Estwing made up the "holes for spacing" thing as an excuse to use less steel per each.

The "blade" is more of a wedge meant for splitting wood shingles to width. It was common, long ago and far away to have something of a honed edge at the toe of the blade to crease diagonal cuts out of shakes and shingles.

Of course, for asphalt shingle you want a hook-blade linoleum knife, or a Stanley Utility and a big box of blades, for cutting and trimming.

While not my first choice for roofing tools, the Estwings are made of good steel and can be crafted into fascinating things.

 

[Boattale]

Shingle hatchet. The holes were used to assist the roofer in correctly spacing shingles. I found an Estwing framing hammer that because of the wear patterns had probably been used to build and take down concrete forms. I spotted it while riding my bicycle on the shoulder of a state highway. But it didn't come flying at me, it just lie there on the side of the road waiting to be rehomed.

I found this Vaughn head the same way you found the framing hammer. Removed everything from the eye and glassed in this fiberglass core handle. I believe this is referred to as a roofing hatchet, rigger's axe or half hatchet. Wound up being one of my most used favorite tools that is in the truck full time.



Found this Estwing hatchet in really terrible shape at a garage sale. It had been left out in the weather long enough to completely ruin the leather washer handle. Rusty as all get out too, but it cleaned up OK. This bicycle grip tape works fine. It's a handy tool that lives above the work bench out in the shop. Think I paid $.50 for it.

 

[rust collector]

Vaughan Bushnell is a good US brand and their tools are reliable. I am always on the lookout for their products--they have never let me down.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Vaughan Bushnell is a good US brand and their tools are reliable. I am always on the lookout for their products--they have never let me down.

When i bought hammers to replace a full complement lost to fire, i bought all Vaughan for my ball-peins. Claws are all EW. Dont remember where, but i saw a tv show do a tour of the Vaughan factory in Illinois(?). Still doing it the old way with hard working Americans behind the machinery.

My chopping axe is a Velvicut Hudson Bay pattern from Council Tool.

 

[jdh]

I found this Vaughn head the same way you found the framing hammer. Removed everything from the eye and glassed in this fiberglass core handle. I believe this is referred to as a roofing hatchet, rigger's axe or half hatchet. Wound up being one of my most used favorite tools that is in the truck full time.

View attachment 1064225

That is a Rig Builder's Hatchet. A very useful tool.