An Ax to Grind: A Practical Ax Manual

Brief History of the Ax, continued

Image of Plumb hatchets and hand axes.
Figure 21b--More 20th-century plumb hatchets
and hand axes.

Photo of a Tuatahi competition ax.
Figure 22--A Tuatahi cempetition ax. This New
Zealand company specializes in custom-made axes
and competition crosscut saws.

Some axes weren't used for cutting wood. Ice axes were used to cut ice from lakes in the winter so the ice could be used for refrigeration during the summer (Figure 23). Sod or turf axes were used to chop sod for sod houses (Figure 24). People have used axes as a weapon for centuries. Fire axes are used to break down doors to enter burning buildings. The Pulaski is an ax tool used to fight wildland fires (Figure 25). An ax known as a butchering ax was used to kill cattle (Figure 26). Axes called "salesman samples" were miniature versions of full-size axes. Salesmen would carry them to hardware stores to demonstrate their wares.

Photo of an ice ax.
Figure 23--A 19th-century ice ax
for harvesting pond ice.

Photo of a sod ax.
Figure 24--A 19th-century sod ax
for building sod houses.

Photo of a Pulaski
Figure 25--The Pulaski is a popular wildland
firefighting tool that combines an ax
with a grubbing hoe.

Photo of a butchering ax
Figure 26--A 19th-century butchering ax.