If tools could talk, well sometimes they can. The handle on this Puget Sound pattern falling axe is well past its serviceable life but it tells a story of use and abuse from nearly a century ago. The head is 12” long and could well be put into useful service but maybe it is more interesting as a peace of history with the original handle.

The handle shows several notches worn in the handle by the back of a crosscut saw from holding the saw up when underbucking. Assuming that each notch could be used several times it is clear that the handle assisted in the underbucking hundreds of logs in the hay day of logging in the Pacific Northwest. The deepest of the notches are approaching 1/3 of the thickness of the handle and this limits the strength of the handle. Some may say that the notches provide a better grip but in this case the notches are getting to the point of causing blisters and splinters rather then just providing a little better grip. Also the notches down further on the handle would hinder the sliding of the far hand on the handle. Normal chopping technique requires that the near hand on the end of the handle be fixed and the far hand to slide along the length of the handle during the stroke.

Anyway maybe the owner of this axe would have been better off if he had used a pocket underbucker or a stand alone underbucking tool to save wear and tear on his axe handle. Most likely it comes down to; you use what you have to get the job done.