There are many different parts of an ax. The three main parts are the Throat, the Poll, and the Butt. Understanding the differences between these parts will help you make your own ax. The shoulder is the lip of the axe handle under the poll of the axe head, where the head mounts to the handle. The shoulder is usually curved on most axes, but some have rubber, leather, or metal shoulders. The shoulder can be susceptible to damage if you overstrike the axe.
Throat
The bit, also known as the cutting edge or blade, is the most important part of the ax. Keeping the bit sharp and in good shape is crucial to the efficiency and durability of the axe. The bit is made of two parts: the toe and the heel. The toe is at the upper part of the axe head, while the heel is at the lower part. There is also a section of the haft called the beard.
Another component that needs close inspection is the axe’s belly. The belly is the longest part of the haft and is usually made with a slight bow. It is the area that is most useful for holding the axe, and is often the source of trouble with lower quality axes. To ensure the quality of an axe’s belly, inspect the grain and look for wood degradation.
Poll
There are two parts to the head of an ax: the cutting bit and the poll. The cutting bit is the part that cuts wood, while the poll is the part that splits wood. The poll of an ax resembles a hammer. Avoid hammering the head of an ax with the poll, or it will damage the head.
Butt
When you need to chop firewood, you can use an ax. It is a versatile tool that comes with a protective case and pronounced butt. Its sharp tip can break glass from your car and its butt can be used to break branches. It also works as a hexagon.
Axes have been used by people for centuries. Many of these tools were borrowed from nomads. They had a long, narrow blade and an elongated, hammer-shaped butt. The axe was designed to strike with both the blade and the butt.
Throat’s length
The length of the axe’s throat is an important characteristic when buying an axe. This section, where the long haft curves into the short grip, is important for both comfort and durability. A poorly designed throat can cause fatigue and soreness while throwing, and it can also reduce accuracy. When you’re buying an axe, make sure to pay special attention to the throat and belly.
The Throat’s length is measured from the top corner to the bottom corner of the bit. In some cases, this area is lower than the rest of the axe head. This lower section is the Heel, which is also used for chopping and puncturing. If the Throat’s length extends below the handle, it has a Beard. The Throat’s length is generally longer than the length of the Butt.
Beard
Bearded axes were common in Viking times. The beard protected the hand and gave the user more control in close quarters. They also served as hooks and allowed the user to snag other weapons and shields. Some axes even had sharpened beards to further increase their effectiveness.
Bearded axes differ from non-bearded ones primarily by the shape of the blade head and the depth of the axe’s heel. This shape increases the cutting edge without adding much weight. A steel axehead would be twice as heavy as a bearded axehead.
Eye
If you are in the process of making a new axe, it’s important to pay attention to the eye of the axe. This is the area where the head mounts onto the haft. It should be flush with the top of the handle, but if it’s not, you’ll need to use a wooden wedge to force it into place.
The eye of an axe is the first thing you should look at to determine if it’s a good quality axe. Typically, the eye is larger on the top side of the axe. This gives the wedge more room to lock the axe head into place. However, the bottom hole should be smaller, so that the axe won’t slide out of place.
