Bernie weisgerber an axe to grind book

A brief look at the history of the ax, especially its evolution in america types and patterns of axes and adzes, showcasing some examples from my personal collection and some from old catalogs how to hang and sharpen an ax, two essential skills for anyone using an ax. Heres something to think about, axe and historic preservation guru bernie weisgerber, an axe to grind, likes a straight handle on his kelly jersey pattern axe. The steel is not of the same quality as it was in the old days. Luckily, a new younger generation of axe experts, like ben, is starting to appear and they are helping to spread this knowledge and keep it alive for future generations. Watch the video learn more about the historic trade of swinging and grinding an axe as a part of the trades alive video series. It is a great compilation of information about axes, from some history, to how to repair an old axe. Dec 27, 2010 i will note that the modern crosscut saw became favored as the lumbering instrument well before the chainsaw came around, from bernie weisgerber s book an axe to grind. The axe book by scout library kraal fuego wfisspain issuu.

Were here at the entrance to the historic nine mile ranger station. Glossary of forest terms swedish centre of technical terminology 1969. Jan 19, 20 to me this is the best available source for axe maintenance. Welcome to my predjudiced and opinionated ideas on survival stuff. A practical ax manual by bernie weisgerber usda stay safe and healthy. Filmed at montanas ninemile ranger station, a genuine piece of forest service history, bernie weisgerber shows how to properly maintain an axe for quality work. My favorite ax bernie weisgerber is a historic preservation specialist for the usda forest service. Jan 16, 2017 bernie weisgerber in his manual published by the u. He worked for the national park services historic preservation training center before coming to work for the forest service. Have an axe to grind meaning in the cambridge english. Feel free to email me with ideas for improvement i take constructive criticism well. Been camping for a while, but never wanted my own ax, till recently.

Is there a complete list of current axe manufacturers available, and a comparison of their various axes. The metal wedges tend to split the grain on the hickory handle. Wille sundqvist swedish carving techniques the taunton press 1990. An axe to grind a practical ax manual book 781945 bookemon.

Bernie weisgerber in his manual published by the u. How to swing an ax preparing for chopping clear your swingingchopping area. This video set was made as a companion to the usfs document an ax to grind a practical ax manual document no. Gransfors bruks bijlen boek by baptist arnhem bv issuu. To me this is the best available source for axe maintenance. Learn how to sharpen your bushaxe properly epalmetto global. But the ax, in one form or another, has been around for over 10,000 yearseven longer if you consider some of the crude stone tools used as axes by early man. Below is a pdf you can download called, an ax to grind a practical ax manual. An ax to grind bernie weisgerber this is the most comprehensive guide to axes that i have found. Beginning about 1870, ax production began to drop due to the increased use of the crosscut saw as a felling tool. Also, bernie weisgerber, author of the us forest service axe manual an axe to grind says. Short and tothepoint, the woodsman and his hatchet is a refreshing take on this subject.

Vintage kelly registered michigan double bit axe with handle from bernie weisgerber s personal collection, author of an ax to grind usfs manual, and one of. Parts 1 and 2 of the program are each 30 minutes long. Today well conclude the series by offering a primer on how to use your ax safely and effectively. Just finding logs and large branches to cut up, makes me want to buy my own. Now i am not opposed to using the 204 sharpmaker to put a better edge on an axe or hatchet but there is a guy who wrote a book that was published by the u. Many of the illustrations were drawn by frederic h. How bernie sanders is winning the internet youtube. I just tried my hand at axe use today old snow and neally, been in the family for about 60 years, handled with hornbeam from the family land in northern new hampshire and it was a freaking. Craftsmanship in axe is very much a lost art today. Erle stanley gardner was an american lawyer and author of detective stories who also published under the pseudonyms a.

Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. An axe to grind axemanship all of the greatskephart, sears, kreps, miller, etcspoke of the virtue of the axe and its importance to the woodsman. A practical ax manual bernie weisgerber 1999, 68 pages available from usda forest service in html. Watch here is the complete video parts 1 2 combined of an ax to grind featuring region 1 historic preservation team leader bernie weisgerber. Sharpening a hatchet with the sharpmaker spyderco forums. It was written in 1999 by bernie weisgerber for the department of agriculture forest service. Bernie weisberger, the main dude in an axe to grind as. A practical ax manual issue 9923, part 2823 of special report technology and development program author. Many of the photographs are of axes from bernie weisgerbers personal collection. Simply this is the best writing on axes and their use that i have ever been fortunate enough to read.

I have a directory with copies of all the articles from the now closed outdoormagazine. Weisgerber has likely forgotten more about axes and. Forest service, bernie weisgerber goes over the basic techniques for axe grinding and axe work. I hear you jd and, honestly, it factors in somewhere to almost everything i buy. I cant see any reason why you would want to do that to a properly hung ax. An axe to grind i was lucky enough to be sent a copy of an axe to grind by bernie weisgerber.

This well written story will suck you in as you are introduced to axe and brenna. An axe should be sharpened on a regular basis, perhaps with every halfhour of use or each time a tree is cut down. In the first photo, the bushman is shown in between wetterlings popular large hunting and foresters fine axes. An axe to grind a fantastic reference work on axes by. Bernie weisgerber s an axe to grind has a chapter on it and is generally an. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The authors knowledge and expertise obviously came from growing up and using an axe extensively in an era when the axe was the primary tool used for woodcutting, but he has not limited the text to only the use of an axe. Kochanskis primer on ax use in his book is pretty damn decent. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. They are both very good and borrow from masons woodsmanship extensively. Online axe resources, by guest writer bmatt, an american bushcrafter in finland whenever i get involved with a new hobby or specific area of a hobby, i like to talk to experienced folks and also read as much as i can about it, both online and in print. Its main focus is an encyclopedic description of american axe manufacturers, with a few pages dedicated to some foreign companies.

The illustration was also reproduced in the usfs manual an ax to grind by bernie weisgerber document no. Many of the photographs are of axes from bernie weisgerber s personal collection. Weisgerber has likely forgotten more about axes and axemanship than ill ever know. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. I will note that the modern crosscut saw became favored as the lumbering instrument well before the chainsaw came around, from bernie weisgerber s book an axe to grind. Skill cult, steven edholms youtube channel axe cordwood challenge hardcore ax work to chop a cord of wood with only an ax an ax to grind, free pdf by bernie weisgerber, u.

Mar 02, 2016 however, an ax sometimes spelled axe isnt just a crude wood handle with a sharp metal wedge at the endtheres a lot more to this seemingly simple tool than you might think. In this 3part series on the ax, weve talked about the tools history and anatomy, and how to choose the right one for your needs. Bernie weisgerber is a historic preservation specialist for the usda forest service. Dec 11, 2012 this sentiment is also backed up by axe expert bernie weisgerber in his book an axe to grind. Now the us forest service still uses this facility as a. Axe should be tending to business when he first lays eyes on brenna. I will do everything i can to stop a war with iran duration. When compared to other popular axes in the same category, this thicker profile really stands out. Oct 16, 2018 the difference between felling a tree with an axe comes in how you do the back cut. An ax to grind, a practical ax manual, by bernie weisgerber this book was published in 1999 by the us department of agriculture. Innovative and restless in his nature, he was bored by the routine of.

Lets see those photos, videos, and talk about anything related to them. Now the us forest service still uses this facility as a working ranger station. A practical ax manual, is published by the us department of agriculture forest service. But i say with preparedness survival becoming an important element i would say that a good quality ax should be in anyones survival kit. Instead of making the back cut perfectly perpendicular to the tree like you would with a chainsaw, youre going to make another 45degree cut with your ax on the opposite side and two inches above your face cut. A practical axe manual, by bernie weisgerber, to learn to properly usesharpencare for an axe. Also, bernie weisgerber, author of the us forest service axe manual an axe to grind says, a correctly honed edge is sharp with no wire edge. Aug 05, 2012 an axe should be sharpened on a regular basis, perhaps with every halfhour of use or each time a tree is cut down.

It is not a complete listing, but is an excellent resource. I would also invite you to look at the companion video program, an ax to grind. Cheff discusses first the importance of the ax hatchet and knife to survival in addition to subjects such as fire making, shelter building, navigation, outdoor dangers, survival food procurement, shooting game and packing meat. Certainly, however, as long as anyone can remember, the axe has been one of the most useful tools to man. Today you just go to the local hardware store and grab what ever they have. An axe to grind can be found as a pdf as well but a hard copy is free for the asking. It covers a bit of everything, from history to axe use.

Jul 23, 2012 heres something to think about, axe and historic preservation guru bernie weisgerber, an axe to grind, likes a straight handle on his kelly jersey pattern axe. Today, were going to look at axes, but first i want to show you around the ranger station. Hi, im bernie weisgerber, and ive got an axe to grind. If youd like to learn more about the long history and design elements of this important chopping tool, the u. Bernard mason included a fullsize template for an ax gauge in his book woodsmanship a. His argument for the ax had a kind of wistful, quixotic tone, as chainsaws were then seen as status symbols for the suburban set, and axes had largely been forgotten. A minute spent on sharpening may shorten your chopping time by 5 minutes. Mar 19, 20 an axe to grind a fantastic reference work on axes by bernie weisgerber of the usdas office in missoula, montana. A practical ax manual bernie weisgerber 1999, 68 pages. There once was a time when every axe man made his own handle to fit his swing, his height and his axe. Vintage kelly registered michigan double bit axe from. An ax to grind by bernie weisgerber post by jd spydo thu apr 19, 2012 12.

Many of the photographs are of axes from bernie weisgerber. He has been in charge of the northern regions historic preservation team, headquartered in missoula, mt, since 1991. If you followed procedures, your edge should be sharp enough to shave with figure 73. Mar 16, 2012 hi, im bernie weisgerber, and ive got an axe to grind. An axe to grind is a 24hour comic, penciled, inked, and written in 24 hours by an awesome team of woodchuck ninja badgers. Forest service an ax to grind argues vehemently against a secondary wedge. Copies are available from mtdc at the address on the inside of the back cover. I also requested the dvd set that is mentioned in the book but never did receive it. The authentic lumber sexual guide to ax work survival sherpa. Kauffman american axes stephen greene press 1972 glossary of forest terms swedish centre. On the same page, bernie weisgerber lists his favorite as straight octagonal slim taper, shown at the bottom of figure 39 of his book. A practical ax manual, by bernie weisgerber an ax to grind. When dudley cook published the ax book in 1999, he could confidently say. The booklet that was put out by the forest service free of charge to those who requested it was entitled an ax to grind.