4 of the best Splitting axes : Vintage Hytest & Kelly Dandenong hand forged tassies & custom handles

Fresh from Tasmainia! 4 Tassie pattern axes new into the UK get a look over and split some wood.
Some 5lb, some 4.5lb. whats your favourite weight?
Love this vintage axes and the heritage behind them. The ofrst wood chopping competitin was in Tasmainia in the 1800's!

[@diamondmidnightgardener]

I second your comment re Chris at Van Dieman handles... I've got one.... fantastic

[@johnnybgoode6466]

Plumb and Kelly both excellent axe heads, I understand that the Swedish and Norwegians had some great heads as well, Husqvarna and EKA.

[@chrishadley2382]

That spotty gum won’t let you down in a hurry 🙂🙂 love your work mate awesome 👍👍🇦🇺

[@walkerscountrylife]

Thanks Mr. Axemaker! Love your work too!

[@kurts64]

Great to see some tassies gettin some use! Those Van Diemen handles are nice, especially that one with the Huon Pine burl. Good stuff👍👍🪓

[@walkerscountrylife]

Thanks! Yeah he makes a good handle that boy! Appreciate your comment 🙌

[@Master...deBater]

Nice set! I only have two Tassies at the moment. One's a Kelly Dandee 4.5 made in England. And the Other is a barely used Hytest Craftsman 4.5 with the original Spotted Gum handle, factory bevel, no rust and 80% of the green paint still intact. Best part...I got it for $30 plus $40 shipping from Australia! Maybe I'll send some pics to your Email.

[@walkerscountrylife]

Nice!! That one with the green paint is a beauty!

[@Master...deBater]

@@walkerscountrylife Thanks. I thought you might like to see it. It's rare to see them in factory condition. Seems most of them have seen lots of heavy use. I've only ever seen one other for sale in similar condition...and it sold for around 300 dollars! I still have trouble believing my luck. Cheers.

[@michaelcatherwood4088]

Great to see a fan of Tasmanian patern axes in Britain. Strangely the Australian Hytests are hard to find here in NZ and have only 1 a 6 lb monster on is original 32" handle but Kellys were quite common. I have a couple of 4 1/2 and a 5 1/2 lb Kelly Dandenongs on 32" handles but I prefer 4 lb on a 28" handle. I've 2 3 1/2 lb 1 on 28" and 1 on a 30" Plumbs but the Kellys seem better balanced and easier to use. All 8 of the Kellys were made in Canada. PS don't tell my wife how many axes I have.

[@walkerscountrylife]

Thanks for taking the time to view and comment. Seems like I've got a few watchers in NZ now. Where about are you, I have family there. Sounds like a great collection you have there.

[@michaelcatherwood4088]

Thanks for the reply. I'm in Balclutha a small town in South Otago.

[@lloydriclloydric764]

@@michaelcatherwood4088 Hi there - sorry to hijack the thread, but wondered if you knew where in NZ I could get a handle to fit a 41/2 Kelly Dandenong or if you knew where in NZ I could find some hickory or anything else suitable for a new handle? The eye shape is a bit different to the standard handles available. Cheers Richard

[@michaelcatherwood4088]

@@lloydriclloydric764 sorry it's Leech Wood Products

[@michaelcatherwood4088]

@@lloydriclloydric764 the reply I sent was incomplete. Leech Timber Products at Doylestown Canterbury. Mark has a website with his contact information etc. He's a great guy, very knowledgeable and makes a range of axe handles. I particularly like his 30" racing handle. It needs quite a bit of work to fit a Kelly Dandenong but there's enough wood to get a good hang. I called on his mill several years ago and we had great conversation about axes and the poor quality of handles in general. Also talk to competitive axemen in your area and find out where they get theirs from. Tuatahi in Masterton might be a source in the North Island. I haven't bought a handle for several years because I bought several from Leech's when I was there and over the years I've bought any decent handle I see at hardware stores near me. Hopefully this will help.

[@SebbaSuperFly]

The Plumb you mentioned isn't a Hytest Plumb - it's a USA Plumb. The Hytest Plumbs were marked as such - I have a couple. An Australian 1940's manufacturer named W. H Plumb were bought out by Hytest and made these. This is where Plumb USA asked for them stop the name - and they did. Thats why they didnt make too many. Greetings from Australia where I have all types of Hytests (and other axes).

[@walkerscountrylife]

Ahh wicked thanks for that info 👍 and for taking the time to comment

[@Chitching]

Would you be willing to post a link to your source you got these from? Thanks 🙏

[@walkerscountrylife]

Hi mate, I think I said in the video. Look for van diemen axe handles Tasmainia. Tell him I sent you!

[@autoair7732]

Very nice selection. Can you put details up on where we can buy these?

[@walkerscountrylife]

Vandiemen Handles in Tasmania buddy 👍

[@autoair7732]

@@walkerscountrylife Been trying to get hold of him without any luck,would like to buy two of these. If you were to keep just two which would you choose mate?

[@walkerscountrylife]

@auto air difficult choice! I have a couple I might part with though. Are you in the UK.

[@autoair7732]

You can post to UK or Germany. Am a Brit living in Germany mate. Regards Steve

[@autoair7732]

How can i contact you privately James?

[@ShanePhillips-mv7bi]

Hold on a slight angle for sweet spot never sticks

[@walkerscountrylife]

Thanks for that buddy!

[@leonardryan8723]

Good luck split semi dry firewood firewood, you probably don’t frost in your wood over there buddy 😊.

[@walkerscountrylife]

Yep easy peasy with a Tassie in my hand!