Chillington Arpax fireman’s axe

[F.J.]

Good morning all,

Been a few weeks since I’ve been here since I have been super busy but hopefully have some time to visit more frequently now I’m through the backlog!

Any way, not sure if this tool is relevant for this forum so please move or delete if needed.
Whilst working at a waste facility I found an old looking axe that I thought was interesting as it has a metal shaft albeit no handle to cover it. After a bit of cleaning up I noticed the name stamped on the head ‘Chillington’ and ‘Arpax’ underneath it. Turns out it’s a fireman’s axe from the WW11 era and should in fact have a rubber handle fitted to it.

I am looking to spruce it up a little so I can use it for splitting kindling for my fire, it currently does it very well but I’d like to bring it back to how it should look with a rubber handle or get a hickory handle, split it down the middle and rivet it to the shaft.

Does anyone know of these types of axes and can point me in the direction of rubber handles? Failing that (and I’m no wood worker) I’ll gladly have a go at fitting a Woden handle to it

Thanks

 

[123hotchef]

how about a rope handle?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@The_Yellow_Ardvark is probably your man for handles for 'implements'.

 

[outofthefire]

Its a firemans axe we still make them, i've got one exactly the same without a handle that I was going to put a wood handle on and use for throwing. They're laser cut, then I heat treat them then they get sent out in batches to get the handles put on them. We do that pattern and two others, they are all mostly used as crash and rescue axes in and around aeroplanes and airports. https://www.visatools.co.uk/firemans-axes-67-c.asp

 

[highseas]

very similar to the elwell escape axe. used for planes ect

 

[F.J.]

Its a firemans axe we still make them, i've got one exactly the same without a handle that I was going to put a wood handle on and use for throwing. They're laser cut, then I heat treat them then they get sent out in batches to get the handles put on them. We do that pattern and two others, they are all mostly used as crash and rescue axes in and around aeroplanes and airports. https://www.visatools.co.uk/firemans-axes-67-c.asp

Don’t suppose you can get a rubber handle

I have just been to Stax and picked up a 14”hickory handle, it’s only slim so will look well if fitted but it would be good to put back original

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

You have a WW2 emergency fire fighters axe. Still used on Naval air bases now.

Should have a black rubber handle on it.
But a decent cork or wood one can be made. There are a few You Tube to show how to.

Apart from the name you may find the government arrow stamp. If you find numbers it is a post 1950's issue.

 

[outofthefire]

Don’t suppose you can get a rubber handle

I have just been to Stax and picked up a 14”hickory handle, it’s only slim so will look well if fitted but it would be good to put back original

I think they're injection moulded on, the only rubber handles we have are for the stanley style metal tube shafted hammers and they aren't even close. We've got quite a few seconds sat on a shelf because the handles aren't rubbery enough that I keep trying to get my boss to get rid of to an axe throwing club.

 

[Anguz]

make a mould and use sika/tigerseal?
would that work?

 

[jordhandson]

I would be tempted to make a mould and use Polycraft EasyFlo 60 Polyurethane Liquid same stuff used to make suspension bushes, I think, I bought some to make some pop up valves for the blasting pots, when I get round to it

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Here is a selection of WW2 RAF and Royal Navy Airfield Fire axes.



Ewell Bomber(Lancaster and others) Emergency Equipment axe. On The Lancaster and the Lincoln it was stowed rear door by the emergency life raft. It is a Later version as the blade is filled in. Early versions it was open.



RAF Fire mans Axe. In the war movies you see them hanging from the fire mans belt.
It has bean cleaned and sharpened since that picture was taken.



Again WW2, but it had a hard life. The rubber handle was long gone.
I used a DIY 2 pack Silicon kit to mould the handle. But the upper half did not flow. So I cut it back.

 

[brightspark]

my old man had one he got it from nuffields after the war .they used to cut up all the aircraft for scrap then the place became the eaglescliffe naval spares depot