What are these hammer axe’s called and used for?

[Welderjoe]

What are these hammer axe’s called and used for? Thanks

 

[51cub]

Shingling hatchets. For trimming wood shingles, then driving the nails. I wouldn't be surprised if you found them as drywall hatchets too

 

[Welderjoe]

Shingling hatchets. For trimming wood shingles, then driving the nails. I wouldn't be surprised if you found them as drywall hatchets too

Thanks

 

[Rusted Nut]

51cub got it!

 

[four.cycle]

exactly. left: shingling hatchet.
right: "lathing hatchet"

 

[d42jeep]

I checked Google AI for ”Vintage Half Hatchets” and here was the result.

”Vintage half hatchets, also known as carpenter's or shingling hatchets, were
essential multi-tools for 19th and early 20th-century woodworkers. These tools typically feature a single-bit blade for hewing and a hammer poll for driving nails, often accompanied by a notched "beard" for pulling nails. Popular collectible brands from the 2026 market include Plumb, True Temper (which later acquired Kelly), Craftsman, and Collins”

Some time back I found this box at the Tahoe flea market.
Since it had a contents list on the inside of the lid I decided to try to fill it back up with period appropriate tools. The list called for three Half Hatchets.
This is the one shown in the WW2 Navy NAF catalog that I consult frequently.
After searching for quite a while, these three are the ones currently residing in the box.
A couple of before pictures.

Here is a fairly current picture of the mostly completed set residing in my basement.
-Don

 

[JoeMcGov]

Decades ago when I lived in the Seattle area I understood that these were also known as California framing axes used primarily for track housing framing. Where carpenters, in pursuit of framing speed, couldn't be bothered to drag a saw along with them and would make any required "adjustments" to length by using the axe side. Not entirely impossible to believe.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I grew up with one in my hand as a kid for splitting fat lightwood for fire starter. 73 now and it resides in the carpentry tool box as an inheritance from my carpenter dad.

 

[dscheidt]

Decades ago when I lived in the Seattle area I understood that these were also known as California framing axes used primarily for track housing framing. Where carpenters, in pursuit of framing speed, couldn't be bothered to drag a saw along with them and would make any required "adjustments" to length by using the axe side. Not entirely impossible to believe.

There's a different kind of hatchet for that, the rigger's hatchet/axe. they're much heavier and better suited for rough work. I've got a modern Vaughan, it's 28 oz I think. I've seen vintage ones that were heavier. My plumb shingler's hatchet is ~16 oz. I believe the original user of the rigger's axe were carpenters who built timber frame rigging for drilling and mining.

The 'California framing hammer' -- a heavy framing hammer, long handled, with straight rip claws -- was supposed to have first been made by cutting the blade off a rigger's axe, and welding straight claws on. The straight rip claws get used for lifting and pulling lumber around. The extra weight and long handle made them much faster at sinking nails then the standard 16 oz short handled hammer. The guy who taught me to drive nails used a really heavy hammer, and could sink a 16d nail with a single swing, not much slower than a nail gun.

 

[RTM]

There's a different kind of hatchet for that, the rigger's hatchet/axe. they're much heavier and better suited for rough work. I've got a modern Vaughan, it's 28 oz I think. I've seen vintage ones that were heavier. My plumb shingler's hatchet is ~16 oz. I believe the original user of the rigger's axe were carpenters who built timber frame rigging for drilling and mining.

This is closer to the stories I’ve heard in the past from
Vendors and collectors.

 

[four.cycle]

"Half Hatchet"
"Rig Builders Hatchet"
"Shinglers Hatchet"
"Latch Hatchet"
"Car Builders Hatchet"
"Produce Dealers Hatchet"

seems to be no end to variety.

and this is just quickly picking through the "Plumb" folder:

 

[RTM]

Older catalogs, like my Dunham ... From 1930s, have pages of axes, then hatchets, then half hatchets, ole 4.C posted above and way above

 

[Rusted Nut]

I was moving stuff into storage today while we build a new house. Here’s a shot of my roofing tools from the early ‘80’s. Shake/shingle hatchet, shaker box, nail apron, and hip pad made from an old inner tube. Construction was real slow in ‘81, so worked for a roofing company. Nailed a lot of shakes with those tools. Have a 32 oz Vaughn framing axe somewhere as well.

 

[micromind]

Shingling hatchets. For trimming wood shingles, then driving the nails. I wouldn't be surprised if you found them as drywall hatchets too

Yep. used mine many times for wood shake roofs.

 

[micromind]

Decades ago when I lived in the Seattle area I understood that these were also known as California framing axes used primarily for track housing framing. Where carpenters, in pursuit of framing speed, couldn't be bothered to drag a saw along with them and would make any required "adjustments" to length by using the axe side. Not entirely impossible to believe.

And the guys who used them were commonly referred to as 'wood butchers'........

 

[Dagny]

Nobody mentioned the nail pulling notch.

 

[motorick]

Here is my CA. framing hammer circa 1977. Trying to achieve a bigger face, but lighter weight.