I try to keep in touch with him, he works a few miles from my house. I took him 6 old ax and maul heads back in October. My wife's birthday is in July, and I made her a promise that I would get rid of 3 things a month till new years. I finished October and couldn't find any thing else to get rid of. Then I saw those heads behind my Cuda. Six of them had me covered for Nov and Dec. My wife has had 6 hip replacement surgeries. When she was 21 she took chemo for Hodgkin's Disease. They gave her high doses of Prednisone also. The Prednisone killed the bone in her hips. She got the first two in 86 and 87. Got 20 years out of them. Had revisions in 06 and 07. Then in 2017 the rod in her left femur started to get loose, so had that replaced. Two months ago she decided she wanted the right femur replaced before it got bad. Doc said good choice, when he took it out it was loose. I had both knees done. I retired Nov 1st 2015 and my left knee done Nov, 3rd. My retirement present to me. Two years later got the right one done. I have little to no pain, but don't have the range of motion I'd like. But, I worked on them for 15 years after I was told I need the surgery. The Doc said up front I might not get full range of motion back because I waited so long. I'm happy with them. Only advice I have is squats are your friend. Every time you brush our teeth, 10 squats, get your socks out of the dresser, 10 squats. You don't have to push till you are going to pass out. Just go deep enough that you feel it, and then a touch more. Every day try to go a little more. It's like compound interest, a little over a long time, makes a big difference. My first knee, they stapled it. My second knee they glued it. First one I was ona walker for several weeks. Second one I was walking with a cane the same day. Two different Doctors, a world of difference.
That thing looks beautiful! Never apologize for cutting the handle flush to the eye. I've never bought into leaving the handle 1\4 inch proud to the eye. American axes were always cut flush. Here's a small Norlund on the original handle. Then my new Plumb display rack with a never used Collins Legitimus in the back, you can read "Genuine Collins Hickory" on the handle, then an American Beauty, Keen Kutter and another Plumb in the front, all cut tight to the eye, and all original handles.
Good deal. Nice work checking in on him. Hopefully he eventually has some time to brew some beer and swing some axes.
