(the pun was irresistable).
Gentles all;

Apart from jokes to annoy callow apprentices.
there is no such thing as a left handed axe.

Any axe or hatchet designed for splitting has its cutting
edge nicely in plane with the central plane of the handle.

(actually, some of my kitchen knives have "handed" handles,
where I've shaped them a bit...).

However, in the case of a bearded axe (such as a Kent pattern
felling axe, or a goosewing axe), there's
definitely an up and a down, so the head can only be fitted
one way on the handle.

However, in the case of a non-felling Kent pattern, or a
pure "wedge" axe, the head is pretty much up/down symmetric too,
and could more-or-less be mounted either way up
with no effect (I think, more on this later).

However, in the case of side-axes (AKA hewing axe or broad axe),
the head is truly "handed", and one can usefully talk of a left handed
or right handed side axe.

But...

I just came across (and purchased) a side axe (by J W P Co,
which I can't find online). I *think* its a left handed
head, since only if it's mounted than way does
the brand name come out "right way up".

But it's also a Kent pattern head. I could probably
fit it the other way up, to make a right handed
side axe; this would be helpful to me, since I'm right handed,
and this is the first side axe I've ever found.

But the cheeks of this head are not perfectly symmetric.

Here's a photo of 3 Kent hatchets; the side axe is on the left
with the ruler. Note that the cheeks of the other two heads
are more nearly symmettric than the side axe.

http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10152/kent_axes.jpg

So to my question; are Kent pattern head *intended*
to be agnostic as to up/down direction, or is just a
fluke?

Will I be committing some dreadful sin if I fit a handle to this
head to make the right handed side axe I want?

Or should I pass this rare left handed side axe
to a more deserving owner?

     BugBear
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