Rescue Axe

[Planet Basher]

This axe is marked Chillington 1940. Although the Google reveals other Quadrant axes I cannot find one in this format. Could anyone give me a pointer to it's use in aviation, if any.

[Krystal n chips]

I have, somewhere and a looong time ago seen an axe like this. That said, it could well be an ARP axe, rather than an RAF axe.

The RAF axe wasn't really as effective as it was promoted as being.......we decided to chop a few holes, officially I should add, in a couple of Canberra's one day using one. Imagine one of those cartoons where the vibrations go up and down the arm of a character...yep, one full on bash, well done Al ! .....and lots of "boings " thereafter. Canberra remained intact.

[longer ron]

Funny you should mention the RAF Fire Axe KnC - my first airframe repair job in the early 70's was to the Wing L/E of a Canberra at Cottesmore,It was a smallish 'Square' hole which exactly matched the standard Fire Axe 'Spike'.
We could not get any leading edge section (or so I was told) so I had to 'roll' it myself in station workshops,the workshop techs were less than helpful because they had lost out on the 'pay bands' not long before.
We borrowed some hangar space for me to carry out the repair,just before I had it sprayed,the Hangar Sqn Ldr Engo came for a shufti and said ''I have seen better workmanship on my pushbike'' - but he was a miserable old ex brat with no SOH.It actually looked ok when covered with 12 gauge paint
I do not think the culprit was ever found

[POBJOY]

Wartime axe for wartine materials

Originally Posted by Planet Basher

This axe is marked Chillington 1940. Although the Google reveals other Quadrant axes I cannot find one in this format. Could anyone give me a pointer to it's use in aviation, if any.

I have one of these, and one without the full quadrant. They work fine on light aircraft structures and the full quadrant is to prevent the axe jamming if it fully penetrates the skin. Supplied with nice leather holster I think several still around on RFF trucks where mine came from, but now only chops kindling for wood burner. AS alluded not so effective on later (hard) grades of aircraft alloys which needed to be cut rather than chopped, and rather dangerous to the user on Perspex as they can rebound and its back to Rorkes Drift types of injuries. Nice rubber covered handle as standard in event of chopping an electrical cable. The non quadrant variety also has a solid tapered spike which is ideal as a prising tool. Still to be found in second hand shops and will last for about 300 years if abused and 500 if looked after. I suspect with the weight saving holes this one would be part of the on board safety equipment for a larger aircraft.

[Jhieminga]

Looks suspiciously like the one that is shown here on a Vickers Valetta:


Photo from: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/...omment=3734860

[PAXboy]

The Mosquito carried one and the fuselage was slightly easier to break! My father and his pilot had to use one after a crash in January 1945, following a crash on departure. The port engine developed a glycol leak on the take off run for an Op. Losing the engine and fully laden, they could not get back - even in a low circle - and crashed in a field.

[Self loading bear]

Originally Posted by Jhieminga

Looks suspiciously like the one that is shown here on a Vickers Valetta:


Photo from: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/...omment=3734860

This one looks to have the barb/pick attached.
Those are plenty to find.
I have been looking myself and only found 1 without the barb.
Arpax firemen axe

Could it be the Round holes are drilled later?