Shingling Hatchet

[Stewie Simpson]

Attached are photo's of a Robert Sorby No.2 Shingling Hatchet that's been part of my tool collection since 2005. This Shingling Hatchet is listed within the companies 1908 Catalogue. It was purchased from the U.K. The handle is not original.

Stewie;

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/Sorby%20shingling%20hatchet/_DSC0046_zpsgh5jcz73.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/Sorby%20shingling%20hatchet/_DSC0046_zpsgh5jcz73.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/Sorby%20shingling%20hatchet/_DSC0047_zpsuez5e8yy.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/Sorby%20shingling%20hatchet/_DSC0047_zpsuez5e8yy.jpg.html)

[Andrew Hughes]

That's a beauty,since I'm a Jorney man roofer I do like hammers.The head looks like a slate hammer but the sharp blade with a nice camber looks just like ones I've used.I could cut hips all day with that bad boy.Thanks for sharing.

[Reinis Kanders]

Was it originally meant to split shingles while roofing, or as a more generic hatchet? I have some 20 year old Vaughn mass produced shingle hatchet, but that thing has proven to be somewhat useless as a hatchet, it has a very blunt bevel.
http://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-14-Ounce-Shingling-Hatchet-Quality/dp/B00004Z2XX

[Tom M King]

When installing shingles on a roof, you want the one that's up next to be at least two inches from the gap between the ones on the preceding row. If one the right width is not in easy reach, you split off enough of one that's a little too wide so that you get that 2" stagger. That's the primary use of a Shinglers Hatchet. The other end is to drive the nails, saving the trouble of having two tools to keep up with on a roof.

I'll install them like that, or pull a trigger. The price per hour is the same. Production is not. So far, only deep pocketed museums choose the hatchet. Cedar shakes on my house are 36 years old, with not a single split one. They were installed with 2" x 7/16" crown staples. We're getting ready to put a six figure Cypress shingle roof on an old house. We'll be pulling a trigger.

[Stewie Simpson]

Was it originally meant to split shingles while roofing, or as a more generic hatchet? I have some 20 year old Vaughn mass produced shingle hatchet, but that thing has proven to be somewhat useless as a hatchet, it has a very blunt bevel.
http://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-14-Ounce-Shingling-Hatchet-Quality/dp/B00004Z2XX

http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUK/Sorby,Robert&Sons/inPress/sorbyTools.asp