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The ax handle on my '51 M38 sticks out from the body about 1 to 1 1/2 inches beyond the clamp. In other words I would have to bend the handle in toward the body by that amount to get it to fit. Seems that would be ax abuse. I could make a longer ax clamp. My question is, is this common to M38s? If so how did they address this operationally?

Thanks for any help!

If possible, pictures would help on this one.

If you would use the search function you would find your answer very quickly!

Just click on the "Search" button at the top of the page and then enter the word "axe".

This is the fifth result: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... hlight=axe



These result is toward the bottom of page one:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... hlight=axe

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... hlight=axe

Your bracket is too short or mounted too far forward.

Thanks Wes....this site is an awesome resource!

I put a few more photos up on my album under M38 body:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... php&page=5

Interesting....so if I am looking at it right, that means the ax handle is not very thick? Maybe my ax handle is thicker than the original ones were?

If you look closely at the manual illustration above the very thinnest part of the handle (part you grasp with your left hand if you are right handed) is contacting the inside of the bracket. I would guess that thickness to be about 1" to 1 1/4". If you slide the handle into the bracket first then insert the blade in the blade pouch which will require a couple pounds of pushing inward force this would insure the handle doesn't rattle when driving.

Yep handle measures just over an inch. I also notice that there is a slight buckling of the body seam right in the middle of the ax indent which is not helping. I'll just make a longer bracket. Thanks again Wes!!

Yep, make it longer. Just get some bolts and cut their heads off, weld and dress.
Brett

Just for Sheets and Grins let me know how your bracket compares to mine for dimensions in my photo album.