Hello, Moparthug & Bill. I have always been told that you swing an axe with 2 hands, and a hatchet with one. Hatchets typically have shorter handles. What I believe you have is a Yankee Pattern Side Axe (from Ron Barlow's Guide). With a short handle you would swing with one hand. Keen Kutter lists a Broad or Bench Hatchet (also in Barlow's Guide) , similar to the Yankee Pattern Side Axe. Barlow's also shows a Keen Kutter broad axe shaped Hatchet with a Hewing Blade. I am betting it is not a Hewing Blade until you get up over 6" on the blade width. I make no claims for accuracy in the above statements, just did a little bit of book research on a rainy day, and not trying to be a pain in the axe. :grin:Regards, Lou