Grades for hickory blocks that are representative of those used by mid- 

 western and southern handle companies are given below: 



Typical Grades and Specifications for Hickory Handle Blocks 



Species accepted Shagbark, mockernut and pignut or black 



hickory. Yellowbud or bitternut hickory is 

 not acceptable for handles. 



Minimum top d.i.b 7 or 8 inches. Varies with company. 



Length 38, 40, or 42 inches. Varies with company. 



Grade No. 1 (or A) Strictly clear blocks with at least 3 inches 



(or 3^, or 4 inches, depending upon the 

 company) of white wood (sapwood) on the 

 small end of the block. 



Grade No. 2 (or B) Generally clear blocks with less than the 



depth of white wood required of Grade No.l. 



Grade No. 3 (or C) Red blocks with less than 2 inches of white 



wood, or reasonably clean blocks but permit- 

 ting small defects such as slight pecks, streaks, 

 etc. Light weight may place blocks in this grade. 



Grades and specifications for hickory handle blanks for the TVA area, 

 as quoted by Smith {9), are essentially the same as those in use by an 

 Indiana handle company: 



Extra Must be all white, heavy timber, free from all defects, 



perfect, full size, and straight grain. 



No. 1 Must be good weight timber, permitting one- third red 



wood the entire length of the blank. All-white blanks 

 of good weight not sufficiently heavy for Extra grade, 

 and blanks of good weight with two light hair streaks 

 running the full length of the blank or their equivalent 

 in shorter streaks are permitted. No. 1 blanks must 

 be free from defects, full size, and straight grain. 



No. 2 Must be fair weight timber; permitting red, white, or 



red and white mixed wood; permitting light streaks and 

 three tight, sound knots not over \ inch in diameter 

 when occurring in that part of the blank other than will 

 produce the center, or spring, of the handle. Reason- 

 ably straight grain is required. 



No. 3 Includes such blanks as will produce serviceable handles, 



but are not admissible to the higher grades on account of 

 defects. 



Reject Are those containing open knots greater than 3/8 inch in 



diameter, worm holes, windshakes, or that are brashy, 

 and are not admissible to any grade. 



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