D.H.O. Axes on the Road
Ontario – Mixed Makers
1931 – 1971
Axes marked D.H.O. were issued to and used by the Ontario Department of Highways.
The name for this government department was used between 1931 and 1971 (before becoming the Ministry of Transportation), which gives a 40-year possible window for when these axes were made. Although I would guess they are probably from the 1950s and 1960s.
D.H.O. axes were typically full-size (3.5lb) felling/chopping axes, used for clearing trees and debris. Although the example above is a smaller “boys axe” size (2.25lbs).
Most examples of D.H.O. axes I have seen were made by (or suspected made by) Welland Vale in St. Catharines – the province’s largest axe maker. So if you find an otherwise unmarked D.H.O. axe, it’s probably a safe bet.
However, that doesn’t mean they all were made by Welland Vale.
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