Our first-quality drop heel buggy shafts are steam bent from straight grain hickory. These single-bend buggy shafts are available as Wood Only or Shaft Components which includes all wood, hardware, and fasteners (choose product options). * Comes with steel tips at no extra cost or you can also choose a brass option.
When assembled, the shaft coupler eyes are approximately 42”-43” wide. Buggy shafts come with hold back strap loops and shaft tips (pair) Choose from Draft or Horse sizes. Pony size sold here. Singletree sold separately. We also sell Hold Back Straps for Shafts, a necessary accessory on shafts. View our Shaft Assembly Instructions. Complete Assembled Drop Heel Buggy Shafts available.
After check out you will receive an e-mail with a link to download the assembly instructions. Please let us know if you do not receive them and be sure to check your junk folder just in case.
Need a little extra guidance? The book Wheelwrighting: A Modern Introduction Vol II has two chapters on an introduction to building poles and shafts as well as how to assemble them.
Specifications
- Length from the cross member to end of shaft tips: Horse 76”; Draft 88”.
- Width at end of shaft tips: 26”; width at eyes: 43” (center to center).
- Coupler eye - 1" wide (made to fit our 1 1/8" opening shaft couplers)
- Overall length: Horse - approx 90"
- Holes are not predrilled
Q&A
Question: How do I know if drop-heel or double-bend shafts are correct for my vehicle?
Answer: It’s a general rule of thumb that if the body of the carriage protrudes in front of the front cross spring, the double bend shafts would be required to give the necessary clearance to the cross bar when turning. A doctor’s buggy which has the body behind the spring could use the drop-heel shafts.
Question: How do I attach these to my buggy or carriage?
Answer: The hardware on the shafts includes a coupler eye. This fits in to our shaft couplers and can be secured in place with our shaft quick pins. We also sell Bradley Shaft Couplers if you prefer that style, although it will require some custom fitting to our hardware.
Question: What comes with the components set?
Answer: The components set would include all that you need to build a set of shafts yourself (wood shafts, cross bar, hardware, fasteners, and assembly instructions.) The Singletree and the Hold Back Straps are sold separately, if needed.
Question: What level of skill is required if I purchase the components set and complete assembly myself?
Answer: The assembly of the shaft component set requires a mid- to high-level of skill. None of the components have been preassembled and fitted. It comes with the steambent wood components, bent iron components (holes are pre-drilled) hardware and fasteners and you will be required to do the actual build assembly process.
Required work to be completed: Fitting and sizing of the mortise-tennon joint. Aligning and fitting the irons to the steam-bent wood. Drilling the bolt holes in the wood (holes are pre-drilled in hardware with the exception of the singletree yoke and shaft wear plate) and completing the assembly with the fasteners and hardware provided. Trimming the shaft tail length to match the provided irons and profiling the wood as necessary. Assembly instructions are provided as a guide, however the complexity of the assembly is high and previous woodworking experience will be extremely useful.
