The "pot" is an army helmet liner worn during cut and stack. Cut - where the trees are killed with an ax. Stack - where the logs are stacked and wired together.
Ax handle? Carried by those with a leadership position. Not used for anything other than beating the a** of underclassmen.
I've got a Jim Beam bottle full from the early 90's, with a picture of bonfire on the back. Can't remember much of it, as the bottle was full when the night started.
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