Commentary for Kelim 29:4
חוּט מֹאזְנַיִם שֶׁל זֶהָבִים וְשֶׁל שׁוֹקְלֵי אַרְגָּמָן טוֹב, שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת. יַד הַקֻּרְדֹּם מֵאַחֲרָיו, שָׁלשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, טֶפַח, טָהוֹר:
The cord of the scales of gold weighers or of those who weigh fine purple fabric is [considered connected to the scale, with regard to impurity, up to a length of] three fingerbreadths. The shaft of an axe, behind the grip, is [considered connected up to a length of] three fingerbreadths. Rabbi Yose says: if [its length is] one handbreadth [past the grip], it is pure [and is not considered connected as a handle to the axe].
Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
חוט המאזנים (cord of the balance) – the chord that holds in it the balance at the time that they weigh them.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
The cord of the balances of goldsmiths or the weighers of fine purple cloth is regarded as a connective up to a length of three fingerbreadths, The cord is attached to the balance in the middle and it is used to grip the balance. Three fingerbreadths are sufficient for this small cord, and therefore any longer and it is not considered connected to the balance.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
ר' יוסי אומר טפח טהור – if the handle of the ax is so large that it extends a handbreadth from the back of his hand, it is not considered a handle, because it damages him while he is working, and every handle is completely pure. This is what my teacher explained. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Yossi.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
The handle of an axe behind the grip, up to a length of three fingerbreadths. Rabbi Yose says: if the length behind the grip is no less than one handbreadth the entire handle is unsusceptible to uncleanness. The "handle" of an axe is the part directly behind the hole in which the blade is inserted. Up to three fingerbreadths of this handle are considered connected to the axe. Rabbi Yose adds that if the handle is more than one handbreadth, it will interfere with the functioning of the axe and it is all pure.
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