1 1/4 lb hand axe with 1080 steel

R

Ripshin Lumberjack

Joined
Sep 17, 2014
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120
Hello

Just purchased a 1 1/4 lb 14" hand axe at Sears made by Vaughan in the GOOD OL' U.S. OF A. Vaughan has told me me they use 1080 steel in these axes. Nice little axe.

ripshin lumberjack
 
That's impressive! Good ol' Vaughan. Still making at least a few things in the USA. Their hammers are absolute top notch. Been my favorites for years.
 
Vaughan still uses 1080 for most all their tools. A good friend of mine use to order cases of their ball peen hammer heads directly from them to make hawks out of because they use that steel. They told him they used 1080 carbon steel and I found a company paper from the 60's that stated the same thing. Apparently they haven't changed it in all these years. Ive reheat treayed plenty of Vaughan tools and they do indeed hat treat exactly like 1080 carbon steel.
 
My grandmother bought one for kindling , and the steel seemed pretty good when I was sharpening it for her.
I went with her to exchange a gift she had bought me ( already had it ) and at this sears it appeared that all of the hammers and hatchets were vaughan factory second heads ( looked just like the deformed heads I saw in a factory tour video ) I picked her out the best of the best, but even it has a big dent in the top of the head.
It may not look great but gets the job done just fine, and based on my sub zero hatchet and other Vaughan made striking tools ( 20oz 999 is the best rip claw framer ever made period ) I'd never hesitate to give the my money.
I plan on the next new made hatchet I buy to be a Vaughn riggers axe.
 
1080 that is a nice surprise! I am thinking of teaching a coppersmithing class requiring me to use 12-15 ball piens. I was going to just order a lot of vintage heads on the bay and rehandle them but maybe I'll head to sears instead..
 
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