A Poor, Poor abused Collins Legitimus 3 3/4 Connecticut Pattern Brought Back to Life

DarthTaco123

DarthTaco123

Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Messages
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So, this arrived in the mail today! A very rough, abused Collins Connie. A big boy at 3 3/4 lbs too. This thing looked like it was used as a hammer, not an axe. It's terrible. Awful. A tragedy and a travesty. Anyways, enough with the drama, I'll update as I go along. At this point I've got the majority of the mushrooming gone, and I've cleaned up the poll

Before:
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After basic cleanup:
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Previous owner was too cheap, or too lazy, to buy a proper splitting wedge and used the old axe head instead. Nice that you're trying give the old girl a new lease on life.
 
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She ain't gonna be a beauty queen but the eye isn't buggered, not warped or cracked so why not. She'll make a good user.
 
I'm honestly shocked with as bad as the poll was abused, it still had a perfect profile. Just got done filing out the chips and sanding the edge a bit.
 
DarthTaco123 said:
I'm honestly shocked with as bad as the poll was abused, it still had a perfect profile. Just got done filing out the chips and sanding the edge a bit.
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Probably because it was (ostensibly) used much less as an axe than as something else :p
 
Haha spot on G-Pig. Figured today was as good of a day as any to work on an axe...and pretend it didn't dump near a foot of snow...and is still snowing.
 
Well she ain't what one might call a perty little lass but I think it'll do just fine. Now it's on to carving a handle once I get my maple dried.
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Files, 80 grit sand paper, 120 grit sand paper, medium grit side of my lansky puck, 400 grit sand paper, cermaic stone.
 
I know this might be heresy, but you can take it as a compliment. The edge looks like you did it on a fine belt sander. Nice work, I'm going to give that a shot.
 
That is a keeper for sure. Nice work on evening the edge out by the way.

I can't see why that thing won't make a tool to be proud of. Great axe pattern restored to use.
 
I wish I had a belt sander, Itd make life a lot easier for handles and refinishing heads. The trick with the sand paper is to tack it onto a block of wood and strike it at the same angle. It allows you to get a really fine edge.
 
I would not say that axe was in bad shape at all. An axe in really bad shape can not be brought back. Last summer someone gave me a Kelly Perfect single-bit that was so mushroomed and so worn down from sharpening, I simply threw it in the trash as there was almost nothing left on either end to repair.
 
gben said:
I would not say that axe was in bad shape at all. An axe in really bad shape can not be brought back. Last summer someone gave me a Kelly Perfect single-bit that was so mushroomed and so worn down from sharpening, I simply threw it in the trash as there was almost nothing left on either end to repair.
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Definitely wasn't near destruction but it was definitely roughed up and looks like it took some elbow grease to be brought back - enough to be a great user and be put back in the field.
 
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Darth, this is a good thread. Previously, I wouldn't have bought a head that banged up. There are a lot more heads open to consideration now I see what can be done. All of mine are users, so I guess as long as the eye is good and there enough tempered steel left on the edge, all is good. Again, nice job, especially that edge! My kids have asked me what I want for my birthday. Thanks to you that answer is FILES. I'm going to start working on my edgeology.
 
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