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

Thanks both of you! Flea markets and antique stores are a good source of cheap files, typically in decent shape. I can find them for about a buck a piece usually.
 
Agent_H said:
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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I liked you're reason for edit. I, myself am notorious for leaving a participle dangling. This is becoming more noticeable as I age.:)

Nice work, Darth!
 
Thanks all!

Thank you Roadwarrior!

Roughed out a maple blank for my Collins legitimus 3 3/4 lb Connecticut pattern today. Undecided what to do with the Palm swell...help me out!
Still needs to finish drying so I've got time.

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Wow, that's a transformation! You know that stuff with water all over it is carbon steel :rolleyes: I have another edge question. What type of files did you use on the edge? Course, medium, or fine? Double cut or single cut?
 
For the bulk of the work I used an old Delta mill bastard file, then went to a slightly worn harbor freight file to smooth it out.

--Edit--
Just did a quick test bucking and felling a dead pine, and I'm quite impressed. I was nervous about the edge after a knot or two I cut into but the edge held up fine.
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DarthTaco123 said:
All done! 30.5" maple haft,
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That is a good shot of that axe DarthTaco. Something about that one that seems like it would handle and chop well. Looks like a working axe that someone cared about now.

*I like the swell you ended up with. Tape it off to work on it or just free hand?
 
Just whittled on it with my DCF Kephart and sanded it. It chops quite well, in both felling and bucking. I hope to work it some more in the coming days. It's a workhorse alright, it bites deep and cuts clean.
 
I liked it better before you burned it but it still looks great now and what matters is how it chops. Well done!
 
Looks great, awesome job bringing it back to life. I am curious to find out how the maple handle holds up, let us know after more use. Maple is by far the easiest hardwood for me to find locally and I have been considering making handles with it myself.
 
It was still a wee bit green so I charter it to help draw out the moisture a bit more. I'm going to finish sanding it down today
 
jstare said:
Looks great, awesome job bringing it back to life. I am curious to find out how the maple handle holds up, let us know after more use. Maple is by far the easiest hardwood for me to find locally and I have been considering making handles with it myself.
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In my experience it holds up pretty well. Ash would be better but aren't as common where I'm at.
 
nice axe, good work!
fire décoration, seems to be made at camp into the fire pit?
 
I did the scorching with a torch after I covered the handle in oil. Sanded it back to a fairly white color and I'm going to oil it again.
 
DarthTaco123 said:
I did the scorching with a torch after I covered the handle in oil. Sanded it back to a fairly white color and I'm going to oil it again.
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Haven't scorched a handle before. Are there some benefits to it?

I have, however, thought of using my heat gun on a low setting to try to push oil in but wasn't sure what the outcome would be or if it would be hard on the handle itself.

Hot weather and some direct sun seems to be good. My axes like to work outside and sleep inside for the most part.

Terrific axe again, by the way.
 
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