Another Head Pattern I.D.

V

vcbvcbvcb

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Aug 1, 2012
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I just bought this. Tell me if you guys get tired of me asking about head pattern. It doesn't have a wide bit like a Jersey or Rockaway. It looks like diagrams of a Kentucky or something similar. The length is 7 1/2", 4 1/2" bit, it's 3 lbs. 9.8 oz. Any ideas?

 
Looks like the Kentucky at the right side of this page from a Plumb catalog (circa 1964):

Plumb1964isCatalogAxes2.jpg
 
Square peg, you recommended the Puget sound for dry hardwood and it's my best ax for that, thanks. I wanted to compare it to a single bit, and have been keeping an eye out for a narrow bit. This head is only 1/2 oz. heavier than the PS, with a 1/4" wider bit. I don't think I can come closer than that in the vintage market. I have several heads to haft, but they're going to have to wait, this one's next.

Steve, it just dawned on me that the "jet Wing" brand can be all that old if it makes reference to a jet plane wing!
 
Yeah, one of these narrower southern - Kentucky,Carolina - pattern axes is a good call for hardwood. This one looks pretty fresh and should be first rate. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
 
Steve, now I see the dreadnought you're talking about. Yes, it looks just like it. You are the guru of research.
 
Any suggestions on how to strip and finish? From the looks of it a natural patina isn't an option. It doesn't look like rust is a problem. One seller on EBay wrote that he NEVER strips with vinegar, and only uses a wire brush, is vinegar a bad thing? I have plumb brown and bluing liquid. Is paint better, and if so what kind? Thanks
 
Wire wheel it, sharpen it, hang it, and use it. A coat of WD-40 or BLO every now and then will keep it happy. Nice axe!
 
I never use the vinegar treatment, only the wire wheel. I coat the head, haft, and even the sheath with a beeswax/mineral oil salad bowl treatment. I like Claphams from Canada. Nice axe, if it was mine I would haft with a straight, octagonal, 32-34" slim taper with a good sized swell vertical grain white wood (sap wood) hickory.
 
vcbvcbvcb said:
I just bought this. Tell me if you guys get tired of me asking about head pattern. It doesn't have a wide bit like a Jersey or Rockaway. It looks like diagrams of a Kentucky or something similar. The length is 7 1/2", 4 1/2" bit, it's 3 lbs. 9.8 oz. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

Remains of the factory sticker are still on this! Aside from someone's tinkering with sandpaper in trying to clean it up it's basically an NOS head. Sure wouldn't bother me to come across one of these. The picture you posted is a mirror image which makes me ask: What are the numerals underneath the PLUMB stamp, that don't seem to correspond to 3 lb 10 oz?
 
300Six said:
Remains of the factory sticker are still on this! Aside from someone's tinkering with sandpaper in trying to clean it up it's basically an NOS head. Sure wouldn't bother me to come across one of these. The picture you posted is a mirror image which makes me ask: What are the numerals underneath the PLUMB stamp, that don't seem to correspond to 3 lb 10 oz?
Click to expand...

Now, I'm curious as well. It also seems to be marked on the "opposite" side as well. Maybe I just can't seem to visually adjust the mirror image...

Definitely a nice axe head you have there.

*Just flipped it - I was mistaken. 3 2 it looks like.
 
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Thank you! Has bugged me for the past year to see the stamp 3 2 on a Plumb that I have. And here is an example of another one! Presumably 3 2 indicates 3 1/2 lb and not 3lb 2 oz nor 3.2 lb. Decimals didn't seem to appeal (ie 3 . 5 and 2 . 25) for many of their offerings so Plumb stuck with fractions. Anyone got a Plumb boys axe stamped with 2 4?
 
300Six said:
Thank you! Has bugged me for the past year to see the stamp 3 2 on a Plumb that I have. And here is an example of another one! Presumably 3 2 indicates 3 1/2 lb and not 3lb 2 oz nor 3.2 lb. Decimals didn't seem to appeal (ie 3 . 5 and 2 . 25) for many of their offerings so Plumb stuck with fractions. Anyone got a Plumb boys axe stamped with 2 4?
Click to expand...

I think it's the number of quarters, as in 3 and 2 quarters. (Reminds me of how old drill bits were labelled in sixteenths, so a number 12 bit is 3/4.)
 
I'm glad you guys think this was a good purchase. I was really pleased when I'd guessed it was a Kentucky and Steve agreed. Here's some more pics.









 
Old Axeman said:
I never use the vinegar treatment, only the wire wheel. I coat the head, haft, and even the sheath with a beeswax/mineral oil salad bowl treatment. I like Claphams from Canada. Nice axe, if it was mine I would haft with a straight, octagonal, 32-34" slim taper with a good sized swell vertical grain white wood (sap wood) hickory.
Click to expand...

That's all you need to know right there.



vcbvcbvcb said:
I'm glad you guys think this was a good purchase. I was really pleased when I'd guessed it was a Kentucky and Steve agreed. Here's some more pics.

Click to expand...


Holy 5h!7! Jackpot!

That thing has a hardened poll. You have a perfect user.

I said before,
This one looks pretty fresh and should be first rate.
Click to expand...

It's even better than that.

Don't do vinegar. Do what Bernie said. Then file a half banana grind on it. If you'd like you can send it here, I'll clean it and file it and send it back - you pay only shipping.
 
THANKS, I may just do that. I'll give it a gentle try first (as soon as I figure out what a "half banana" grind is). Now I'd be worried about losing it in shipping. For my continuing education, are you saying the poll is hardened because it chipped?
 
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