Anyone know anything about Huballoy adzes used by railroads?

A

AxeAddict

Joined
Jan 21, 2015
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I picked this up in a junk shop some time ago. I'm more of an axe guy but liked the AT&SF association, so I grabbed it. It appears to me that it was never sharpened since new, even at the factory. And yet, based on the handle and the poll it looks well-used.

Any thoughts on age, usage, the Huballoy brand, and where a new handle might be found (I haven't checked House etc. yet) would be appreciated!

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Mike
 
That's cool. I also like RR stuff.

I think that one spent some time in service as a grub hoe even though it is definitely an adze. The points on that are badly worn and will need some serious work.

I think Huballoy was made by Hubbard & Company. They made a lot of RR stuff. Their usual logo is an 'H' in a shield.
 
AxeAddict said:
Points?

Thanks guys.

Mike
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What he's saying is the blade is horribly dulled from having been used as a grub hoe. By the time you achieve a sharp blade again (notice how rounded the corners (points) are) there will be a coffee can of metal filings on the floor. Resurrecting this to be a delicate working tool is going to require a lot of elbow grease, but as a stamped wall hanger and novelty 'she's' still all there and no one will ever get hurt fondling it.
 
Thanks. I'd never heard the corners referred to as "points" before. Hoe use might explain how dull it is, but up close it sure looks like it just never had an edge, as though it's still from-the-forge. Yet, the poll has impact marks. Putting an edge on this might require some creative use of a machine, something I normally avoid. Possibly with that beast sitting next to it in the 2nd pic.

Mike
 
We used these when I worked on th railroad back in 1975. They were used to level a tie or if a tie was to high, the adze was used to make it fit. They were mainly used when replacing ties in switches also known as turnouts. They are also used a lot when working on wood bridges. Still used today on some roads.

Dave H.:)
 
Looks plenty salvageable to me, but it sure could use a bit of careful work on a grinder to freshen it up.
 
Dave H. said:
We used these when I worked on th railroad back in 1975. They were used to level a tie or if a tie was to high, the adze was used to make it fit. They were mainly used when replacing ties in switches also known as turnouts. They are also used a lot when working on wood bridges. Still used today on some roads.

Dave H.:)
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Thanks for that memory!


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I appreciate all your posts!

Dave, that's what I always envisioned them being used for by the RR's. I didn't know until recently they were sometimes also used to cut spikes and anything else they could think of (apparently).

Is there a preference or usage difference between an adze with square corners like the one in Square_peg's pics, and one that was rounded like mine, or is it just a pattern/region/mfr. difference like with axes?

Has anyone bought an adze handle from House and have any comments about it?

Mike
 
It looks like the House handle would have to be modified for this. Their spec is 1 7/16" x 2 1/4". The eye on this is 1 7/16" x 2" (exit side).
 
Yeah. I'm going to wait to order it until next week so it won't get stuck out in the dry air over the weekend (I specify no lacquer).

Thanks again to everyone.

Mike
 
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