Axe experts- Help me identify this beauty

C

chev74

Joined
Feb 13, 2017
Messages
15
Hello all- first time poster. Brand new member!

I'm posting here to help identify this beauty that was gifted to me over the weekend. It's refinisher knows quite a bit about axes, but he could not identify the origins of this Hudson Bay axe head. Everything you see is new except for the head, so that's what I'm out to discover. Any help in finding what the "A48" means, the manufacturer, year, etc would be great. I know he would be delighted to find out the origins, and I'm happy showing off my new toy!

Pics are found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B47UaTAs7O8yWE9tVEttXy1URlE
 
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the Letter-Number stamps would indicate True Temper being the maker, probably sometime after the 60s.
 
Does True Temper have a reference log to check meaning of the letters, year made, etc.? If it helps, he said that it has tracks in the eye. A cross reference
 
I don't want to be the devil's advocate but that head has been so thoroughly 'gussied up' that the A48 marking might just be an 'add-on' after all the sanding and polishing obliterated all other identifiable marks. Please prove me wrong!
 
If the original markings were taken off, then it wasn't by my friend. He's done it all 100% correctly. Hours upon hours of research poured into this, and this was his first top to bottom restoration. If I can provide any other info (dimensions, other pics, etc) then I'm happy to oblige.
 
Does it have ridges in the eye?



I would initially be inclined to think they were put there at production, axe was rusty, then cleaned and polished.
 
Agent_H said:
Does it have ridges in the eye?

I would initially be inclined to think they were put there at production, axe was rusty, then cleaned and polished.
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I was told that it has tracks in the eye...which I assume are the same as ridges?
 
Sorry 300six I think i replied directly to you....meant for the thread...

So are you both thinking that the marks are not original? Or an original mistake upon manufacture?
 
chev74 said:
Sorry 300six I think i replied directly to you....meant for the thread...

So are you both thinking that the marks are not original? Or an original mistake upon manufacture?
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The big boys (Plumb, Kelly, Collins etc) didn't go around hand stamping their stuff, even if it was destined to sport only a jobber's foil or paper label. If it has eye ridges it's a 1960s, and up, American-made and there's an entire thread (search: axes with eye ridges) devoted to these. A factory A48 marking may well have been on that head originally and someone saw fit to stamp those numbers back on after the extensive sanding and polishing effort. You also can't discount that the head has possibly even been re-profiled from a different pattern. Daytons and Michigans are a dime a dozen (relatively speaking) but an HB style not so much so.
 
300Six said:
The big boys (Plumb, Kelly, Collins etc) didn't go around hand stamping their stuff, even if it was destined to sport only a jobber's foil or paper label. If it has eye ridges it's a 1960s, and up, American-made and there's an entire thread (search: axes with eye ridges) devoted to these. A factory A48 marking may well have been on that head originally and someone saw fit to stamp those numbers back on after the extensive sanding and polishing effort. You also can't discount that the head has possibly even been re-profiled from a different pattern. Daytons and Michigans are a dime a dozen (relatively speaking) but an HB style not so much so.
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After talking with my friend again, he says that he was the only one who had touched it because of the condition it was in. He sanded and polished the head. He did not stamp/restamp it.
 
Take this information for what it is, second hand and I can't verify it and I have not tried. Additionally I am no expert.

I have heard that a former employee has identified the letter with a work station and the number as a run. So any problems could be easily followed up.

Again I can't verify but have heard that the axe you posted may have been a part of a product line called "Woodsman" and they were manufactured by True Temper in Canada.
 
garry3 said:
Take this information for what it is, second hand and I can't verify it and I have not tried. Additionally I am no expert.

I have heard that a former employee has identified the letter with a work station and the number as a run. So any problems could be easily followed up.

Again I can't verify but have heard that the axe you posted may have been a part of a product line called "Woodsman" and they were manufactured by True Temper in Canada.
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Awesome info (potentially).... haha
 
chev74 said:
Awesome info (potentially).... haha
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What was funny about that?
You came here asking for help and I told you what little I had. You can use your Google skills from there if you want to verify it.
I am done here.
 
garry3 said:
What was funny about that?
You came here asking for help and I told you what little I had. You can use your Google skills from there if you want to verify it.
I am done here.
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I was just saying that it's great info, and found it humorous that it was only potentially useful. Interesting, nonetheless. Didn't mean any disrespect. I came here with no info, so this is all great.
 
To my knowledge, True Temper is the only one who ever made a head shaped like that. Their version of the Hudson Bay is unique. They were sold as Woodsman or Woodslasher and also sold by Herter's with a Herter's marked handle.
 
I think you've all got it right. A True Temper head sold by Herters. Lots of Woodsman and Woodslasher heads I've seen have a TrueTemper marking, but some do not I guess. The specific head design/shape seems to be unique to True Temper (I think?).
 
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