Axe ID?

[Kevin McGovern]

Hello. I'm a knife maker so I'm usually over on the knifemaking forum. I'm hoping you all can help me out. I was given this double bit axe by my father in law and I am in the process of cleaning it up. I'd like to handle it and give it to our Boy Scout Troops Scout Master. I would like to know anything you can tell me about it. The only markings I can find are " garden spot" on one side and "4" ( which I assume is the weight) on the other. I already searched the forum and came up empty handed. Im not worryied about value, as I'll be gifting it, but it would be nice to know the history. Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.

As I received it...

As it is now..

 

[Square_peg]

The toes are very worn. I wouldn't gift that axe.

 

[Steve Tall]

"Garden Spot" is listed as being associated with Herr & Co., Lancaster PA.
from Hardware Age, Volume 196, Issues 1-2, 1965

Herr & Co. is described as "a full-line hardware distributor headquartered in Lancaster, Pa. Herr travels 12 salesmen throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland .."
Hardware Retailing - Volume 144 - Page 210

https://books.google.com/books?id=3QAlAQAAMAAJ
1983 - ‎Snippet view - ‎More editions
RKB Enterprises, Elmira, N.Y., has purchased Herr and Co., Inc., a full-line hardware distributor headquartered in Lancaster, Pa. Herr travels 12 salesmen throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland ...
Federal Supply Code for Manufacturers - Page 176

 

[300Six]

"Garden Spot", wow. The 4 ought to be weight in pounds (you can confirm this on a scale). This baby has a lot of miles on it (toes look to be disproportionately worn) and will require concerted effort to straighten up. It's highly unlikely to be Swedish/German or even Chinese because of the age and appearance. Phantom bevels are an American phenomenon that dates back over 120 years.
A vinegar soak will tell if, and how much, hardened steel blade is left to work with.

I'm not sure how useful a full size+ double bit will be to a Boy Scout leader; a foundling hatchet or boys axe (or better yet; a cruiser double bit) might be a better idea.

 

[Kevin McGovern]

Thank you very much for the information! I want the patina to remain if at all possible. The only experience I have with vinegar on blades is bringing out a hamon on several I have done. ( I use Ferric Chloride for the initial etch) These of course had no patina to start. Will etching it reveal the hard edge condition if I don't sand it clean?
It's not really intended to be used. We have plenty of serviceable axes for that. this is a wall hanger.

 

[phantomknives]

the bevels look kelly style, but they were too deep, if i didnt see the garden spot on it, and steve hadnt been so quick, i'da called it a 4 pound KP

 

[300Six]

Vinegar bath is extreme far as I know (having never conducted one) but 'going to town' on the head with a wire brush on a drill or angle grinder is not. Whatever temper is in there will show (I can vouch for that, many times over) when you're done and the ageing or patina will not be lost.