Axe Master '94's Kelly Registered Axe Mod/Resto

A

Axe Master '94

Joined
Sep 24, 2014
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224
Scored this guy off everyone's favorite auction site, figuring that I'd try and save it.
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Had some serious damage to the bit, but I had faith in my skills. The head actually was a lot smaller than anticipated.
Drew out my plan and took some starter pics
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The top of the eye had taken a hell of a beating from something...

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And it was a shame that the number was gone...

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After the first cut, top chip gone.

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Second cut.

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Ground and lightly polished. I'll throw up some more pics when I get around to hanging it.
 
You got moxy my man. I really like your method of taking off relatively even amounts at the heel and toe. Since your new cut lines don't extend all the way back is it worth checking the balance? Especially if the moll is beat to hell now is the time to trim as necessary. Of course, that depends on your personal preference regards balance.

Also, you mention the number is gone. What is the weight on it?
 
Started out 2 pound 15 ounce (even) and probably around 2#11oz now. After rough cuts it was 2#12. Haven't checked the balance, but it's so small that the eye takes up the majority of the head! It's a full size eye, too.
 
Great idea. Its looking good. Seems like everyone of those stamps I find the axe has just been abused to death.
 
I wouldn't be concerned at all about the abuse around the eye. Seems like the last 5 or 6 I've farted around with have looked the same or worse. Quick work with a file but you already know that
 
Just for reference, I used a radiac wheel to cut (with ice water dunks to cool it) then used a small pneumatic angle grinder with 40 grit to rough shape it, then 80 grit to clean up the shaping, then used a Brillo-style pad on the grinder to buff/sharpen/clean it.
 
Interesting that the Registered axes from Kelly were priced almost 50% more than the Black Raven axes (prices from 1913):

books
 
Steve Tall said:
Interesting that the Registered axes from Kelly were priced almost 50% more than the Black Raven axes (prices from 1913):

books
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Wow, interesting. I found a quick calculator online and it's notable that those $10 axes in 1913 were the equivalent to around $240 today, and the $7 ones were just under $170. I know there are a lot of variables, but the prices of the current crop of high-end forged axes such as Gransfors Bruks and Wetterlings don't seem so bad comparatively. Those prices don't seem too far off either as the $1 handle would be about $25 now, which is actually more than most now, but were probably better quality.

Oh and those $13 double bits....$312. A lot by today's standards, but I would assume reasonable for a high-quality tool used for woodsmen's livelihoods.
 
You did a really nice job of this. Would have been/become a paperweight for most anybody else, myself included. Swinging a resurrected oldie (even if there isn't much blade left) does impart a measure of satisfaction that you'll never get from from wearing the factory paint off a plastic-handled one that says 'made in Mexico, India, Taiwan or China'.
 
That came out really good. I probably would have made the wedge wider to fill that gap in the front of the eye though. That gap may cause the head to become loose when it's in use.
 
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