Hey guys. I posted this axe in the "It followed me home" thread a few weeks back. I found it at a flea market in my hometown. A few bucks got me the head and the handle. The handle was a little loose inside the eye, but it wasn't in horrible shape. It is 31.5 inches long. I don't know if it was the original handle, but it has some years on it, judging by the patina. I think it used to be an octagonal. If you look close you can still see the vertical lines. You can feel them a little also. It either became round by a bunch of use, or someone decided to sand it down. I suppose it could have started as a round and someone decided to try to make it an octagonal also. Who knows. Someone had jammed a short wedge sideways in the eye, perpendicular to the original wedge. I removed both and then glued the sideways one back in. After it dried, I re-cut the kerf down the middle of the sideways wedge. Then I put a new wedge in. It seems to have worked out well. You can see it in the pics. I did a little sanding on the handle and painted the end knob. Three coats of BLO and that was it. The axe head says "Clear Cut" on it. That's it. My online research didn't return anything promising. Steve Tall found a picture of a broad hatchet with the same words. He also found a trademark registration by Ames True Temper for the words clear cut in regards to pruning shears. I suppose it could be related. Also that trademark was only from 2000-2008. I'm not positive, but this axe seems older than that. Anybody know what pattern it might be? Michigan, Dayton, Delaware? Anyway, I decided to restore it and give it to my brother for his birthday. Oh, and I fashioned a quick sheath out of some leather I had lying around. It doesn't quite match, but it'll get the job done. Enjoy!
