Axes with eye ridges....

garry3 · Mar 19, 2016

So we have Kelly, Vaughn and Collins with ridges in the eyes. That does not rule out others, but I have no other proof.

Here is a Woodslasher from the early 1960's. No ribs in the eye. No stamps.

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300Six · Mar 19, 2016

Nice piece garry3! This one may have languished on the shelf for a few years or laid under something in a back room. Seems the ridges were introduced in the early 60s and it may well be this particular axe was neglected/failed to sell because it was priced the same as the 'new-fangled' ones. I dunno but it sure is a perfect example of NOS.

garry3 · Mar 19, 2016

300Six said:
Nice piece garry3! This one may have languished on the shelf for a few years or laid under something in a back room. Seems the ridges were introduced in the early 60s and it may well be this particular axe was neglected/failed to sell because it was priced the same as the 'new-fangled' ones. I dunno but it sure is a perfect example of NOS.

It was a yard sale find and a card from Mom and Dad in side the box provided a date and provenance that it was a birthday gift to a son that apparently never used it. It is no longer owned by me and I think the one who purchased it made a decent buy.

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BG_Farmer · Mar 19, 2016

garry3 said:
It was a yard sale find and a card from Mom and Dad in side the box provided a date and provenance that it was a birthday gift to a son that apparently never used it. It is no longer owned by me and I think the one who purchased it made a decent buy.

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The mother lode!

garry3 · Mar 19, 2016

BG_Farmer said:
The mother lode!

Not at all. I am pretty sure it sold for less than a bill on that auction sight. Strange when those lesser quality axes that sold in shrink wrapped plastic at the bait store will bring twice as much.

300Six · Mar 19, 2016

Definitely a neat find and with a realistic enough purchase date authenticity that can't be disputed too much. My sister, for instance, is 'the' consummate bargain shopper and will often lay in something years in advance (ie her son's 16th birthday) only because the price was right. And then sometimes she'd forget or the package would show up during once a decade spring cleaning etc etc.

quinton · Mar 19, 2016

300Six said:
Definitely a neat find and with a realistic enough purchase date authenticity that can't be disputed too much. My sister, for instance, is 'the' consummate bargain shopper and will often lay in something years in advance (ie her son's 16th birthday) only because the price was right. And then sometimes she'd forget or the package would show up during once a decade spring cleaning etc etc.

Sounds like you're sister spring cleans more regularly than I.

300Six · Mar 19, 2016

garry3 said:
Not at all. I am pretty sure it sold for less than a bill on that auction sight. Strange when those lesser quality axes that sold in shrink wrapped plastic at the bait store will bring twice as much.

Ah those fabled Norlund hatchet HBs! Had I only bought a sack of them, or even a single one at the time.

Steve Tall · Mar 19, 2016

300Six said:
Ah those fabled Norlund hatchet HBs! Had I only bought a sack of them, or even a single one at the time.

$6.47 with sheath, in 1981:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=10tPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CY8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2361%2C7631684

300Six · Mar 20, 2016

Steve Tall said:
$6.47 with sheath, in 1981:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=10tPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CY8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2361%2C7631684

Thank you Steve. I was always suspicious of these because of the presentation, price and cheezy packaging so never gave them so much as a second glance. And, were I able to go back in time I'd be buying stock in Microsoft and Apple instead.

RICKOFF · Apr 17, 2016

It's a tough decision to know where to post this, here or "it followed me home".

No name Dbl bit cruiser 8.5 bit to bit, the bits are 4.375. only marking is C8.

Only 4 ridges

The stamp/marking

garry3 · Apr 17, 2016

RICKOFF said:
It's a tough decision to know where to post this, here or "it followed me home".

No name Dbl bit cruiser 8.5 bit to bit, the bits are 4.375. only marking is C8.
View attachment 629363

Only 4 ridges
View attachment 629364

The stamp/marking
View attachment 629365

It looks pretty good and a cruiser is always a nice find.
Those small letter number stamps are associated with True Temper, if you did not know. It is another can of worms to just what they mean.

Square_peg · Apr 17, 2016

Most likely an old Woodslasher.

PWRstroke_smoke · Apr 18, 2016

omitted

PWRstroke_smoke · Apr 18, 2016

Hacked said:
First axe was a Powr Kraft with eye ridges, I'm willing to bet its a Kelly.

omitted

RICKOFF · Apr 18, 2016

Square_peg and garry3, thanks, the first Cruiser I found has 3 ridges on each side opposite each other(see post and pics 3/16/13) and this has 2 closer to center and 2 spaced further apart, My question is are they both Wood Slashers?

Square_peg · Apr 18, 2016

Likely both Woodslashers. Kelly used different patterns of eye ridges, 2 opposite 2, 2 opposite 3, and 3 opposite 3. Their late model axes were 3 opposite 3. I can't say how the others are dated. My guess is it went 4, 5, 6. But that's a guess.

RICKOFF · Aug 8, 2016

Vaughan Super Steel stamped 3.5 but actually 3lb 06.5 oz with eye ridges.

For information purposes only.

Square_peg · Aug 8, 2016

Thanks, RICKOFF. We knew Vaughan made eye ridge axes but it's nice to verify that even their higher end Super Steel had them.

rjdankert · Aug 15, 2016

This brand with eye ridges is new to me. True Value's Tru-test. I have done some searching hoping to positively identify who made these, but could not find documentation. Anyway, pictures may be of interest in this thread.

Bob

Edit to add: For the record the above is not my axe. It was just posted as an example.