What I gather is that there are axes with obviously hardened polls like the 4 and 5lb Plumbs and the TT for example have bevels and a pretty distinct pattern shape like what 300six described - I think of those as "Rafting Patterns" - sometimes the polls are smooth, sometimes with checks in them.
There are also the Mann, Collins, Walters, MasterCraft, etc with very generous polls that I think look like the Rafting Pattern but show a touch of mushrooming but hold up really quite well to use as a sledge. Makes me think they are Rafting Axes but the hardening is not quite to the point of chipping but enough to remain relatively intact in use.
There are old school axes with hardened steel added to the poll that provided a striking surface that were forged welded on there - still hardened polls.
The National patterns don't seem to be hardened but given their billing as "Stake driving capable" made me want to say they are hardened but I am not sure. They aren't hardened enough to show a line in a vinegar bath and they do mushroom to a certain degree but they have those bevels. I wonder if those were billed as for use on some hammering simply due to the beveled design would keep sharp edges at bay longer as they would have to be pounded more than an "average" axe to show mushrooming past the bevels themselves. Sometimes the bevels on axes that show hardening are not flat but more rounded. Easier to do than flat? Don't know. Less material on the part most likely to chip off during metal on metal contact? Maybe?
Then we have the examples of "normal" axes that demonstrate hardened polls via vinegar bath temper lines - Some of the Perfect line for example. For the most part not sold as "Hardened Poll" axes but they turn up and demonstrate that they are harder than the surrounding material - which probably is not a mistake as it takes an extra step as far as I can tell.
Now there are "Miner" and "Construction" axes... Those seem to be have been specifically sold as being hardened but maybe also as a style or configuration - straight handles (many of them short). Some with hardened polls, some without... Some offered on curved handles as well...
That ad I posted refers to that build as a "Miners axe" but is states they came with any of the available heads (or a variety of them) on a shorter handle - kind of like Council's straight handled axes with 3.5 - 5lb heads but no mention of hardening (Rail Splitter line is what comes to mind)
There are some variables such as an axe being marked on the
opposite side of the head, a weight stamp impressed on the poll face itself, an obvious overbuilding of the poll, bevels at the poll up the corners or across the edges of the face (both or just one) without obvious differences in hardness from the body of the axe - all of that make us wonder as well.
It does seem that maybe there were more axes out there than we were previously aware of that may have some degree of hardening to the polls.
Someone here posted a Kelly Perfect that looked like it was "differentially" hardened and someone with more knowledge than me stated that to have that show in a poll like that then the maker went to extra steps/expense to make it happen.
Just for conversation's sake - Then there are weird things like this Norlund with a head pattern that doesn't match others I see having been offered, on a 28" handle, and shows darkening at the poll. Using a file, it isn't as hard as the exposed cutting edge but it doesn't give up material like the body of the axe does. Eh, who knows.
Hardened polls are interesting though.
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