The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
From what I have seen I believe they are. I don't have all the brands listed. I have premium hatchet's in, Flint Edge, Vulcan and True American.In regards to high end axe heads , example Black Raven, Kelly perfect, True Temper Flint edge, Vulcan, and so on, are the corresponding hatchet heads of the same name made of the exact same grade of steel, in the same manner as the big heads ?
I am pretty much on board with this. I don't think any one used anything to fancy because of the cost of heat treating would also add to the manufacturing costs over and above the cost of steel.There wouldn't have been all that many consistent quality steel mills that axe makers could economically source from. Manufacturers usually locate their businesses in proximity to their source of materials. Buying higher grades than your competitors would substantially impact the bottom line. Very specific metallurgy is involved in high stress situations (think firearm barrels, high tensile nuts, bolts and machine parts) but axes are low tech and how the metal is heat treated and tempered after forging has much more effect on the durability and working properties than the quality of the steel. The Walters Axe motto of 'not too soft and free from flaws' sort of sums this up. Presumably producing and finishing a high end axe head vs a budget brand is more a function of increased care and attention rather than upping the quality of the steel. Others can chime in here because this is an opinion and not my area of expertise.
I can attest to the quality of the TT Kelly Perfect half hatchets. I have my uncle's old Perfect hatchet that was used to bark staves, and sharpen umpteen thousands of tobacco sticks throughout the 70's and 80's. I bought this like new one a few years ago because of the known quality. A hundred dollar bill won't buy it.FWIW, in the 1954 True Temper Hammers and Hatchets catalog, the "Dynamic" half hatchet description says "blade is thin", with no mention of the steel. On the same page, the "Kelly Perfect" half hatchet description says "Extra thin blade forged from finest hatchet steel."
No other hatchet description in this catalog, besides the Kelly Perfect, mentions the steel used.
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https://archive.org/stream/TrueTemperHammersAndHatchets1954/True Temper Hammers and Hatchets 1954#page/n8/mode/1up
Looks like maybe nickel plated?I can attest to the quality of the TT Kelly Perfect half hatchets. I have my uncle's old Perfect hatchet that was used to bark staves, and sharpen umpteen thousands of tobacco sticks throughout the 70's and 80's. I bought this like new one a few years ago because of the known quality. A hundred dollar bill won't buy it.
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Looks like maybe nickel plated?
I bet vanadium.
I bet vanadium.
The head still has lacquer, or some finish on it that is only worn off around the bit. That's why it's rusty in spots. It isn't stamped vanadium anywhere.Looks like maybe nickel plated?