BLACK RAVEN SB

Thank you, Mrs. Gator 39!

That's a high quality axe in good condition. It's a Michigan pattern. It has very little wear on the bit and will sharpen up nicely. If it is to be a user I would clean up the poll with a file. But as a Black Raven, even without an etch, you might want to leave it exactly as is. It will have more collectable value that way. Personally, I would leave it as is.
 
That is a good looking axe. I wonder how many of those are out there compared to the embossed ones?
 
Mrs. Gator 39 said:
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting the photo. I didn't find any examples like this (without the embossing) with my online searches. It doesn't even appear on this listing of True Temper axe brands:

True%20Temper%20Brands%209.jpg

from YesteryearsTools

I agree with Square_peg, it's pretty uncommon and more of a collectible than a user.
 
Just saw Mrs. Gator got the pics posted for me.
This was her 1st time posting also, but she is much better with this stuff than I.
Actually, she's not. Mrs. Gator quite yet, but she is leading the pack.
And showing great potential!

And thanks to Hickory &Steel.
We had almost given up til he saved the day.

I have recently been bitten by the axe collecting bug.
While an interesting and benign hobby, I was figuring I was just saving good American tools.
But now, I am very excited.
Lol
I found no info online about this peticular axe, as I said.
So thought this was the place to inquire.

Is there any type of museum or some place a rare piece like this should reside, for historic and collector interests?
 
That's a nice Michigan pattern axe in great shape.
The mushrooming on the poll is minor and you could easily hammer it back carefully with a hammer without having to remove any material.
 
Steve Tall said:
Thanks for posting the photo. I didn't find any examples like this (without the embossing) with my online searches. It doesn't even appear on this listing of True Temper axe brands:

True%20Temper%20Brands%209.jpg

from YesteryearsTools

I agree with Square_peg, it's pretty uncommon and more of a collectible than a user.
Click to expand...

I notice the Kelly perfect is not on that list either and they were reference earlier in this thread.
I am assuming it is a high quality axe also.
Is that list just a partial list or why do you think those 2 were not on that list?
 
Gator39 said:
I notice the Kelly perfect is not on that list either and they were reference earlier in this thread.
I am assuming it is a high quality axe also.
Is that list just a partial list or why do you think those 2 were not on that list?
Click to expand...

The author of the YesteryearsTools site had a lot of information, a ton of information, but axe history seems to have a bunch of exceptions and little-known details, so I am assuming that the list is not meant to be complete (especially since Kelly Perfect and Black Raven are not listed). So I wouldn't read too much into it.

There's an axe collector named Larry McPhail whose collection once consisted of 2,000 axes (weighing 5 tons), according to the article linked below. He's seen a lot of axes and knows a lot of the history, so he could possibly give you some information about that particular Black Raven stamping. The article gives his contact information and says he "is willing to answer questions".

https://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=21880
 
Gator, I would be grateful for any follow up information you could provide on that stamp.:thumbsup:
 
Thank you for the link Steve Tall, and garry3 I will keep the Bladeforums informed of what I find out.
You guys are a great resource as well as an inspiration and as an axe collecting newbie ,I really appreciate the site and will try to. "Pay it forward " if I can.
 
The information on this site is already American history, and some vanishing skills such as making handles by hand.
We are , collectively preserving this small niche of American history for the next generation.

Now what the next generation does with this history is up to them, but at least WE can preserve it for them.
 
Well......
There was a phone number for Mr. Mcphail in that article, so I called, and actually got him on the line !
A tremendously nice man, and a walking axe encyclopedia!
He said he has owned over 3 thousand axes, and looked at probably 2 or 3 thousand more, and has never seen or heard of the. Black Raven with just the lettering.
His best guess is that in 1949 or 1950 , the ended the. Black Ravens and probably just made the last few with no embossing to save money.
He said this axe is extremely rare.
He also said Kelly had 100 different variations in their labeling, so the yesteryear list is just a portion of their models.
He published a book that is the compilation that another man did on the history of axes, and it is available on ebay.
I will certainly be looking for it.
This man was beyond wonderful, and actually thanked ME for calling and giving him the info about my Black Raven.
So that's all the info he had, and said he really didn't know any other resource for more info than that.
But, thanks again SteveTall for providing that link.
 
Gator39 said:
Well......
There was a phone number for Mr. Mcphail in that article, so I called, and actually got him on the line !
A tremendously nice man, and a walking axe encyclopedia!
He said he has owned over 3 thousand axes, and looked at probably 2 or 3 thousand more, and has never seen or heard of the. Black Raven with just the lettering.
His best guess is that in 1949 or 1950 , the ended the. Black Ravens and probably just made the last few with no embossing to save money.
He said this axe is extremely rare...
Click to expand...

Wow. Thanks for the update. :thumbsup:
 
Larry updated/revised 'Axe Makers of North America' originally written by Allan Klenman. It's a great book to add to your axe library. Larry usually has them for sale on the bay.
 
Thank you for the compliments! There are definitely some knowledge crackerjacks on here. And thank you for updating your discoveries. So many first-time folks post on here solely to get an opinion of how desirable/valuable a tool is in advance of trying to sell it.
 
300Six said:
Thank you for the compliments! There are definitely some knowledge crackerjacks on here. And thank you for updating your discoveries. So many first-time folks post on here solely to get an opinion of how desirable/valuable a tool is in advance of trying to sell it.
Click to expand...

This is true.


I feel like I also got something out of you bringing it here.
 
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