This thread is just a few pictures I've taken with some info that might help someone sort out the rusty old heads from the burned.
Just be warned, some you'll never know until it rolls all the time, but there are telltale signs to look out for.
The two biggest clues to me are a certain blotchy way of rusting, and deep scale flaking off. The scale isn't a clue on those boutique axes with the hand forged look.
Also, for scale to form it has to get red hot, and stay that way a few minutes, as scale is deep oxidation formed at that high heat.
An axe can lose all its hardness well before that temperature.
Some examples.......
Rust pattern. Probly burned it to get the handle out, since it was pinned.
Scale flaking
This Legitimus looks fine on one side. After hanging it, it rolled on everything. I took off that handle, gave it a new heat treat and it's ok now. See the telltale scale peeling?
This was years and years ago, the first axe I did this to. I didn't even think about the scale until it kept rolling. No pics of way back then, or the fix, as it was before the internet made me keep good track of things, sorry!
Of course, burned wood remaining should be a dead giveaway. This almost unused pulaski was on a dozer that got burned up in fire season this year. Then it sat in the rain a while. I'll bring it back to life sooner or later.
No scale flaking off yet, maybe it didn't get hot enough to make any, as some charred wood is there still. The rust is suspicious though. Unfortunately I wire brushed some of it off, before these pictures, so a little less apparent now. A file says it's way too soft, so it got hot enough to ruin it.
No doubt theres other clues as well, if you've got one heres the place
Just be warned, some you'll never know until it rolls all the time, but there are telltale signs to look out for.
The two biggest clues to me are a certain blotchy way of rusting, and deep scale flaking off. The scale isn't a clue on those boutique axes with the hand forged look.
Also, for scale to form it has to get red hot, and stay that way a few minutes, as scale is deep oxidation formed at that high heat.
An axe can lose all its hardness well before that temperature.
Some examples.......
Rust pattern. Probly burned it to get the handle out, since it was pinned.
Scale flaking
This Legitimus looks fine on one side. After hanging it, it rolled on everything. I took off that handle, gave it a new heat treat and it's ok now. See the telltale scale peeling?
This was years and years ago, the first axe I did this to. I didn't even think about the scale until it kept rolling. No pics of way back then, or the fix, as it was before the internet made me keep good track of things, sorry!
Of course, burned wood remaining should be a dead giveaway. This almost unused pulaski was on a dozer that got burned up in fire season this year. Then it sat in the rain a while. I'll bring it back to life sooner or later.
No scale flaking off yet, maybe it didn't get hot enough to make any, as some charred wood is there still. The rust is suspicious though. Unfortunately I wire brushed some of it off, before these pictures, so a little less apparent now. A file says it's way too soft, so it got hot enough to ruin it.
No doubt theres other clues as well, if you've got one heres the place
Last edited:
