Buying refurbished Axes?

jeremy1517

jeremy1517

Joined
Sep 11, 2012
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I've dabbled in refurbishing axes but I'll admit I'm not great at it. While I like trying and will continue practicing, I need some axes now. What is your opinion of buying axes from companies that specialize in refurbishing vintage and used axes?

If I can get a good deal on a refurbished Gransfors, go for it or buy new?
 
A new Gransfors will be a flat-cheeked bushcraft axe. Great axe if that's what you're looking for. Older GB's made for export to the Americas have the more traditional shape of a North American axe and will be more general purpose axes. They are no better than a typical vintage North American axe but not any worse either. Of course a select premium North American axe will have slightly better steel and temper.

IMO the greatest bargain in axes right now are no-name North American style axes. Many of these were made by the top manufacturers and sold to hardware stores who applied their own labels to them. They range from good to excellent in quality and you can pick them up for $10 or $15 on that auction site. Without the big name stamp they have essentially no value to collectors.Yet they function at the highest level. It pains me to see people buying new import POS's while these far superior axes get passed over.

I recently gave away an old pitted Craftsman oval stamp. It had great steel, fantastic geometry and a nice octagon handle. It was a cutting machine - great feel to it, too. But I couldn't get $20 for it on the bay so I gave it to a friend who loves it.
 
I am here right now for this same purpose....i need a good boys axe head or hudson bay head with good steel, but dont know what to look for.
 
jeremy1517 said:
I've dabbled in refurbishing axes but I'll admit I'm not great at it. While I like trying and will continue practicing, I need some axes now. What is your opinion of buying axes from companies that specialize in refurbishing vintage and used axes?

If I can get a good deal on a refurbished Gransfors, go for it or buy new?
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make sure you see pictures of the whole axe. I've seen some poor hanging jobs on some refurbished axes. They barely or don't show you a picture of the wedge.
 
KingKoma said:
How do you quantify this?
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By personal experience of putting a file to the steel. I've done 3 vintage Swedish axes in the past couple months - two of them GB's. I found the steel to be on par with axes marked 'Collins', 'Collins Homestead', 'True Temper' and 'Craftsman' but softer than premium American axes from the same makers like 'Collins Legitimus', 'True Temper Flint Edge' or 'Kelly Perfect'.

Is that scientific? No. But once you've sharpened a hundred axes you start to get a feel for these things.
 
KK, I sharpen for the local Dept. of Natural Resources (where I work) and also for the local trail association. We go through a lot of tools.

Pile_o_Pulaskis.JPG
 
Since you are asking for opinions, I'll give you mine very straight up. Buying a refurbished axe is a luxury, and if you can afford it - have at it. However, if you are going to own and use a single axe, you should have the same tools available that you will need to refurbish an axe yourself. So, hopefully you won't blow your whole budget on a high priced axe at the expense of even having a few good files. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "I need some axes now." In the time you purchase an axe, you could have refurbished one.

I don't buy any new or refurbished axes because I enjoy cleaning them up myself. I like my own sharpening and my own hanging style. I've seen some "refurbished" axes with some crazy high prices and shoddy workmanship, so be keen about it.
 
My favorite full size is Marshall Wells which I'm told was made by Welland Vale in Canada. Welland Vale was part of the True Temper family at the time this axe was made. At work we have many True Tempers, Collins, Council and Woodings Verona tools. Lots of vintage stuff remains in public service. Newest stuff we have are Dixie Industry FSS Pulaskis which are still in production. Very good steel. My personal axe that I keep in the truck is a Collins boys axe. It'll do most everything I need.
 
Ok, I need an opinion. I currently have a GB Small Forest axe. I would like to own one bigger axe. Should I go with a boys axe or skip to the full size axe? I guess I see the boys axe being not much bigger than the small forest and doing many of the same tasks. Should I just go with a full size?
 
It depends what you want to do with it. If you're going to fell or buck an 8" tree then a boys axe will probably do it in half the time of a SFA. And it's still packable. But if you're bucking/felling larger stuff or doing a lot of splitting then you'd be better off with a full size.
 
cooperhill said:
make sure you see pictures of the whole axe. I've seen some poor hanging jobs on some refurbished axes. They barely or don't show you a picture of the wedge.
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My thought exactly. Some of the refurb hang jobs out there are downright criminal. You could restore a great vintage head on a brand new handle for less than buying a refurb. All it takes is a little elbow grease and some know-how. And there's plenty of know-how here, both with the members and in the threads. The only problem I can attest to with restoring an axe is that it usually leads to restoring another one, and another one, and another one ... It's habit forming.
 
Square_peg said:
By personal experience of putting a file to the steel. I've done 3 vintage Swedish axes in the past couple months - two of them GB's. I found the steel to be on par with axes marked 'Collins', 'Collins Homestead', 'True Temper' and 'Craftsman' but softer than premium American axes from the same makers like 'Collins Legitimus', 'True Temper Flint Edge' or 'Kelly Perfect'.

Is that scientific? No. But once you've sharpened a hundred axes you start to get a feel for these things.
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This would seem to me to fit with the niche of the market the Swedish makers aimed at. Basic product with high quality materials, good value for the money.

How would you rate the finish compared to US made axes?
 
All I can add to this discussion is buy VINTAGE KELLY for a sweet made in the USA axe...of any size.

Tom
 
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