Can anyone identify this hatchet?

[West Swan]

Hello,

Paul from Australia.

I've just been cleaning out an old shed and found a hatchet which had fallen behind some oil drums.

On the blade is etched? Smalcalda, 600, TGL and GDR. There is also the number "1" in what looks like a triangle.

So if I have it right it was made by a company called Smalcalda in the German Democratic Republic.

Given the GDR existed between 1949 and 1989 it could be anywhere from 34 to 74 years old.

It appears to be in good condition with some surface rust that would easily come off. It was painted red at some point though that has flaked off the metal.

Have I found something worth gazillions of dollars while removing years of debris from the shed?

Cheers,

Paul

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

 

[West Swan]

Hello Grumpy Old Man. That is exactly what I'm trying to do. I'm not good at that sort of crap though

https://imgur.com/L130LDb

Edit. Hopefully this works.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I think you've pretty much figured everything out by reading what is stamped on the head.
50's-80's for the date range is probably about as good as you're going to get.

 

[West Swan]

I think you've pretty much figured everything out by reading what is stamped on the head.
50's-80's for the date range is probably about as good as you're going to get.

Thanks Hickory n steel.

I might for fun see if I can restore it. I'll check out how others on the forum have done it and use that as a guide.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Thanks Hickory n steel.

I might for fun see if I can restore it. I'll check out how others on the forum have done it and use that as a guide.

The general recommendation is to just take off the rust, no vinegar bath, and no polishing...etc because as you can see it didn't come polished up when new.

I would just take some WD40 and steel wool to the rust spots then put an edge on it.