Can you educate me on what I saved?

schmittie

schmittie

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
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Boy, I really gotta get out more often. I didn't even realize there was an Ax forum on BF.

You guys have way more experience than I. Here's the deal: just last weekend I helped my wife and her family, clear out grandma's house. (recently put in a nursing home and the house has to go up for sale. Sad situation really) her father asked me to go through the tools left from his own late father. Out of what caught my eye, I ended up with an Old Hickory knife, his jacket from his railroad days, and two ax heads- a single and a double bit. The SB doesn't have any markings I can identify. Maybe after I clean it up. The DB I already sanded down a little and put on a handle. She's quite purty! On it was -
TRU TEMPER
KELLY FLINT EDGE

and a 4 on the left side.

The other side had the letters IRCC

To me, this is more of a sentimental piece. I supplement our heating with a wood fireplace I installed a few years ago so I'll faithfully add this ax into the rotation. Bit is there anything you can tell me about it?

I know, I know.....I'll post up pics later tonight....

Thanks for giving me a second of your time!
 
pics as promised

as found:

IMG_0594.jpg


after a bit of cleaning up:

IMG_0595.jpg


new life!

IMG_0597.jpg
 
In reading up on the forum, I see many references to these DB axes as 'cruisers'. Why so?
 
You did a nice job on the TT Flint Edge restore. They are quality built fine axes. Cruiser axes are smaller than your Flint edge. Usually cruiser double bit axes are in the 2 to 2.5 lbs weight range and usually a shorter handle that made them easier to cruise the woods with.
 
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schmittie said:
In reading up on the forum, I see many references to these DB axes as 'cruisers'. Why so?
Click to expand...

Schmittie, A standard or full size double bit axe will usually have a weight of 3.5 Lbs+ and will have a length of 10+ inches from bit to bit. They are usually hung on a 34/36" handle. A cruiser will have a weight of 2.5 Lbs. and will have a length of 8.5" or less bit to bit. They are usually hung on a 28" handle. The smaller size and weight is why they are referred to as cruisers, they are easy to pack. I love cruisers and have around 6 of them.
 
By the way your SB looks like a quality piece even though no maker mark. although the eye might be a little distorted from the pole being pounded on. (or could be an illusion) A little distortion is OK as long as the centerline of the head is true and you can fit a handle to it.
 
Double Ott said:
Schmittie, A standard or full size double bit axe will usually have a weight of 3.5 Lbs+ and will have a length of 10+ inches from bit to bit. They are usually hung on a 34/36" handle. A cruiser will have a weight of 2.5 Lbs. and will have a length of 8.5" or less bit to bit. They are usually hung on a 28" handle. The smaller size and weight is why they are referred to as cruisers, they are easy to pack. I love cruisers and have around 6 of them.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I appreciate the details. But now I don't know what I have. I measured the head, it's 9 5/8" bit to bit with a 4 1/2" blade. Both local farm stores only had a 28" handle for double bits. So..... did I mess up?? Frankenaxe?
 
schmittie said:
Thanks for the info! I appreciate the details. But now I don't know what I have. I measured the head, it's 9 5/8" bit to bit with a 4 1/2" blade. Both local farm stores only had a 28" handle for double bits. So..... did I mess up?? Frankenaxe?
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention that a cruiser size double bit axe head will have a smaller eye size than a full size DB. A cruiser eye size is about 2.25" in length. A full size DB will have around a 2.75" length eye. One can usually find full size handles in 36" and 30" sizes. A true cruiser DB handle is usually only found in a 28" length. I have ever tried to make a full size DB haft fit a cruiser size head, so I don't know if it will work.

Your DB head is most likely a full size head that has been sharpened down from a 10" size to the 9 5/8" size you have. A cruiser head will have bits that measure under 4.5".

Hope you got the right size handle/haft, good luck, Tom
 
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Interesting. Again, thanks for the extra clarification. The handle filled the eye nicely, after the necessary sanding and shaping.

I hope it will be ok. The head weighed in over 3 1/2 lbs, measures in at a well used full sized double bit, but fit a 28" handle nicely. Honestly, I'll give it some work and see how it feels. You guys are a wealth of information!


And I also worked on the single bit as well. Pics to follow later this weekend.
 
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