Can you help identify this axe? Identified, but more info please?

Chris Montgomery

Chris Montgomery

Joined
Dec 8, 2011
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There is a large flea market I visit once or twice a month that has one booth that has some axes, hammers and odds and ends. There is an axe I have looked at every time for the last three month that has me curious. I have three I need to re-hang now and my budget is tight so I have put it back each time. Perhaps you fellows could help me identify it to cure my curiosity.
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The makers mark looks like four overlapping circles with possibly an oval in the middle and Trade in one end of the Mark and mark in the other.

Chris
 
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That looks right. Though its not nearly as clear as the one you have shown. Thanks. Now I can search out more info on it. The axe is a Jersey Pattern and is the least damaged/used Jersey I have ever held. I have wanted one but when I find one the price is out of my reach. The booth owner has painted it RED so I would have to do a complete restore. Also the price of $30.00 had me suspicious. Should I jump on this one?

Chris
 
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So, I am having a little trouble finding info on this one. Would it be safe to assume that Kelly manufactured this axe for Belknap? I just can't stop thinking that I should buy it while its still available, even though I have a Collins, Kelly Perfect and a Woodings Verona that I need to restore and hang. Just have to justify it with my budget being what it is.

Chris
 
Steve Tall said:
My guess is Belknap Bluegrass, Louisville

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That was my first thought, too. But it's not quite right. Likely some other hardware store chain's logo. Wouldn't surprise me if it was Kelly made. I'd offer him $15 for it and see if we could settle for $20.
 
EDIT: I just reread your post. Sorry, I thought you actually had the axe. Here's a link to a picture of my Blue Grass. There also is some Kelly Perfects and a Plumb with bevels:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Bel...ums%2Fshowtopic.php%3Ftid%2F923215%2F;640;425

I have a Michigan pattern Belknap Blue Grass single bit axe. The outline of the logo stamp appears to be very close to the one on your Jersey. It is a smaller logo than the one Steve posted. Mine could a dead ringer for a Kelly Perfect Michigan. It has the phantom bevels and ridges in the eye just like the Kelly Perfects.

Your Jersey appears to be similar to a Kelly Perfect Jersey. Does it have ridges in the eye?

The logo on mine has "Belknap" on the top of the stamp, "Trade" on the left, "Mark" on the right and "Louisville U.S.A." in the bottom of the lower circle. There is a oval in the center of the circle(s), stamp, that has "Blue Grass" stamped in the middle of it.

Hope this helps you identify your axe. She sure looks to be in fine condition. I would definitely re-hang her and put it to use.

Tom
 
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Chris Montgomery said:
So, I am having a little trouble finding info on this one. Would it be safe to assume that Kelly manufactured this axe for Belknap? I just can't stop thinking that I should buy it while its still available, even though I have a Collins, Kelly Perfect and a Woodings Verona that I need to restore and hang. Just have to justify it with my budget being what it is.

Chris
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Maybe I look at things a bit different from you. What do you get new in the way of a 'storied' axe these days for $30, other than a headache. This head you're looking at certainly is clean, and pretty much guaranteed not to have been made yesterday nor concocted from molten soup cans. And that head pattern and the stamp would certainly have attracted me for $30 even though I need another axe like a submarine needs a screen door. You could try plunking a $20 down to see what happens.
 
Thanks for the replies gents. Now I just have to find a way to get it without upsetting the Mrs.

It doesn't have the ridges in the eye. But I have seen Kelly True Temper Jerseys that didn't either. The logo may show better when cleaned. I will probably gift my Collins to a good friend and get the Jersey. If I can get it I will post some before and after pics.

Chris
 
Another one saved from a fate worse than death, which in the case of an axe head is the export of recycled steel.
 
If I saw that axe anywhere I would buy it one way or another. Because of it's shape and condition, the head alone would easily sell for more than $30 on eBay. However, $30 is an almost unheard of price for a flea market purchase. The question is, does the seller know what he has? If yes, they are smart but should sell it on eBay to easily get that asking price. That price is too high for the average flea market shopper who just sees an old axe. If no, they are just pricing it too high for their market. I hardly ever have to pay more than $10 for a good one at a flea market, much less at yard sales and estate sales. Those are places where the seller isn't well educated about any one item, they just want to keep things moving.

If I were you I would play dumb. Say things like it's just an old axe, I can get a new one for $x.xx etc. See what happens, I'm sure that you can get the price down. I would almost always take a $5-10 hit on something if I can get cash in hand NOW instead of posting and waiting.

In the end though, these are just negotiating tactics. When it comes down to it, you know that you want it and you know that it's worth it. I would hate to do it on principle, but I would pay the $30 as a last resort before I let that head go. If your goal is to sell it, no. If it is for you, definitely yes.
 
jblyttle said:
When it comes down to it, you know that you want it and you know that it's worth it. I would hate to do it on principle, but I would pay the $30 as a last resort before I let that head go. If your goal is to sell it, no. If it is for you, definitely yes.
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Myself would hem and haw, just like you're doing, but ultimately fork over $25-30 just for the opportunity to swing such a fine beast through a mound of log rounds. That particular pattern, with it's wonderfully generous eye/wood contact, is one that I've never seen in person nor hefted. Pretty much all Dayton, Michigan and modified Euro-types up this way.
 
It's not a big leap for me to assume these kinds of sellers take a look at ebay, figure $30 is a common price and go with it. I'd buy that axe in a heart beat for no reason other than it's a Jersey with those bevels. If you like to haggle and save $10, shiny. Sell one of your others if you must then tell the Mrs to take a look in her purse and see if she can't find a way to deal with it.
 
I just watched a Swedish hatchet head go for over $100 on eBay. I do that for fun now and then after I saw a HB maul head go for something like that. They are good, but I don't understand the craze and would never spend on one like that.

That was a long way of saying that if you are an axe guy and you are lucky enough to find a beauty of a head like that red one there, you will regret it if you let it get away from you over $30. I like to pay as little as I can, but that is a separate issue.

Actually, I just decided that you have a moral obligation to rescue that head from the terrible stepfather with the red paint that owns it now. Bring it back to it's forever home, clean it up and show it to us! ;)
 
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