Collins 2-1/4 (Pics added)

orca8589

orca8589

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Jan 27, 2007
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I'm new to this subforum, and I've got a question on an axe that belongs to my father-in-law.

My inlaws are going to be moving into an assisted-living situation soon, and I was told by my father-in-law to go ahead and take what I wanted for myself & my son from his shed.

One of the items I found was a Collins 2-1/4 axe with a little over a two-foot long handle; old and well used, but in pretty good shape. We're moving right now, and I won't be able to get pics up for a few days, but I was wondering if anyone had any info on this one. The axe has pretty much sat in the corner of the shed for years, and had sat outside under a lean-to type woodshed for just as long. The handle is still solid, it just needs a good finishing, I think - unless I should just leave it as is. I know knives, and I have a bunch of family heirloom pocketknives, but I'm a total novice when it comes to axes & such.

I haven't found any info on Collins axes that are actually stamped like this one is:

COLLINS 2 1/4

Here's pics:
GranddadRaysCollinsAxe003.jpg

GranddadRaysCollinsAxe006.jpg


Any ideas or info you guys can share would be much appreciated. I'll try to get pics up tomorrow.

~Chris
 
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In short it is a good one with putting a new handle on. Post a photo of the stamping when you can
 
Tough to say without a pic. It could be a dayton or michigan pattern, might even be a hudson bay style as well. Collins made a boat of axes, so without a pic, hard to say. Good luck.
 
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'll get a pic up soon; we've just finished moving, and we have to figure out which one of at least 80 boxes our camera is in. I got the pic, but didn't get it downloaded before packing up.

~Chris
 
Pictures added to the OP, and I just thought of another question: is the 2-1/4 a weight reference? I'll be taking the axe head off the handle later, and I can weigh it then.

~Chris
 
2-1/4 is indeed the weight in pounds, give or take an ounce or two.

A versatile size for an axe head. You might be interested in this quote from Peter Vido, from a previous thread:

...
Suppose I were preparing for a more-or-less settled existence as a farmer (and seasonal hunter/gatherer) in a place where trees are not excessively large (say, not much over 12” diameter at the butt), and these would be my exclusive building and firewood material. I’d have no prospects of obtaining other tools for a long time, possibly years.

If, in that situation, I were to have only one ax (in combination with a small belt knife as my other edge tool), I’d take a
2¼ lb head on a 28-29” handle.

...

from http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/844996-If-only-one-axe-(or-only-two-or-only-three-axes)
 
that is the head weight. probably a 28" handle. This is what is commonly called a boys axe. That is an old name based on the notion that all axes are for chopping trees for firewood and a man would be swinging a 3.5lb on a 36".

Collins as a brand name is still around. the old one like this with the name stamped into the steel are very good, but new ones not.

When the time comes to freshen it up you can sand the rust off or soak it a couple days in vinegar (after you remove the handle) then grind the pole (back part where it has been hit with a sledge hammer) back to square, but don't let the grinder hit the logo. Put a nice handle in it and you will have a great axe!

there are threads on how do these things, you can dig a bit when that day comes.
 
Thanks, guys! The handle, under the old surface layers, seems to be pretty solid. Is it okay to sand & stain & seal it, or should I just replace it? (Seems like the general direction here is to replace it.)

~Chris
 
orca8589 said:
Thanks, guys! The handle, under the old surface layers, seems to be pretty solid. Is it okay to sand & stain & seal it, or should I just replace it? (Seems like the general direction here is to replace it.)

~Chris
Click to expand...

I like the old handles myself. Sand her down and give her a drink of linseed and you will be good to go. Or whatever you want to do.
 
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