Collins&Co. Felling Axe Question

D

dog229

Joined
Apr 4, 2011
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Dog229 Here'
I have found a 4.5 lbs. Collins&Co. Legitums stamp single bit axe head with a rounded end which looks to have been cut from a stamping which shows from cut markings on the rounded end. The axe was covered in roofing tar which helped it to stay in great cond. and shows no signs of sharpening. My question is that i have had trouble finding the correct handle for it. The handle hole is much larger in width and length that all the handles i come across that all fall thru the hole. Will anyone help me to find how old it is and where can i find a stick for it again the markings are Collins&Co. LEGITUMS 4.5 with a Crown above the word Legitums. What was the axe used for in this weight&style?
Thanks!
Dog229 Gone
 
As far how old it is, tough to say, the Legitimus mark was used for a long time for the Collins company. It was originally designed so Collins could seperate themselves from competitors that were using similar names, and trying to capitalize on that fact. As for what it was used for, at that weight, probably most likely a felling axe, if I am correctly imagining what you are describing.
 
Is the eye round, oxe eye shaped, or the same narrow cross section of planes wing that most are only bigger?
 
Dog229 Here,
The hole is like a plane's wing shape one and three eighth inch wide and two and three eighths long i have not found any stick maker that makes one that big to where it can be fitted. The rear of the axe is round showing no use or purpose in design. This again looks like it was used to cut up tare in chunks to be but in the hot melter tank.
Thanks for the reply!
Dog229 Gone
 
My guess, without seeing a photo, is that this axe was made by Collins for the Central/South American market, and uses a tomahawk-style handle (which slides in from the top, similar to the handle for a mattock). The top end of the handle would flare outward, so it is self-wedging and easy to remove by reversing it back out. Some European axes are still made this way.

I think that you could shave down a mattock handle a little to make it fit. House Handle has a 36-inch "Garden Mattock" with Eye Size: 1 3/4 x 2 3/4, which is pretty close.

mattock_sized.jpg


You will probably need to shave and shape it to get the handle to slide through to near the top end of the handle, and then you can bang down the head end on a piece of wood lying on the ground to wedge the axe head on the handle, followed by shortening the extra length sticking out the top down to about a half inch or an inch protruding (resulting in a straight handle less than 36", which should be fine).
 
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Dog229 Here,
I am woundering if there is a copy in pdf that would have my axe listed like a selling catalog from Collins from lets say 1940 to when Collins closed. I have seen some on the net but was of the really old and my guess is this felling axe could be not for the american forest trade but for another origin in a different country maybe? Could someone help with my question?
Dog229 Gone!
 
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