Collins Double Bit (cruiser?) after overnight vinegar soak

[lightsoutcalls]

Here are a few pictures of a Collins axe head that I found in my shop. It belonged to my dad, so I have no idea of the age. The head weights 3.24 pounds on a digital scale. This head was completed covered with surface rust prior to soaking overnight in vinegar. I'm pleased with the start. Any suggestions on how to remove the remaining rust would be appreciated. Also, what length of handle would be appropriate for this head?

Last pic shows the bottom of the head. Notice the marks where the head was apparently pounded, I'm guessing to remove it from a handle.

 

[Square_peg]

Good looking axe. It's definitely a full size axe and not a cruiser.

 

[cityofthesouth]

Any suggestions on how to remove the remaining rust would be appreciated. Also, what length of handle would be appropriate for this head? Last pic shows the bottom of the head. Notice the marks where the head was apparently pounded, I'm guessing to remove it from a handle.

More vinegar, maybe a little time with a scotchbrite or similar. You're probably stuck with 36 inches but 30 is available. You're probably right about the marks. People just loved beating on axes.

 

[Square_peg]

You're probably right about the marks. People just loved beating on axes.

We have to put this in context. They could buy another another brand new Kelly Perfect at the hardware store for six bucks. So if their current axe was broke it was essentially a throw-away. No harm in beating on it to someone in that mind set. And they surely didn't know any better.

 

[lightsoutcalls]

We have to put this in context. They could buy another another brand new Kelly Perfect at the hardware store for six bucks. So if their current axe was broke it was essentially a throw-away. No harm in beating on it to someone in that mind set. And they surely didn't know any better.

My dad grew up with 8 brothers and sisters during the great depression. His parents were share croppers during growing seasons and then cut and sold/traded firewood to get by. Their tools were always used hard. I suspect changing out a handle in an axe was seen as a necessary evil more so than a labor of love. I can definitely see them pounding the head off of a split handle with anything hard enough to make it budge just to get another handle in and start swinging again.

So... would this be considered a Michigan patterned head at this weight? Pardon my ignorance of patterns. I looked at one of the charts with the shapes/names of the heads and that looks like it might be the best fit to my untrained eye.

Any way to tell an approximate age of the head? Thanks for the responses!

 

[cityofthesouth]

We have to put this in context.

Not really.

 

[300Six]

Ordinary people presume that axes are made from good steel and don't think twice about beating on them with a hammer. I am plenty guilty of that myself during my younger days. Few people seek out or use weighty brass hammers or carpenter's mallets until they've messed up a head or two.