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Could use some help identifying an axe

P

PDE

Joined
Nov 7, 2010
Messages
595
Well, I dug this axe head out of my yard the other day,
it was rusted and beat to hell.
Well, I have cleaned it up a bit and it is in no way
some great work of art, but so far I have had fun
cleaning it and that is what really counts.

Well, I was cleaning up the mushrooming off the poll
and without thinking grinded some of maker's mark off of it.
I later realized this after I had cleaned it up with sandpaper and
the palm sander.

Can anyone decipher what the marking are or if it is a quality axe?
(I found it near the fire pit, I am honestly a little worried that it
had the handle broken and was thrown in the fire and forgotten.)


Well here are the pictures!!

IMAG0015-1.jpg

IMAG0016.jpg

IMAG0017-1.jpg

IMAG0018-1.jpg

IMAG0020-1.jpg

IMAG0021.jpg

IMAG0022-1.jpg

IMAG0023-1.jpg

IMAG0025-1.jpg



Thanks in advance!!!
 
Nice score! I wish I could help on the IDENT. Someone will probably know. If it was thrown in the fire, you might have some issues, but you could probably Re-HT it.
 
Iboschi said:
Nice score! I wish I could help on the IDENT. Someone will probably know. If it was thrown in the fire, you might have some issues, but you could probably Re-HT it.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I don't know if the temper was drawn out, I guess
I will see when I pick up a handle for it and it receives a little
work out. I can see it with a 36in. handle.
I think it is fine, I tested it with a file and it seemed to be
O.K. Also, the bit is still pretty hard, it still needs some work,
but it took roughly an hour with a file to get it to where it is.
I hate sharpening, sometimes:mad:.
Thanks Iboschi for the reply.
 
My guess is "US" followed by the year in 2 digits.
Like "US90"?

I have a Woodings-Verona axe (now owned by Ames, I think) in a different pattern that has a stamp sorta like this.
 
regarding heat damage test it with a hammer. any hammer will do. bang it hard several times and see if it dents. the damage to the pole is from a sledge with the axe head in a log. You should not be able to make any mark with a regular hammer.... although I don't see the original it being in a fire in your post.
 
It almost looks like it says USGS on it, but I have no clue what I'm talking about here. :p
 
Positive ID (I'd bet on it, anyway):
Woodings-Verona
"Proudly made in the USA since 1873"
Looks like 1990.

Here's a similar axe found with Google Images:
images

images


I have an identical axe which perfectly matches the shape of the found head (I went and checked), and mine says "US95" in the same place as the ground-off stamp (which looks like "US90" to me).
 
Steve Tall said:
Positive ID (I'd bet on it, anyway):
Woodings-Verona
"Proudly made in the USA since 1873"
Looks like 1990.

Here's a similar axe found with Google Images:
images

images


I have an identical axe which perfectly matches the shape of the found head (I went and checked), and mine says "US95" in the same place as the ground-off stamp (which looks like "US90" to me).
Click to expand...

So, is it a decent axe?
I guess I cannot complain,
I half expected to find out
that it was a True Value.:p

Thanks for the I.D.
 
cckw said:
regarding heat damage test it with a hammer. any hammer will do. bang it hard several times and see if it dents. the damage to the pole is from a sledge with the axe head in a log. You should not be able to make any mark with a regular hammer.... although I don't see the original it being in a fire in your post.
Click to expand...

O.K. gave it a good bang or two, no dents.
Thanks for that method, pretty simple.
 
PDE said:
So, is it a decent axe?
Click to expand...

I haven't really used it yet, bought it almost-new at a garage sale for $10.

"An Ax to Grind" by Bernie Weisgerber says,
"Ames/Woodings-Verona manufactures quality striking tools, including axes and hatchets. Woodings-Verona is a division of the much larger Ames Company."

Looks like Woodings-Verona may now make "True Temper" brand axes. The closest axe I found on the Ames site is this one:

ImageResize.ashx

from
http://www.amestruetemper.com/products/detail.aspx?ProductId=123&SubFamilyId=100&FamilyId=73&LineId=72
 
As these get newer you have to do your homework to see if they are worth a crap. I sharpened a hoe for a friend yesterday. It is a modern True Temper piece. Total junk, just some sheet metal shaped like a hoe. I had to straighten it up before I could sharpen it. It bent really easy. Not going to stay sharp either. I told him to watch yard sales and auctions for a much older one, even if it needs a new handle.

Perhaps later this week I'll post photos of my hammer test good vs Chinese made
 
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