Council 4lb army surplus?

[dongotto]

Found some 4lb dayton council tools with green heads. I've only seen red on their site. Anyone know the story on these? Also head stamped USA one side 4 on other. No logo. Also council sticker on head and handle.

 

[Agent_H]

Hi dongotto, are they CT struck one side, "4" on the other? Are they attached to handles and if so how long? Curved or Straight?

My Dad has run a 4lb Council "Rail Splitter" on a handle between 28"-32" for quite a while. That one is green if I remember right but he bought it at a local hardware store on the Oregon coast years ago.

That doesn't help you with whether it is military or not as the guy who runs the store used to carry a lot of surplus.

 

[dongotto]

I believe 36in curved handle. Just noticed no council logo and not color on website

 

[Steve Tall]

I've seen green-headed Council Tool axes being sold as NOS from 20-30 years ago.

 

[dongotto]

Makes senses Steve. Theses were on sale for 21 bucks. Had 6 of them and all had poor grain orientation but I think I'll grab one anyway.

 

[nickzdon]

Council did/does make military axes, along with pry bars, sledgehammers, and all sorts of other forged fun stuff. The military standard was a 4lb Dayton on a 36" curved handle. I've purchased military surplus axes made by Council, Kelly, Collins, and Woodings Verona. Most were painted (head and handle) either OD or coyote, and a few were black (possibly creosote coated? Yuck!)

Fairly certain Council is still servicing a lot of government contracts, military, police, USFS, etc.