Council Tool Head; Possible Vintage?

[Broady]

I recently picked this Council head up for next to nothing. She weighs in @ 3lb 12oz. It had about 1/4" of red paint on it, but looked to be in good condition. I finally had time to grit blast it with 80 mesh brown aluminum oxide, and below are the results. I wanted to leave a small amount of paint in the cracks to keep an old feel about it. My next step will be a vinegar soak with some afternoon scotchbrite scrubbing. Does the head carry the characteristics of a vintage council head, or is this a hardware store pickup that had some paint caked on it?

 

[screened porch]

So is the red paint you removed not like the red paint Council still puts on most of their axes?

I don't know how to date it unless someone is an expert on the stamps. I have only one Council axe, a 6-lb "copperhead". With the bit down and the helve pointing right, there's a large "6" stamped near the top of the poll, and a paper "copperhead" label below. My C-stamp, which looks like yours, is on the other side where yours says USA. (I must get set up for pics.)

The copperhead trademark expired in 1980 or so, so mine is that old at least.

Good luck with the chronology.

 

[Broady]

Some of the base paint appeared to be baked on or prepped better, which leads me to believe that it was original. I was gonna gift this one, but if it turns out to be an older piece, i may keep it...

 

[screened porch]

It looks like it's seen a fair amount of not too disrespectful use. Whoever winds up with it will be happy, I'm sure.

This is a brand that seems to get respect but not much affection. Maybe because we haven't lost them yet.

 

[Square_peg]

If it's old enough to have been stamped "U.S.A." then it's probably a good axe head.

With the toe so far back it's surely seen some use. I'd thin the cheeks, put an edge on it and call it a user. Looks like a winner to me. At 3 pounds 12 oz. she'll still pack a wallop. That's a little heavy for a feller but she'll make a heckuva splitter.

 

[bjp]

If it's old enough to have been stamped "U.S.A." then it's probably a good axe head...

I think all of the CT axe heads still bear that stamp, don't they? I gotta go out to the shed to check mine (two or three, all bought in the past couple of years).

-ben



**edit/add** my recent Council axes do bear the same stamping, so that doesn't help us date the OP's example**

 

[Square_peg]

Thanks for the correction, BJP.