Couple new axes I picked up

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pokesalad

Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
157
Picked these up a few days ago at a local flea market. The single bit has no markings on it so no clue who made this but it does have a heat treat line on it so hopefully it will be a keeper. The double bit has nice heat treat lines on it and is only marked with an "M" or "W". Any ideas who manufactured this? I still have a bit of cleaning to do and they need to be sharpened but I have been working on the handles and put these on the back burner. Here are the pics. My camera skills suck btw. Comments/opinions welcome.

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Almost forgot! We will call it saving the best for last. I picked this one up at a yard sale. Started taking the handle off but decided to get picks before.

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man, those are really nice!. the top one is a 'jersey' pattern.
don't you hate it when they have no markings...
they look like keepers none-the-less...
 
Operator1975 said:
Those ones with the contoured eye, the last one, that is a good find. Nicely done.
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Ty air. I wanted to ask this in another thread but since I already started this one I'll ask it here. I bought a handle for the double bit but the width of the handle as it fits in the eye of the axe head is a little narrow. It is about 1/4 to narrow on each tapered end of the handle. My gut tells me that this is unacceptable and that I will need a much tighter fit of the handle for it to be a reliable user. Is this in fact the case or is it acceptable to use a handle that is not a perfect fit? I keep re-reading what I am writing and I keep thinking this is common sense stuff. I guess I just need someone who knows to confirm my suspicions.
 
Hi Pokesalad
I believe the M on the double bit is for Mexico, as I remember it was or is an American axe company making them in Mexico, can't remember the company.

Regards

Robin
 
Pipeman said:
Hi Pokesalad
I believe the M on the double bit is for Mexico, as I remember it was or is an American axe company making them in Mexico, can't remember the company.

Regards

Robin
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Ah interesting. Thanks for that info Robin. I wondered why they would bother stamping a single letter but not put a logo on it.
 
pokesalad said:
Ah interesting. Thanks for that info Robin. I wondered why they would bother stamping a single letter but not put a logo on it.
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I'm pretty sure someone here will know the company who had them made, I know I read it here in this forum. I think they were sold up here in Canada too. If no one here comes up with it go to yesteryeartools and send him a message and the pics.

Regards

Robin
 
Pipeman said:
I'm pretty sure someone here will know the company who had them made, I know I read it here in this forum. I think they were sold up here in Canada too. If no one here comes up with it go to yesteryeartools and send him a message and the pics.

Regards

Robin
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Appreciate the advice. I don't know what draws me to these old axes but for some reason I just think they are gorgeous. There is something definitely appealing to me about a beautiful old ax and with all the different style heads it is a perfect fit with my personality. I love to collect different things and it looks like axes are quickly making it on the list.
 
I took your advice and checked yesteryeartools and it looks like Stanley made axes with a double M stamp on each side of the word Stanley. The "M"s stood for Made in Mexico or Mexican Made. This double bit, while it looks like it is the Michigan pattern, only has a single M stamped on it and no other markings. That site is an awesome source for axe info. I love it!
 
Operator1975 said:
Now the question is, how many axes did stanley just simply put an M on?
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This a quote from the yesteryeartools site on the Plumb page.

Marking used on some PLUMB single bit axes and hatchets. The letter “M” sometimes appears by itself and sometimes with a mark above the letter “M” which was from the top edge of the stamp. The letter may have stood for a significant distributor that sold axes so marked.
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Maybe its a Plumb but they dont mention double bits. I think I'll send an email to them like Pipeman suggested and see what they think.
 
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