Curious to know about these axes

[Blender345]

I found a couple of axes at work. The one with the red handle has a sticker on the handle that says plumb. I cannot see anything that says Plumb on the axhead itself. The other axhead says Collins on it. It's pretty rusted and has a hammer on the back. What is this used for? Does anyone know around the time when the plum was made? It does not look as old as the Collins, but I hope it's still good steel. Also, what models are they and what were they used for?

 

[Square_peg]

Those are two nice pieces you've found there. I'd call the Plumb and Cedar Pattern hatchet and the Collins looks like a shingling hatchet. Plumb and Collins were both premium axe makers. Is the eye of the Plumb filled with back epoxy? If so, that's called 'Permabond'. It keeps the head on very well but it's a bitch to remove if and when the time comes to replace the handle.

 

[Blender345]

Those are two nice pieces you've found there. I'd call the Plumb and Cedar Pattern hatchet and the Collins looks like a shingling hatchet. Plumb and Collins were both premium axe makers. Is the eye of the Plumb filled with back epoxy? If so, that's called 'Permabond'. It keeps the head on very well but it's a bitch to remove if and when the time comes to replace the handle.

The plumb seems to have a red colored epoxy on top. The top of the Collins seems to be 1/2 inch down from the top of the blade, maybe slipping off. Should I replace the handle? What's the best way to clean them with handles on?
The plumb isn't labeled on the axe head that I can see. What's a cedar hatchet for? Just splitting soft wood? Chopping?

Also is the Collins any good for chopping anything? Which am I better off within the woods? Not sure of their actual uses. I think I've read there's splitting axes and chopping (felling) axes. I assume the Collins is kinda useless and the plumb is more for splitting logs than hacking? Not sure. Also, is the plumb old enough to be good steel? I've heard newer axe heads are inferior to older ones.

 

[willseeyalater]

Your hatchet is meant to do cedar shake shingles or shake siding. The shakes are arranged as you go to overlap the course below as you work upwards so you have to split down cedar shakes to get the correct lateral width. Two tools in one makes the job go easier but it is lots of hand work all the same. You can still sharpen it up and use it however you want.

 

[Square_peg]

Also, is the plumb old enough to be good steel? I've heard newer axe heads are inferior to older ones.

I'm not sure what the stylist differences are between the older Plumbs and the later Cooper Tools Plumbs. File test it for hardness. Compare it to the Collins which is almost surely vintage. If the Plumb is of similar hardness then it's probably a good tool.

For a proper file test first clean the surface of rust and then file through the outer oxidized layer. The hardness of the underlying steel is what you want to test.

 

[Blender345]

Is the plumb for hacking at trees n limbs or more for splitting?

 

[Square_peg]

With the wide bit it's more for chopping than splitting - it's still has only a hatchet's weight. Ordinary hatchets are very useful as a 'stump axe' - that is, a small axe used to carve things on top of a stump or splitting block. In my experience the shape of the head is not so important as the shape of the handle - assuming that the edge is properly profiled and sharpened. A handle which is comfortable in extended use is a great pleasure.