Does Ames True Temper still make axes?

R

Ripshin Lumberjack

Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
120
I just noticed that the Ames True Temper web site does not show axes of any kind being manufactured. Does anyone know if they are still making axes?

Ripshin
 
I recently noticed that the True Temper "True American" brand shovels were on sale at a local store, and an employee told me that line was discontinued, and Ames was making some changes to its product lineup (and they still have a line of shovels that are made in USA, according to the label). Since the "True American" axes are no longer listed at the True Temper website, not to mention any axes at all, I think it's safe to conclude that axes have been dropped from the True Temper lineup.

However, AMES has a wide variety of brands besides True Temper, including Razor-Back, Union, Garant, Jackson, Cyclone...
http://global.ames.com/brands-and-products/our-brands/

So, it's conceivable that the AMES forging facility in Falls City, Nebraska, is still making axe heads, but for the Razor-Back brand (instead of the True Temper brand).

4112000_L_01-517x173.jpg

4222000_L_01-342x173.jpg

http://www.razor-back.com/tool/axes/4112000-3-5-lb-single-bit-michigan-axe-with-fiberglass-handle/

It's also conceivable that AMES stopped the axe production at Falls City, and now sources all their axe heads from Asia. The website for Razor-Back states, "Just as we domestically produce tools for export to foreign markets, as a global company we buy certain components and materials from valued international supply partners located around the world."
http://www.razor-back.com/about/american-manufacturing/

A call to the Falls City plant might provide an answer (I called today out of curiosity, but the office had already closed for the day).
 
  • Like
Reactions: vab
It would be so awesome if they reproduced the Flint Edge line to original specs.
 
council tool makes an off brand kelly perfect, in jersey and michigan DB for about $80, but heck no, kill those razorbacks,its just killing the true temper name
 
Steve Tall said:
I recently noticed that the True Temper "True American" brand shovels were on sale at a local store, and an employee told me that line was discontinued, and Ames was making some changes to its product lineup (and they still have a line of shovels that are made in USA, according to the label). Since the "True American" axes are no longer listed at the True Temper website, not to mention any axes at all, I think it's safe to conclude that axes have been dropped from the True Temper lineup.

However, AMES has a wide variety of brands besides True Temper, including Razor-Back, Union, Garant, Jackson, Cyclone...
http://global.ames.com/brands-and-products/our-brands/

So, it's conceivable that the AMES forging facility in Falls City, Nebraska, is still making axe heads, but for the Razor-Back brand (instead of the True Temper brand).

4112000_L_01-517x173.jpg

4222000_L_01-342x173.jpg

http://www.razor-back.com/tool/axes/4112000-3-5-lb-single-bit-michigan-axe-with-fiberglass-handle/

It's also conceivable that AMES stopped the axe production at Falls City, and now sources all their axe heads from Asia. The website for Razor-Back states, "Just as we domestically produce tools for export to foreign markets, as a global company we buy certain components and materials from valued international supply partners located around the world."
http://www.razor-back.com/about/american-manufacturing/

A call to the Falls City plant might provide an answer (I called today out of curiosity, but the office had already closed for the day).
Click to expand...

I found an online retailer that's selling that new Razor-Back hatchet, and I asked about the country of origin, and the emailed response is that the product is marked "Made in China".
 
Steve Tall said:
I found an online retailer that's selling that new Razor-Back hatchet, and I asked about the country of origin, and the emailed response is that the product is marked "Made in China".
Click to expand...

Well They look like crap, so that makes total sense.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Well They look like crap, so that makes total sense.
Click to expand...

I dunno about making the usual Western society derogatory statement like that. Fiskars of Scandinavia must have been on to something fashionably profitable in order to spur opportunistic American marketers and designers into commissioning a Chinese manufacturer to make a similar product for 1/10 the cost. Chinese manufacturers do not engineer nor design the 'gizmo' they're 'lowest bidder in the making of'.
I realize today is the sorrowful 75th anniversary of 'Day of Infamy' for Yanks but I'm also trying to picture what exquisite Japanese multilayer forged steel swords would have become were they built to n. American 'Walmart' specs.
 
300Six said:
I dunno about making the usual Western society derogatory statement like that. Fiskars of Scandinavia must have been on to something fashionably profitable in order to spur opportunistic American marketers and designers into commissioning a Chinese manufacturer to make a similar product for 1/10 the cost. Chinese manufacturers do not engineer nor design the 'gizmo' they're 'lowest bidder in the making of'.
I realize today is the sorrowful 75th anniversary of 'Day of Infamy' for Yanks but I'm also trying to picture what exquisite Japanese multilayer forged steel swords would have become were they built to n. American 'Walmart' specs.
Click to expand...

What I was referring to was the funky style of synthetic handle ( can't stand any kind of synthetic handle in general ) as I've only seen any funky shapes with cheapo Chinese made stuff from Lowe's or home Depot.
I'm not exactly sure what his has to do with fiskars unless you're referring to them using synthetic handles.
 
Hickory n steel said:
What I was referring to was the funky style of synthetic handle ( can't stand any kind of synthetic handle in general ) as I've only seen any funky shapes with cheapo Chinese made stuff from Lowe's or home Depot.
I'm not exactly sure what his has to do with fiskars unless you're referring to them using synthetic handles.
Click to expand...

I've also seen that kind of cheap looking stuff coming from India. It has also had very poor steel quality - even worse than the Chinese stuff. I've seen some Chinese hatchets on wood handles that while not good were at least marginal and serviceable.

But I would agree with 300Six that the import junk is crap because it's either spec'd as crap or isn't QC'd. They are certainly capable of making high quality items.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vab
Square_peg said:
I've also seen that kind of cheap looking stuff coming from India. It has also had very poor steel quality - even worse than the Chinese stuff. I've seen some Chinese hatchets on wood handles that while not good were at least marginal and serviceable.

But I would agree with 300Six that the import junk is crap because it's either spec'd as crap or isn't QC'd. They are certainly capable of making high quality items.
Click to expand...

They definitely are capable, I got pretty lucky with my made in India HF hatchet that happens to take and hold an edge very well. I wouldn't recommend them though as mine may have been 1 in 1000 pieces of crap.
The problem is that they outsource purely for the low production cost, and don't care about the quality because most people don't know any better.
There are countless Amazon reviews for this junk that people either love because because they don't know any better. When they give a bad review it's also because they don't know any better and are complaining that it came dull.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top