Finally got a conneticut, and it's a keen one too :)

schmittie · Jan 13, 2015

For years I've been looking for a conneticut. I've never seen one in person, just online. I've checked flea markets, garage sales and antique stores. Even bid on quite a few online. It's odd too since they originated in St Louis and I'm only 90 miles away.

But I managed to find one on another forum. Bit measures 5 1/2", poll 3 1/2". Weighs right at 4 lbs. She is a bit dinged up on the bit and the poll is mushroomed. Whomever used it sure didn't appreciate the tool for its intended use. But I'm happy to have her and clean her up. Haven't decided yet whether to grind of the mushrooming or leave it as is. But I am thinking octagon 36" handle. What do you think?

SC T100 · Jan 13, 2015

Nice find! I'm like you...keeping my eye out for a CT at some point. Yours looks like a great refurb candidate. If it's going to be a user I would just file or grind off the mushrooming, but if the bit is protected it can be heated and hammered back as well. I have yet to try the latter myself. All of my handles on my full-sized axes have been 36" so that's what I am most comfortable with, but many here seem to like 32" as well. I suppose it's what you like! Octagons are good, too...I've only done one but I like it a lot so far.

jblyttle · Jan 13, 2015

I'm lucky where I live I think, I find one every week or two it seems. In fact, I found one yesterday. I make that available sooner than later. Like tonight.

Square_peg · Jan 14, 2015

Beautiful axe. I'd sharpen it, hang it and and call it good.

Skweeker · Jan 14, 2015

That looks nice! I don't like filing away a mushroomed poll because it never quite looks right unless a lot of metal is removed. That one's not too bad but maybe it could be repaired by a conscientious blacksmith. Worth a shot to keep it full weight IMO.

Though I mentioned Connecticuts in another thread I've never had a chance to swing one. I do have 3 or 4 Jerseys. Someday...

jblyttle · Jan 14, 2015

It's actually not bad at all.I would not grind it. There is very little widening and real mushrooming, more like some rollover at the edges. I would take a file and just see if you can knock off the bits with sharp edges and leave the rest.

cityofthesouth · Jan 14, 2015

Congrats! A CT was high only my list for a long while as well and to my great annoyance, the ones I do have are sitting around waiting for handles to arrive. I am conflicted about mushroomed polls. On the one hand I agree that the grinding is very obvious and is as glaring as the mushrooming itself. On the other hand, I hate for it to look abused and feel like fixing it is part of the whole refurbishing process. I grind first, before vinegar, then I hit the ground area with a ball peen until it looks somewhat more natural. The vinegar helps to make it all blend together. It's not perfect but with enough effort you could make the repairs blend in.

Bridger · Jan 14, 2015

schmittie said:
For years I've been looking for a conneticut. I've never seen one in person, just online. I've checked flea markets, garage sales and antique stores. Even bid on quite a few online. It's odd too since they originated in St Louis and I'm only 90 miles away.

I'm in the St. Louis area too. I almost never find anything interesting locally except maybe the occasional Plumb or Keen Kutter Dayton.

garry3 · Jan 14, 2015

Thats a keeper. You can hammer quite a bit of that mushroomed poll out. I learned that from square peg.