First DB Restoration WIP

DarthTaco123

DarthTaco123

Joined
Mar 28, 2013
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Posted Ole Ugly yesterday but now he/she/it is getting their own thread. Picked it up for a couple bucks at a local antique mall with the intent to fix it up, and oh does it need some TLC. Pitting everywhere (even inside the eye) and rusted to all heck, but it had char,. It stuck out to me. Both bits show wear but it's fairly even so that's not a worry but the eye...dear gods the Eye. It looks like it was used as a lever, pry bar, and hammer. Should be fixable with a blow torch (no need to start the forge for this one) and either a RR spike or my 1 1/4" drift to open it up. Take it on my anvil and straighten it out a bit 'course. If I find any marks then I'll sand down around them (if that's what I decide to do) but it's for sure old as the temper lines are really deep (can't see them too well under the rust in the pictures provided) but it appears to be multi piece construction. Almost looks like a double half wedge (might make it full wedge when fixing the eye). Unfamiliar on axe patterns so I can't say what exactly it is, but it has temper lines to rival most of my Maine-Made Axes.

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Looking at the misshapen double bit, and knowing that JBLytle gathers up (and makes available) useable old heads for pennies on the dollar, I'd be tempted not to devote much time to it. Unless it has a quality brand stamp, and you have the time and patience for trying to straighten it.
 
This is merely for me to use, don't have a DB and I wanted a challenging restoration project. No stamp visible yet but dark temper lines about 3.5" deep. No eye ridges (duh) so I don't think it's a Kelly TT but the stamp doesn't matter as much to me as it's ability to be used.
 
So I was talking with the owners of the antique shop, and evidently this (and several other beat up axe heads) came from an old small time blacksmiths shop that closed down and was abandoned in the early 1910s. Explains the older style construction and the poor condition. Weather the story is true or not, I think I can fix this up with some patience. Go figure, the rust doesn't really want to clean off. Maybe sitting around in the run down building in the woods for 100ish years has something to do with that. Deep temper lines so that's good at least. Gonna be a long time till it's ready for me to find a makers mark (if one's there) or if it was just made by the smith.
 
I love that Jersey, so clean. Who makes it? I want it! I would be willing to send you a good serviceable DB and payment besides or other things if you are interested.

I like those hammers too. I usually pass on standard ballpeens even if they are a dollar. Too common, don't need them. But 2+lb ballpeens I grab every chance that I get. They are very useful tools, also great project material if I ever get around to putting a forge together. They would be great for making into other blacksmith hammer types or even a tomahawk of some sort. I have 8-10 of them now.
 
Nawh, 'fraid that Jersey is a keeper. Made by Snow and Nealley (back when they were in Bangor, pre 1950s fire too I think). Besides the pitting it's gorgeous! I'll put some more pictures up of it later. Been needing a project and this DB is gonna be it!
 
Had to ask, awesome find. Happy you found it.

I find the occasional Maine axe and they are my favorite. One I'll never sell is an Emerson & Stevens double bit cruiser wedge. I'm afraid that I'll never find another.

I'm going on vacation in Maine in April for a week. I'm hopeful because you know that I will be digging around. I'm headed to Bethel. My only problem is that I don't know the area or the shops.
 
For 12.50 I couldn't have got a better deal! Had some of the nasty flaky red rust over the label but I could just barely make out neally co. till I took it home and took a vinegar soaked rag over it to clear some of it up. That and some oil and you can see what it says mostly!

At least one of those hammers are going in the forge to become a hatchet/tomahawk/bearded axe/whatever I feel like making.

As to fixing the eye I think some low heat from a blow torch, a light hammer (maybe one of them ball peins I just got!) and my anvil should straighten it out, and more than likely I'll take a RR spike or even my 1 1/4" drift to fix the eye itself.
 
I think today is the day of days, the vinegar hasn't revealed any makers marks so I don't think I'll feel bad about straigthening it out with a torch and hammer (not really worth starting the forge up). Wish me luck.

-Edit-

Torch ain't gonna do it. Time to fire the forge up!
 
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DarthTaco123 said:
I think today is the day of days, the vinegar hasn't revealed any makers marks so I don't think I'll feel bad about straigthening it out with a torch and hammer (not really worth starting the forge up). Wish me luck.

-Edit-

Torch ain't gonna do it. Time to fire the forge up!
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:encouragement:
Hell ya! Got you a little project now. She will be better than new.
 
Forge got snowed out (go figure). Gonna find some way to fix 'er up but hell or high water I'm going to be chopping with this bugger.

The plan is to straighten the bit out, make the walls of the eye flat, then drift it out from the middle. Only issue is my forge is outdoors, and the wind makes starting it impossible. Propane torch ain't gonna do it so I need to find some way to manipulate the eye.

After days of bathing in vinegar I have two deep temper lines visible, and a possible part of a makers mark. Looks to be a square divided in four.
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So...errr...that wasn't a square at all. It's the E and L in Kelly! After some scrubbing with steel wool and water today it became quite clear. Kelly Axe Mfg. Co. Chareleston WVA USA. Their logo from the early 1900s. As the story goes this came out of an old workshop that was abandoned in the mid 1910's.
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Depends on your location I guess. I live in the lumber industry part of Maine so vintage lumber tools (saws, axes, etc.) aren't all that uncommon.
 
Yeah I am in northern Michigan, only thing I see in antique stores around here is broken down furniture. Although I have never had a reason to really pay attention to stores before, so maybe there will be a find. I called the one near me just to see if they knew of having any axes, and the last on the phone seriously said I have no idea what you are talking about....afraid to even bother driving over there..
 
You'll find 'em! Estate sales/yard sales are good places to look as well. Most antique stores that say they have tools should have axes as well.
 
evildeadedd said:
Yeah I am in northern Michigan, only thing I see in antique stores around here is broken down furniture. Although I have never had a reason to really pay attention to stores before, so maybe there will be a find. I called the one near me just to see if they knew of having any axes, and the last on the phone seriously said I have no idea what you are talking about....afraid to even bother driving over there..
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I went to a store today that I called yesterday and was told they had no axes(they did). You will get all kinds of reactions and it won't even bother you after awhile. It never hurts to ask either. I have scored some nice axes just by asking. Beat the bushes and it pays off in the long run.
 
It helps that they pretty much recognize my face when I walk in the store and they point me to the antique tools.
 
DarthTaco123 said:
It helps that they pretty much recognize my face when I walk in the store and they point me to the antique tools.
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Can relate to this. Regular visits to some shops will sometimes result in chats with the staff/owners. I have a fellow who started setting things aside until I pop in. If I'm not interested then he picks my brain (not much to pick there but anyway) as to how to market the axes/tools. I always speak of fair pricing that will ensure someone finds the "treasure" at a decent price - just because I don't want it doesn't mean the next guy needs to be set up for an expensive purchase.

His goal is to make money but would rather see three axes go for $20 a piece on a regular basis as opposed to one at 30-40$ once a month-month and a half. He deals antiques and I suppose a 400$ profit on an armoire pays off more that hoarding small tools.

Estate sales are good but you have to get there early, garage sales are great as well.
 
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