First Vintage Axes. How'd I do?

[stantonizm]

Hey guys. I'm not very knowledgeable about axes, so I thought I'd post here and see if anyone could help me out.

I was at an antique store with my wife earlier and saw a couple of old axes that looked in moderate shape. The prices seemed high, but a quick phone search of eBay looked like they might have some value, so I haggled some and bought both for $200. Ideally I'd like to keep one and sell one so I don't have too much invested in it. After further reading, I don't really have any idea what they might be worth in their current shape, or whether I should attempt to restore them a little bit or keep them as is.

Any info or advice would be appreciated.

One is a double-bit Kelly Black Raven. I was thinking I'd keep this one mostly for the nostalgia factor since it was made in my hometown. The handle doesn't look original to me and has a big chip in it. Its got some pitting, but the embossed logo is pretty legible.

The other one is a Belknap Blue Grass Thoroughbred. It doesn't have any real major pitting and is in better shape of the two. The embossed logo isn't quite as deep as the Kelly. It was sold as "with original handle." The handle looks really old and like it could be an original, but it says "Old Hickory by Hartwell Brothers." So I don't know if its an old replacement handle or if Blue Grass tools used Old Hickory handles. It's a little loose and doesn't feel like it would be real safe to actually use.

 

[cityofthesouth]

So apparently the antique mall people had some knowledge of the markings and the kind of money they draw and so I guess I could see them asking those prices. Tough to tell on the Black Raven, because it looks like whoever tried to hang it had to remove a lot of wood - could suggest that it's a cruiser (small eye). But I kinda think it's not. You'd have to measure the eye, or show us a top-down shot. If it's a cruiser, that's nice because it might be pretty much complete. If it's not, there is a lot of axe missing. The Belknap just has a lot of axe missing. As collector items, markings like that are apparently desirable. Ignoring collector value, as an axe they are missing more material than I would like. Unless the Black Raven is a cruiser. I'd pull that handle in a heart beat and weigh the head. Someone else might be able to tell you if they were marked for weight (or you might just take a really close look to see if you can find it). If so, that is always very valuable information to me. Either way, yeah, I understand the Black Ravens get money regardless of condition.

The handle on the Belknap is nice and would make a great pattern.

I'm not real savvy on the collector value part of it so I can't say whether you did good on the money part or not from that perspective.

 

[stantonizm]

So apparently the antique mall people had some knowledge of the markings and the kind of money they draw and so I guess I could see them asking those prices. Tough to tell on the Black Raven, because it looks like whoever tried to hang it had to remove a lot of wood - could suggest that it's a cruiser (small eye). But I kinda think it's not. You'd have to measure the eye, or show us a top-down shot. If it's a cruiser, that's nice because it might be pretty much complete. If it's not, there is a lot of axe missing. The Belknap just has a lot of axe missing. As collector items, markings like that are apparently desirable. Ignoring collector value, as an axe they are missing more material than I would like. Unless the Black Raven is a cruiser. I'd pull that handle in a heart beat and weigh the head. Someone else might be able to tell you if they were marked for weight (or you might just take a really close look to see if you can find it). If so, that is always very valuable information to me. Either way, yeah, I understand the Black Ravens get money regardless of condition.

The handle on the Belknap is nice and would make a great pattern.

I'm not real savvy on the collector value part of it so I can't say whether you did good on the money part or not from that perspective.

Thanks for the info. I measured the eye of the Raven. It was 2.36" x .58" which seems to line up pretty close with the measurements of a cruiser handle from House Handles.

Here's a top-down pic and one where you can see all the wood that was removed to make that handle fit. I found an old ebay listing and another reference or two to a 2.5lb Black Raven Cruiser. Seems like they might be pretty rare.

 

[halfaxe]

You probably did ok especially if the raven is a cruiser. I would get a cruiser handle and rehang it. That isn't a very old handle anyway and can be reused on a full sized axe by seating further down. Or you could probably get all your money back by advertising the cruiser and selling that one. The thoroughbred is worn down some but still has life left. Or you can buy more embossed axes, they make an interesting collection.

 

[Operator1975]

OO. Nice. PM me if you like.

 

[stantonizm]

I ordered a House cruiser handle for the Black Raven. I went with hand-picked, non-laquered, octagon. Does that seem like a reasonable choice? Right now I'm leaning toward keeping it.

It seems like a cool piece of local history. The factory was just a few miles miles from where I was born and live now. It closed two years before I was born and I never knew it existed until last night. Pretty cool reading about it.

 

[Agent_H]

I don't have any embossed axes like that - pretty neat find.

They do seem to be coveted by the auction prices and the shorter time they need to be listed to sell. Some of them are in much worse condition than yours.

Opened this on a desktop and looked at it closer. When I held my thumb over the embossing it looked like a fairly evenly worn axe. Something I would probably pick up and maybe hang so beyond the embossing it looks a nice old axe.

One side does look more worn/maybe ground differently than the other but not by much. The picture angle is a little off to one side or the lighting might make a difference in what I see.

I messed with your picture a little just to cock it back over a touch and try to outline the outside embossing border - hope you don't mind. This is assuming the embossing is evenly done over the eye. Hand's on look would tell.



The other one is interesting as well.

$200 for both being a good deal? That might be like saying each was worth $100 but the Black Raven would sell for a whole lot more and cover the entire transaction. That would pay for the Thoroughbred. You have to ask yourself if the Thoroughbred is the one you might want to keep? If not, keep the double bit, sell the single bit, and consider the difference what you would have paid for a Black Raven alone at an even better price.

Either way, it's not something I would probably use. Hang really well? (or try too...)- For sure. There could be some enjoyment in ownership. It's also nice to know that some of the older collectible axes and tools still show up.


I usually don't get into such a predicament with what I find/collect. You could also sell one of my 2 cents and break even there too .

 

[TimmyJ]

Two great axes! I'd rehang that Raven cruiser and display it! The embossing alone is spectacular. What a lucky find!!!

 

[stantonizm]

Here's another pic I tried to line up more evenly. Both sides look pretty close to me

As a bonus, I was talking about old axes with my dad and we went looking through the garage. Found a rusty old True Temper Vanadium Carpenters hatchet that was my granddads.. I went at it for a while with a wire brush on a drill and It cleaned up pretty decent.

 

[cityofthesouth]

Thanks for the info. I measured the eye of the Raven. It was 2.36" x .58" which seems to line up pretty close with the measurements of a cruiser handle from House Handles.

Here's a top-down pic and one where you can see all the wood that was removed to make that handle fit. I found an old ebay listing and another reference or two to a 2.5lb Black Raven Cruiser. Seems like they might be pretty rare.

Yeah, that shot shows the whittled down handle better - I was thinking that is what I was seeing and I'm glad it's the case. You did GREAT! Congrats. It's too bad some clown got a hold of it to put that handle on and beat on the eye, but that's par for the course where axes are concerned. I could see keeping it because it's cool and historical and valuable. I'd be mighty tempted to sell it though.