Grandfather's Hatchet

Wurrwulf

Wurrwulf

Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
2,936
Hey folks, just wondering if I could pick y'all's brains a bit. My grandfather passed away a year ago, and in the process of getting his house cleaned up, I found this old hatchet. I hung it in my tool closet and never much thought about it. I started poking around here and remembered the old thing hanging around.

I can't find any markings on the head, but there is a bit of rust and one may be hiding under there. There are the remains of a sticker on the handle, but when I looked through the "Axe info" thread, I couldn't find a manufacturer with "afcoite" in the name or much about manufacturers from Indiana. This makes me think that it may have been rehafted at some point in time.

What are some suggestions for removing as much rust as necessary to see any stamps but not remove too much material? I do not want to buff it down to bare/shiny metal.

I don't care about value, and I highly doubt that I would ever use it. I would like to know the head manufacturer, a possible age range, and a way to neutralize the rust already caused. I'm a traditional knife guy, so I'm familiar with maintaining carbon steel blades, but I've never had to deal with such rust.

Thanks in advance, folks.

All the best.

-Shawn

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(from an earlier thread)

The label says:

MARION TOOL CORP.
ALLOY
CRAFCOITE
TOOLS
MARION IND. U.S.A.

("Alloy Tools" is in a smaller font.)

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What is Crafcoite?
Evidently it is "chrome nickel alloy, cast to shape, not forged".

(from the hatchet in the right column, middle):
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Shawn can you show us what the top of the head looks like? That haft looks like it might be original to the hatchet.
 
For rust removal all you need is a wire cup in an angle grinder, this wil remove the rust leaving only the patina without damaging anything. With the wire wheel you can end up with a glossy dark look to the patina which is really nice. Other than that it's just a matter of an oil coat to prevent new rust.
Soaking in vinegar will work, but will leave a dull grey in place of the original patina.
 
Nice find. I would keep that head and haft together. Maybe keep it as is. Maybe rehang it on that haft. There are threads here to show you how.
 
Thanks for the info, everybody! Man, I sure can't find a whole lot of info out there on the web about Marion. I found a couple old auctions on that Big Auction Site for a similar/the same hatchet, but the item descriptions didn't provide anything. I'll keep hunting for info while deciding how I'll treat this old thing.
 
garry3 said:
. . .That haft looks like it might be original to the hatchet.
Click to expand...
Good reminder that a name on a handle alone does not indicate an original handle or the manufacturer of the head.

However, if it is known that grandfather bought it new and never changed the handle. . . :cool:


Bob
 
rjdankert said:
Good reminder that a name on a handle alone does not indicate an original handle or the manufacturer of the head.

Bob
Click to expand...

When a handle is name-stamped to coincide with a maker's brand then it's not likely to be a replacement. The opposite would be true if the handle was stamped or decaled with Seymour-Link or House Handle etc.
 
This appears to be the same hatchet that I have, but I still can't find any info on a Crafcoite with this head or handle. I'll get a picture of the Eye when I get home from work today. This hunt for information is quite entertaining! Thanks, again, everyone.

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300Six said:
When a handle is name-stamped to coincide with a maker's brand then it's not likely to be a replacement. . .
Click to expand...
I don't have any information to confirm or deny that it is unlikely, but "...a name on a handle alone does not indicate an original handle or the manufacturer of the head".


Bob
 
rjdankert said:
I don't have any information to confirm or deny that it is unlikely, but "...a name on a handle alone does not indicate an original handle or the manufacturer of the head".


Bob
Click to expand...

I will agree fully with that ....knowing someone out there might decide to field a wine-coloured haft that says 'Plumb tested hickory' on an H-B just to make a statement.
 
Sorry for the delay. I knocked a bit of the rust off in an attempt to find stampings/markings, but sadly I didn't find anything. Here's a shot of the eye:

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