Grandma's Axe, No Markings?

Sulaco

Sulaco

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
2,421
My grandma gave me her axe. There's no telling how old it is or where she got it (we are in SC). It's probably been in the family for a while.

On this page, the head looks a lot like the "Virginia pattern".

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2012/03/axe-head-patterns-from-past.html

The handle is straight and 35" long.

The head is heavy, but I don't know how to weigh it with the handle attached. The bit is 5.5" long, the poll is 3.5" by 1 3/8" and the head is 7" long overall.

It looks to have some red paint on it and the whole head tapers down to a very thin edge from the poll. It has "3 1/2" on the side of the head near the poll.

Any thoughts what it might be?

20121209_195458.jpg


20121209_195519.jpg


20121209_195601.jpg


20121209_210731.jpg
 
Last edited:
I'd say that it's a Kelly True Temper...

What do you other fellows think?

Either way, that's a nice looking 'Jersey'... congrats :)
 
I really dig the wide bit. 5-1/2"! That's awesome. Wide bits like that were for use in softer woods. Looks to be in very good shape - almost no wear. No telling who made it without a stamp. There were a hundred or more makers all going at once back in the day. And some hardware stores would order them without a stamp and then apply their own paper label.

Looks like all it needs is maybe a touch up of the edge and a few coats of BLO on the haft. Gotta love getting a little piece of family history.
 
bearhunter said:
does it have ridges in the eye?
Click to expand...

What do you mean ridges? Can you show me an example?

Yeah she took good care of it. She kept it in a shed the whole time she had it. No telling where or when she got it, probably a local hardware store decades ago. My great-uncle (her brother) was a farmer and she took it to him a few years ago to tighten up the head. He did a good job because its bank vault tight now.

It has some deep gouges sort of in lines running across the very top of the head. It almost looks like it came this way but I'm not sure.

Whats the best way to go about cleaning it up? I plan to use it by the way. I have 4 good pine lighter stumps I need to harvest. Plus my dad needs help felling some pines and small hardwoods in his back yard.
 
Very nice.

Like SP said, could be several different makers. The profile reminds me more of some Plumb and Collins that I've seen.
 
I added a pic of the top of the head. Those are the gouges I was talking about. Any ideas what caused these?

20121209_210731.jpg
 
John Frankl said:
Very nice.

Like SP said, could be several different makers. The profile reminds me more of some Plumb and Collins that I've seen.
Click to expand...
I think all Plumb's were marked. I could be wrong though!

Red was a general color for Kelly TT.
Collins...I believe, generally used blue

The 'ridges in the eye'... look at the top and bottom. Does the eye have 'ridges' forged into the head that bite into the haft?
 
Nice looking axe! Those gouges are dents, from being hammered on, likely to drive the head further onto the haft, trying to tighten it up. The edge is hardened only an inch or two back, the rest will be softer and dent easily.


-Xander
 
That is a nice axe. When I get one in that good of condition, I like to spend some time rubbing the handle and axe head with 0000 steel wool, then add BLO. That's about the only rehab it looks like it needs.
 
halfaxe said:
That is a nice axe. When I get one in that good of condition, I like to spend some time rubbing the handle and axe head with 0000 steel wool, then add BLO. That's about the only rehab it looks like it needs.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
your granny has good taste in choppers.
nice one, oil up the handle , give her an edge and have some fun

buzz
 
That's a beauty- you're going to have fun with your chopping projects.
I'm not sure if this has been said, but the 3 1/2 probably means a 3.5 lb head.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top