Help from the experts for a newb- Maul ID and clean up

mayfly-1970

mayfly-1970

Joined
Apr 26, 2005
Messages
79
I have been a BF participant for years, mostly lurking and reading about knifes and steel. I have had a recent desire to purchase a good "camp axe" to store in my recently purchased camper- so I came here to learn before purchasing. And now you guys have me obsessed with old vintage axes and hand tools (although I do like my 10-year old Wetterlings hatchet). This led me to start looking around the family's old tools and I came across a splitting maul from my grandfather. It was covered in rust and I figured it was probably made in China- but after some clean up with a wire brush I discovered it was USA steel.

Any idea from you guys about the vintage and quality? It is blue and you can see the marking "safety goggles" and USA. Also, any advice on how to continue to get some of the discoloration off and preserving the blue paint? Please, no comments on the handle, grandpa obviously started to lose his aim as he got old... The handle is still tight, I am planning on sanding and securing it further and will learn how to hang at a later date- I will keep the kids and the dogs away in the meantime. Any feedback would be appreciated.

dateposted-public
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157963140@N07/45209752615/in/dateposted-public/

dateposted-public
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157963140@N07/45397297344/in/dateposted-public/

Don't know if the pics will post- the online instructions did not look like my new Flickr account.
 
As for how old it is, I have no idea. When it comes to quality I personally would say how well it splits says how well it's made. I've had people say a poorly cast china maul splits better than a cleanly machined US one. Ps, I would drop the head an inch to an inch and a half and it should cover up the damage. I have done that on 2 vintage hafts and they've held up just fine.
 
Paint looks like Warwood blue to me, they're known for sledge hammes and mails so I'd say it's a possibility .
 
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Square_peg said:
It's from the 1970's or later becaause of the safety glasses warning. Someone swung it into the ground for years and then reversed the head when they re-hung it. That's why the heel is so short now.
Click to expand...
I see that is reversed now. Thanks for the info. Curious to the "swung into the ground" comment- why say you? Not questioning you, just trying to learn for future inspection purposes.
 
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When you chop into the ground a fair amount, it DULLS and grinds the edge back after a fashion. Think of 60 grit sandpaper vs gravel and sand.
 
It looks like a Collins . I bought one of those new in 1978. They had a Collins foil label with the American flag stuck on the side of the head. My handle said genuine Collins on the side.
 
A17 said:
When you chop into the ground a fair amount, it DULLS and grinds the edge back after a fashion. Think of 60 grit sandpaper vs gravel and sand.
Click to expand...

And more importantly you strike rocks in the ground that roll the edge, causing it to need repeated sharpeninbgs. That's why the toe of so many axes is short, from having ground damage filed off or removed with grinders.

This is why I pass on short-toed axes. It's so much work to bring them back into good geometry. And there's little hardened steel left. Plus I worry how much the bit was overheated during all that grinding. Unless it has a very collectable stamp in good condition I pass on them.
 
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mayfly-1970 said:
I have been a BF participant for years, mostly lurking and reading about knifes and steel. I have had a recent desire to purchase a good "camp axe" to store in my recently purchased camper- so I came here to learn before purchasing. And now you guys have me obsessed with old vintage axes and hand tools (although I do like my 10-year old Wetterlings hatchet). This led me to start looking around the family's old tools and I came across a splitting maul from my grandfather. It was covered in rust and I figured it was probably made in China- but after some clean up with a wire brush I discovered it was USA steel.

Any idea from you guys about the vintage and quality? It is blue and you can see the marking "safety goggles" and USA. Also, any advice on how to continue to get some of the discoloration off and preserving the blue paint? Please, no comments on the handle, grandpa obviously started to lose his aim as he got old... The handle is still tight, I am planning on sanding and securing it further and will learn how to hang at a later date- I will keep the kids and the dogs away in the meantime. Any feedback would be appreciated.

dateposted-public
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157963140@N07/45209752615/in/dateposted-public/

dateposted-public
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157963140@N07/45397297344/in/dateposted-public/

Don't know if the pics will post- the online instructions did not look like my new Flickr account.
Click to expand...
Help by reading axe tomohawk hatchet forum Jackie Dengler
 
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