Help identifying metal detector find

H

hound46

Joined
Feb 7, 2008
Messages
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I found this ax head metal detecting about 200 yards from the Missouri River in northwest Missouri. It was about 1foot down. There was an old 1 room school nearby. There's a word in the metal on the poll side in the first picture. It's hard to make out. It appears there may be green paint on it. Can anyone tell me anything about it?



 
If you can't make out what the stamp says, try running a wire wheel or brush over it for a couple minutes and wipe it with some linseed or cooking oil. A close-up photo of the stamp would be a more effective reference.
 
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Like Warner said, if you take a wire wheel or cup brush to the stamp you might reveal enough identify it. My guess is that it's quite old - like around 1900. I've only seen bevels forged that thin on very old axes. Granted the pitting thinned them some too, but those are super thin. I don't think that is green paint. More likely discoloration from some soil mineral.

An axe that for gone has no value unless you have solid provenance linking it to the beheading of Marie Antoinette or St. John the Baptist or something.
 
Sounds like the price was right. Great find. Post some more pics after knocking some of the rust off.
 
After looking at the website, the second line may read "perfect axe". If this is the case, it may be what they describe as a Dayton pattern head. I know nothing about axes, this is just from some quick research online. Any details would be appreciated.
 
OK. You have a Kelly Perfect. That would have been a top shelf axe in it's day. Kelly Perfects were made for many decades so it would be hard to date that one.
 
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