Help with Fire Axe!

Vanguard41xx

Vanguard41xx

Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
3,135
Well, I decided to hit up the flea market today. I bought this from a nice guy, for thirteen dollars. It was different, and neat, so I bought it. I wanted to tidy it up, and before I do, and wanted to know a little more info about it. I removed the paint where some writing was. I don't know what is says exactly..... He said it came off an old fire truck, but I truly doubt that. Sorry about the crap pictures.... Thank you guys.

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Mann was a common manufacturer of fire axes, that may be the "M"??

As to the provenance, old fire axes are much more likely, maybe by a factor of 20:1, to have
come from a school bus than a fire engine.
 
It looks like an older (1950s-60s) pattern of pickhead axe, probably unused, especially if that is the original handle, and looks like it was never sharpened. Later model pickheads have a slightly thinner and more pronounced pick side (which you used mostly to help clear wallboard and shingles), and not such a prominent "hammer" ledge closer to the shaft behind it. I agree with shanny19, that it probably is from a bus or other such non-fire piece of apparatus, or even from the "fire locker" you used to see in older buildings. It might be from a fire apparatus, but if so, was probably a supply list item at delivery, and taken off the truck and replaced with a decent axe. Still, for $13, you probably have a useful home or camp axe.
 
Fireteacher said:
It looks like an older (1950s-60s) pattern of pickhead axe, probably unused, especially if that is the original handle, and looks like it was never sharpened. Later model pickheads have a slightly thinner and more pronounced pick side (which you used mostly to help clear wallboard and shingles), and not such a prominent "hammer" ledge closer to the shaft behind it. I agree with shanny19, that it probably is from a bus or other such non-fire piece of apparatus, or even from the "fire locker" you used to see in older buildings. It might be from a fire apparatus, but if so, was probably a supply list item at delivery, and taken off the truck and replaced with a decent axe. Still, for $13, you probably have a useful home or camp axe.
Click to expand...

Thanks man. Yeah, I tell you, I sharpened her up, and it takes a mean edge.
 
My father was in the fire service for 30 years, I'll show him this and see if he knows anything.

One thing I do know is they are not made to be sharpened, most fire axes have flat edges so they won't chip. Also they are usually much heavier than a normal axe, last fire axe I held had a composite handle, 3/16 wide "edge", and weighed 30-40 pounds.
 
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