Holy Grail Found! Swedish Axe, Early Collins pre Legitimus

Sluicebox · Feb 22, 2015

You won't believe what happened to me yesterday. I called a friend and asked if he had any old rusty axe heads he didn't want and he sent me a text later saying I found one you can have. I went up to see him and thought that I might end up with some old pitted who knows what to soak and clean. This is what he laid out for me. GB with blue paint, looks like original haft, sound. I need advice on a couple things with it. What can I clean the head with that won't ruin the blue paint? Will BLO ruin paint once cleaned? If you notice the handle has a bow to it from leaning up against a wall for decades. Is there a way to take that bow out? Lastly how can I ever repay him? I thought about cleaning it up and putting a mask on it, having it sharpened and giving it back. I didn't know what it was when I picked it up and I doubt that he did either. I told my Wife that I could sell it and offset the cost of many of my recent head purchases she said,"don't sell anything that you only have one of." AWESOME! I get to buy more heads! lol. Besides I would spend forever trying to find another like this and it would not be free. I tried to pay him for it but he wouldn't accept the money. I am thinking of taking him to my mining claim this Summer for a guided trip and hands on lessons. Put some gold in his pocket. Besides we need more voters who enjoy the outdoors and their freedoms to use Public Lands.

Here are the pics, first are uncleaned as received. Next are head washed with dish soap and handle rubbed with BLO. Now I'm stuck not knowing what to do with it. I will go ahead and add some other pics of the rest of my great day. While I was oiling up the GB I rubbed down a recent Adze that I got real cheap. I noticed some lettering on the cheek. With vinegar and a tooth brush I found another crown! I believe it to be a very early Collins pre Legitimus. Don't dis me on taking the patina off the adze, I plan on keeping it and handing it down. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My best to you a

ll.
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Sorry it's so pic heavy if that's a problem let me know and I will delete. Order of pics is messed up but you'll figure it out I hope, adze got put in middle. The photo with what looks like Superior then a crown and then forged is on the adze.

Sluicebox · Feb 22, 2015

Sorry for the confusion in order of photos. That stamp might say America then a crown then forged on the adze. Here is another of Gransfors Bruk that didn't make it in.

Operator1975 · Feb 22, 2015

So just where is this holy grail at?

Square_peg · Feb 22, 2015

You can steam a haft to straighten it out. Great looking adze. They're fun to use but dangerous even when used correctly. Watch yourself.

Remzy · Feb 23, 2015

The concept of the adze terrify me, or my toes, im not sure... however, you sure got a nice find in your hands! im loving it all!

as for the BLO damaging the paint, dont worry about that, but you will not be able to keep the paint if you plan on cleaning the head with wire brush or something similar... the paint is not that important anyways, in my opinion, unless you have about 50%+ of the paint, then it could be considered to be a sacrilege by some to remove the paint but in the state they are in right now, dont worry about the paint, just clean the head, resharpen, straighten the handles if you can and enjoy them as is.

There is still the matter of the small downpayment... hum, a good bottle of wine or bourbon would seem sufficient, but that might only be me

Cheers!

ICS · Feb 23, 2015

A couple of things. Don't worry about the paint when you clean up the head, it is not that important. You can straighten the handle simply by clamping it down to a bench on a wet rag. Leave it a couple of days and as the grain swells it will pull the handle straight. I have had great success with this method on a couple of racing axe handles. hope it works for you.

Agent_H · Feb 23, 2015

ICS said:
A couple of things. Don't worry about the paint when you clean up the head, it is not that important. You can straighten the handle simply by clamping it down to a bench on a wet rag. Leave it a couple of days and as the grain swells it will pull the handle straight. I have had great success with this method on a couple of racing axe handles. hope it works for you.

This is interesting ICS. Wrap the handle with a wet rag, clamp it (something in-between the handle and your device?), and just leave it? Anything special for drying time like remove rag and keep clamped until dry to the touch?

Sluicebox · Feb 23, 2015

I'm going to try the clamp and wet rag idea that sounds excellent. Got 10 stitches last night opening a can of BLO with a hammer hatchet head (don't ever do that.) In another thread someone told me not to admit to doing stupid things. However this lesson does not need to be learned the hard way by anyone else. I know this may not be your Grail but at this time it is mine. I would like to hear from others what their most sought after axe is. Who knows Karma is pretty funny sometimes. Someone else might have it here. Best regards...