Homesteader's Axe

I admit I have no need for any axes whatsoever. There are felling axes, splitting axes etc etc. So maybe some of you need 'em all. Utility, for me, just is not my motivation for being on this forum or my interest in "new and abused" axes:eek:
 
Next time please save your jokes for posting on April first. You had me there; I actually thought that you'd foolishly figured to have scored a real prize.
 
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300Six said:
Next time please save your jokes for posting on April first. You had me there; I actually thought that you'd foolishly figured to have scored a real prize.
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Eric Sloane would have seen the flawed diamond in the rough. Don't waste your time going to Kent, Connecticut. The fact that some here can't even tell this axe is old with great form --- put aside the damage --- is incredible!!!:confused:
 
300Six said:
Next time please save your jokes for posting on April first. You had me there; I actually thought that you'd foolishly figured to have scored a real prize.
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Funny that this :thumbdn: is gonna tell me what is and is not a prize. I never put a monetary value on this and did not think that was relevant to my posting it.
 
I'm going to do it everyone. I'm going to feed the troll and I know it's wrong.

crown & hammer said:
I appreciate your thoughts but I fail to see where it is I said it is worth more because of the mushroomed poll or the bulging cheeks.
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Your exact words.
crown & hammer said:
...it will lessen its value.
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Your exact words.
crown & hammer said:
...face-lifts and sex changes...
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Whether it's worth more or not, you did the criticizing.

crown & hammer said:
My only point is you either enjoy it as it is or you don't enjoy it.
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Your exact words.
crown & hammer said:
...face-lifts and sex changes...
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Apparently there are certain things you don't enjoy.

crown & hammer said:
Trying to fix it will make it into something that it is not --- and it will lessen its value. Someone who wants it for utility will not be satisfied and those that appreciate it for "decorator" value won't find it appealing anymore. If you want a "user", get another axe.
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What exactly? What will it be made into? Was it female or male to begin with?

crown & hammer said:
I referred to a (functioning intact) blanket chest with and without it's original paint. What a table with a broken leg has to do with this is beyond me.
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Your exact words.
crown & hammer said:
"Beat up" furniture with original paint
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It has as much to do with it as an antique chest and a table is furniture. You were making exactly the same point and for that reason you're contradictory. If it's fair for you to say that a "functioning intact" (your exact words BTW) chest is a worthy analogy, then how is it unfair to take your analogy and apply it accurately to this axe? NON-functioning and damaged. You said apples to oranges. How about we try apples to apples?

crown & hammer said:
This utility argument is beyond me ---- how many "useful" axes does anyone here really need??? You can get a good vintage axe for peanuts and be done with it.
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And to tie it back together, your exact words.
crown & hammer said:
Apples and oranges, maybe, but these old tools decades from now won't be worth much looking like they came from home depot.
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It isn't worth anything NOW, is .... the .... point. Is it still beyond you?
Let's visit some more of your exact words.
crown & hammer said:
...antique handmade tools...
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It has to be this in order for you to make an argument against devaluing it with sex changes, obviously!

Your exact words.
crown & hammer said:
...just is not my motivation for being on this forum...
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No one has any idea what those motivations are because you just waited around for the responses you knew you'd get and that officially makes you a troll. Because that's called trolling.
And the best part of all is that I was offering my...
crown & hammer said:
Any sincere opinions are welcomed!!
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...sincere opinion, while at the same time defending your motivations without even knowing them by saying that you are welcome to do whatever you want and you don't have to justify it to us. I guess maybe no opinions are welcomed.

My exact words!
cityofthesouth said:
...you can use it and enjoy it in any condition for any reason that suits you and you don't have to explain it to any of us.
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While it would be theoretically possible to return it to a functioning state, it's pretty dang beat up and worn out, so the question is if it's worth all the elbow grease required to still end up with a very tired old axe when there are so many in better condition that are better deserving of the attention. Meanwhile, the look that the piece has as-is is at least interesting from an aesthetic standpoint and makes one ponder the things it's seen in its lifetime.
 
I like to hang ones like that on my shed wall as a display along with all the rusted crosscut saw pieces I've found.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
While it would be theoretically possible to return it to a functioning state, it's pretty dang beat up and worn out, so the question is if it's worth all the elbow grease required to still end up with a very tired old axe when there are so many in better condition that are better deserving of the attention. Meanwhile, the look that the piece has as-is is at least interesting from an aesthetic standpoint and makes one ponder the things it's seen in its lifetime.
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It saw a lot of the hard end of a sledge hammer. ;)
 
300Six said:
"Poor beat up axe"

But, if this really is destined to become 'your baby' and it cleans up (wire brush and vinegar) showing there to be no metal fatigue or stress cracks then maybe you want to try to find a hobbyist blacksmith to help straighten the cheeks out in advance of your selecting a new handle.
All the best with this! Any axe is better than no axe.
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Interesting reply. I have had a couple of oldies in vinegar for months. One is basically finished and the other still needs time. The finished hatchet is disappointing as it shows cracks. I'm going to toss it out.
 
It would still work alright I'm sure, someone thought enough of it to use it for practical ends (or didn't think of it and it still did the work). I'd agree with FortyTwoBlades, the thing has character because it was used hard, likely split a lot of wood and you can see a lifetime of use in it. I think people were too hard on you but sometimes you need to let the old working dog retire and let him live out his days in peace.
 
The poll is mushroomed and the eye has bulged outward. Definite signs that the axe was used and abused as a wedge. Most likely someone used a sledge to beat on the poll using it as a wedge. A sign that the previous owner considered the axe to have seen better days before he turned it into a wedge.

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I would give it wall hanger status, as it is, in the man cave.

Tom
 
I'm going to throw in my $.02 here as well because I can't help it. I agree with Peg and 42 on this, that axe has little value outside of scrap metal weight or decorator value. There isn't anything that suggests it is very old or hand forged (thin old style haft, forge welded bit, different steel type for the blade portion). I'll also say I couldn't see the point of putting something like that on display, because it just displays the abuse, misuse and neglect of the tool and the lack of knowledge of the previous owner. It would bother me every time I looked at it. Like buying a crashed up rusted wreck classic car or motorcycle, not to restore it but to take it to car shows "as is" so people can enjoy it's history. I can see why an interior decor lady would would like it, but an interior decor lady probably doesn't know too much about axes. They'd would just think its "vintage" and has a nice "rustic patina" and perfect for her client's man cave or basement bar.
 
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Consider, when is an axe no longer an axe? When it becomes a beaten up rusty piece of steel on the end of a stick. Thank god we live in a democratic society and can express an opinion, albeit in conflict with someone else's view.
 
Id remove the haft and beat the head back into shape... just my opinion.

judging by how the head did not crack or chip with all the abuse, i think we can safely say that it is quality steel.
 
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Thanks for comments. Always (usually:) good to hear different viewpoints. My "background" is antique furniture, "primitives" etc. That's my Eye. An essay in 1970's entitled "Buy It Ratty and Leave it Alone" had a big influence in collecting, connoisseurship etc. Many of you would obviously disagree with the idea of Leave it Alone. Subjectively beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But, objectively the market has spoken --- literally any furniture (or smalls) that have been refinished, overly restored (very minor may make sense) is worth less and worse. This axe is not a good example for the point I'm trying to make. It is a beater, not worth much (or anything.) I get it. But I happen to like it's character, look, aesthetic. And honestly wanted know what others thought. And I do think it to be 1800s. I'd love to see another axe head with intact wedges made of wrought spikes (or nails for that matter.) I am newer to tools, so I may have it wrong. So I want to be educated about what an American (Connecticut pattern even better) handmade, antique, intact (w/haft) axe looks like. I just don't see them on this site. Pictures anyone?

p.s. -- bikes -- I (and many of you do I'm sure) know for a fact Schwinn's were being restored in the 1980's-90s --- and 30 years later those are worth less than the untouched ones. Rust buckets are another matter, but some really nice untouched bikes were unnecessarily restored because for some reason people need to stuff to shine.
 
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