Hurd's embossed Double Bit axe- need info!

[jstare]

Hey everyone, I recently found a really nice embossed axe Heead. The Head is stamped Hurd's Perfection, The American Axe and Tool, Glassport PA USA. From what I have read A A & T ceased to exist around 1921 which would allow me to assume that this axe is at least that old. I can't seem to find any others like it online. If anyone has any more information about its history, rarity or value that would be great.

 

[cityofthesouth]

On the up side it's a really cool piece of axe history that's for sure worth hanging on to. Downside is that a pretty good portion of the bits have been lost to that history.

 

[Steve Tall]

...

On this A.A.&T. Co. price list from 1913, Hurd's is not quite the highest priced brand, but it's close. (Prices shown are per dozen heads, unless handles are specified.) I'm guessing that "Perfection" is AATCo's counterpart to Kelly's "Perfect" brand.

This listing for Hurd's gives some clues to what your axe looked like when new:
...Blued Phantom Bevel, Surface Etched
($11.50 per dozen D.B. heads)

A lot of wear on this one, worn down to the phantom bevels.

 

[JonathanCharles]

Man I wish this thread had a "like post" option so we could all thank Steve Tall for his unfailing ability to teach us about our axes! Thanks ST!

 

[300Six]

Man I wish this thread had a "like post" option so we could all thank Steve Tall for his unfailing ability to teach us about our axes! Thanks ST!

Steve would get buried alive in compliments! He's "the" proverbial bloodhound of axe pedigrees on here, and he's rarely prone to barking up the wrong tree neither.

 

[jstare]

Thank you Steve Tall for the info, your knowledge on axes is awesome and I know everyone on here appreciates your input.

On the up side it's a really cool piece of axe history that's for sure worth hanging on to. Downside is that a pretty good portion of the bits have been lost to that history.

Yes it definitely has seen better days, it is covered in marks and dings on both sides and the bits are very worn down. It is hard to tell in the photos but this one has definitely had a grinder taken to it. That being said I can faintly see the hardening line in the right light and so there is some life left in it. I am probably going to clean up the rust smooth out the bevels a bit and make it a wall hanger since it likely isn't nice enough for most collectors out there. I won't likely give it a vinegar, just wire wheel to remove the rust and oil to prevent it coming back. I would like to preserve as much patina as possible.

 

[Axe Master '94]

I mean, it's nice enough for most collectors I can think of- the embossing's rare enough that it's pretty valuable regardless of the bits. I'd be pretty darn excited to own it 😉

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[jstare]

I mean, it's nice enough for most collectors I can think of- the embossing's rare enough that it's pretty valuable regardless of the bits. I'd be pretty darn excited to own it 😉

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the reply I am definitely happy to have it, there isn't a lot of embossed axes to be had up where I am in comparison to what you might find in some areas of the US. It will be a decent start to some more collectible axes than the typical user axes I find.