ID'ing some new treasures

BeardedSteve · Nov 8, 2015

Well hopefully they are treasures. Found these in my fathers shed. The first was hung on a rough hand done handle by my grandfathers friend ages ago. I am *pretty* sure part of it says Oakland Maine. No idea what the letters over Oakland ME are. Looks like there's an O and an R.

The second one is on a Cherry handle. And it looks like it reads Charleston W VA USA and under that US PAT

Any help figuring them out would be super appreciated.

Steve Tall · Nov 8, 2015

JOHN KING
OAKLAND, ME.

A similar stamp is shown in this registry of Maine toolmakers, on page 146:
http://www.davistownmuseum.org/PDFs/Vol_10_Registry.pdf

rjdankert · Nov 8, 2015

BeardedSteve said:
. . .
The second one is on a Cherry handle. And it looks like it reads Charleston W VA USA and under that US PAT
. . .

I have a head marked:

KELLYS FLINT EDGE
CHARLESTON W VA USA

Bob

DarthTaco123 · Nov 8, 2015

Steve's answered the first axe, the second more than likely read W.C KELLY PERFECT or something of the sort where it's now ground down.

http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears Tools/Kelly Axe Mfg. Co. .html

BeardedSteve · Nov 8, 2015

Thanks a ton guys!

BeardedSteve · Nov 12, 2015

So I am going to try and clean these 2 up. I see people suggest vinegar soaking to clean rust off...but where these have handles attached should I avoid that? Or does the vinegar soak not bother handles?

Chignecto Woodsman · Nov 12, 2015

Vinegar will rot the wood.

Dusty One · Nov 12, 2015

With the handle left on you can put yellow mustard on both sides without getting it on the wood.

jblyttle · Nov 12, 2015

I think that these would clean up fine with some fine steel wool at the sink.

If I have a head that is off the handle AND super rust crusted, I put it into vinegar. I rarely do this. I usually start with a quick scrub with a steel brush under running water to get the heavy loose stuff off and to minimize rust dust in the air. I may then steel wool it the same way. It it still needs cleaning I will use a wire wheel on my bench grinder. A wire brush cup on a drill will also work. A final quick steel wool at the sink to clean any dust off and that's it. Dry it and lightly oil it.

BeardedSteve · Nov 12, 2015

Glad I asked. Sorry if it was a rookie question lol. I will try the steel wool under the sink approach. If they need more I may attempt mustard.

DarthTaco123 · Nov 12, 2015

I can take them off your hands Steve

Square_peg · Nov 12, 2015

BeardedSteve said:
So I am going to try and clean these 2 up. I see people suggest vinegar soaking to clean rust off...but where these have handles attached should I avoid that? Or does the vinegar soak not bother handles?

A brass wire cup brush on an angle grinder is the best way to clean an axe. It removes the rust and leaves the beautiful patina intact. Be sure to wear a dust mask plus eye and ear protection. Don't bear down hard or wires will go flying! Just take it easy and let the brush do its work.

Elted · Nov 13, 2015

Anyone want to help me Identify this embossing? Any help would be awesome. Thanks

Steve Tall · Nov 13, 2015

Elted said:
Anyone want to help me Identify this embossing?...

MW (in center, for Montgomery Ward)
LAKESIDE SPECIAL
HAND MADE

Notes:
The word "HAND" was apparent in the rubbing made of the stamp, which is commonly part of "HAND MADE".
A google image search for
embossed "hand made" axe
showed a similar one in the third row of results.

Elted · Nov 13, 2015

Thank you so much Steve! I've been trying to find this for weeks now. I could make out the "Hand Made" and I've googled everything i could think of. Ever since Tom at Yesteryearstools.com passed away I havent had a go to source for these types of knowledge.

Square_peg · Nov 13, 2015

You're amazing, Steve!

gben · Nov 14, 2015

I wonder if "Lakeside" was made in Erie, PA at the forge there that is still in business today....

Elted · Nov 16, 2015

Following Steve's Identification, I did a little research into it. According to http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showt...igan-Axe-Restore-Vintage-Wards-Master-Quality It was made as a proprietary design for Mongomery Ward (a former major competitor of Sears) by Mann Edge Tool Company from their foundry in Michigan. Mann Edge was the largest Ax Manufacturing company in the world at the turn of the twentieth century, and they often made numerous axes for a variety of distribution channels which bore the logos of said stores rather than anything relating to the forge.

300Six · Nov 16, 2015

Square_peg said:
You're amazing, Steve!

Myself, and no doubt many others here, are on side with that remark. Steve can literally pull rabbits out of a hat!

Steve Tall · Nov 16, 2015

Elted said:
...I've been trying to find this for weeks now. I could make out the "Hand Made" and I've googled everything i could think of...

300Six said:
...Steve can literally pull rabbits out of a hat!

As I've remarked elsewhere, "It's all in the search terms." It does take some trial and error with the search terms, which is essentially my "method". I don't have extensive knowledge about uncommon axe markings (for example, I've never heard of a Lakeside Special before), so anyone can do what I'm doing. I find that Google Images is useful for quickly scanning the search results. I tried a couple different combinations of search terms before I succeeded with:
embossed "hand made" axe
(as described in my earlier post).