Recommendation? Imperial hatchet?

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Desert_Fox

Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
36
Hello. I’m new to the forum here. I collect knives, tomahawks, hatchets, and axes. This year I’ve been drawn to WWII era knives and started to get into hatchets/axes. Recently I purchased a hatchet from a flea marked with an Imperial makers mark or brand marking on the head. It has a wooden handle. I sanded it down and cleaned it up and refinished the handle. I’ve tried finding information on this hatchet but have had no luck. I’ve spent a fair amount of time looking. I’m wondering and hoping that one of you can tell me some information on this hatchet or point me in the right direction! I am going to try to include pictures.Thanks a lot.
https://imgur.com/gallery/8WwUk4O


Also here is my Cold steel Weeping heart tomahawk that I did some mods to. Any feedback would be appreciated thanks!
 
Desert_Fox said:
Hello. I’m new to the forum here. I collect knives, tomahawks, hatchets, and axes. This year I’ve been drawn to WWII era knives and started to get into hatchets/axes. Recently I purchased a hatchet from a flea marked with an Imperial makers mark or brand marking on the head. It has a wooden handle. I sanded it down and cleaned it up and refinished the handle. I’ve tried finding information on this hatchet but have had no luck. I’ve spent a fair amount of time looking. I’m wondering and hoping that one of you can tell me some information on this hatchet or point me in the right direction! I am going to try to include pictures.Thanks a lot.
https://imgur.com/gallery/8WwUk4O


Also here is my Cold steel Weeping heart tomahawk that I did some mods to. Any feedback would be appreciated thanks!
Click to expand...
Welcome to forum. How far are from Keokuk, Ia?
There was Weber Hardware Co that sold Weber's Imperial Axes

There were also Imperial All Steel axes with Great Seal of The State of California etchings (I do not know who sold those)
 
I got it in SW Michigan about a week ago. It had a nice patina and some rust on it before I sanded it. Looked to have some age to the head forsure . I haven’t found any like it online. Thanks.
 
Desert_Fox said:
I got it in SW Michigan about a week ago. It had a nice patina and some rust on it before I sanded it. Looked to have some age to the head forsure . I haven’t found any like it online. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Some Imperial hatchets were produced by Kelly/TT, but it does not necessarily mean yours was produced in Charleston, WV.
vtg-imperial-bench-hatchet-head-axe_1_38c37329542dfa4cab8e5ac37ffd120c.jpg

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vtg-imperial-bench-hatchet-head-axe-1887088375
 
Hmm interesting that would be nice. The marking/stamp does look similar to the one on the link. Thanks.
 
Maybe I'm wrong, but I belive this came with one of the Imperial " Big 3 huntn' & Fishn' " sets.
They were a smaller 1lb head hatchet that looks quite a bit like this.

Most common are the " hatchets " which were made by imperial themselves and are really just a hatchet shaped knife if you ask me and pretty much only good for game processing. (I actually have no clue where mine currently is)

The " big 3 " came with a real hatchet like this then the H6 belt knife and Kamp-King scout knife.

My phone wont let me download my of the very few pictures I can find online, so I can't paste one here but you can Google it.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Maybe I'm wrong, but I belive this came with one of the Imperial " Big 3 huntn' & Fishn' " sets.
They were a smaller 1lb head hatchet that looks quite a bit like this.



Most common are the " hatchets " which were made by imperial themselves and are really just a hatchet shaped knife if you ask me and pretty much only good for game processing. (I actually have no clue where mine currently is)

The " big 3 " came with a real hatchet like this then the H6 belt knife and Kamp-King scout knife.

My phone wont let me download my of the very few pictures I can find online, so I can't paste one here but you can Google it.
Click to expand...


Very interesting. I was just able to find a picture searching for the Imperial big 3 set but the hatchet has the sheath on in the original box. When I first got it I was thinking it could be Imperial knife company. This is good evidence, I will try to find a picture of the head. Thanks.
 
Desert_Fox said:
Very interesting. I was just able to find a picture searching for the Imperial big 3 set but the hatchet has the sheath on in the original box. When I first got it I was thinking it could be Imperial knife company. This is good evidence, I will try to find a picture of the head. Thanks.
Click to expand...

There are two pictures on Google from an old Ebay listing which show it without the sheath, but it's laying in the box and you can't see it very well.

Did the handle have evidence of a white-ish paint on it before you sanded it down ?
 
Hickory n steel said:
There are two pictures on Google from an old Ebay listing which show it without the sheath, but it's laying in the box and you can't see it very well.

Did the handle have evidence of a white-ish paint on it before you sanded it down ?
Click to expand...

I can’t say for sure because I don’t quite remember but I don’t think so. I cleaned up and refinished a dozen tools around the same time. It’s been a new hobby for me. I wouldn’t be surprised though if the handle was refinished or replaced before I got it. I did get it from a local flea market and not a collector.
 
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