It followed me home (Part 2)

[300Six]

Thank you Steve. You'd need deep pockets and oodles of storage space if 'True Temper' variations was the object of a comprehensive axe collection.

 

[Steve Tall]

...So this axe just has true temper black prince on it and nothing else. I am going to clean it tonight to see if there are any other markings. If it was a Welland Vale would that be also on the head somewhere? Were True Temper black princes made in the states aswell?

Here's an example of a double bit axe with True Temper Black Prince stamped on one side, and Welland Vale is supposedly stamped on the other side (so that's a good place to look for it):

From the listing: "...It has "TRUE TEMPER BLACK PRINCE" on one side and "WELLAND VALE" on the other side, t are no other markings on this head."

All of the old ads I've seen online for Black Prince axes are from Canada, and I've seen no mentions of True Temper using that brand for its US-produced axes. The USPTO comes up with nothing regarding Black Prince being registered as an axe trademark in the US, while the WIPO Global Brand Database lists Black Prince as an axe trademark "Used in CANADA since March 31, 1875" by "THE WELLAND VALE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ST. CATHERINES".

So, there are no guarantees, but I would bet that the True Temper Black Prince axes were all made in Canada, even if there is no evidence of a Welland Vale stamp.

 

[Wake31]

Well, thanks so so much for the info!!!! I got home and headed right to the shop. I did s quick cleaning and found the Welland Vale stamp on the other side of the head. I'm going to clean it up, sharpen it and carve a new handle for her! I'll post some pics of the black prince and puget sound pattern! Thanks again!

 

[rbeggs]

Finally got a chance to feed my axe addiction again this weekend, been busy for a month or two. Got two nice Plumb single bits, a bluegrass single bit and a very pitted but nice double bit that I've never seen in Arkansas before.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Here's that li'l National. The handle is obviously not original and will be getting replaced. Seller did some sort of hack-job "restoration" work to it but nothing damaging. It's intended as a user anyhow, and the price was right.

 

[Hacked]

Here's that li'l National. The handle is obviously not original and will be getting replaced. Seller did some sort of hack-job "restoration" work to it but nothing damaging. It's intended as a user anyhow, and the price was right.

Definitely not the original handle, but the head seems to be in rather good shape. I'd certainly be happy with it.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It'll be going on a long handle.

 

[SC T100]

Deleted - Double post

 

[SC T100]

Stopped in the local junk shop this morning and picked up a few double bits, 1 Kelly cruiser, 1 True temper cruiser and a puget sound pattern ( Unnamed ).
The true temper says " True Temper with the words Black ???NCE under true temper. Can any one fill in the question marks for me?

Nice finds! Did you weight the heads? I only ask as those two look bigger than most cruisers, especially compared to the Puget Sounder there which tend to be large. If they are 2.25-lbs or so they are cruisers. Anything else is a full-sizer. Either way you have some great axes that have a lot of life left.

 

[Square_peg]

Finally got a chance to feed my axe addiction again this weekend, been busy for a month or two. Got two nice Plumb single bits, a bluegrass single bit and a very pitted but nice double bit that I've never seen in Arkansas before.

The double bit is a well-used Puget Sound Falling Axe and it's a long way from home.

 

[rbeggs]

The double bit is a well-used Puget Sound Falling Axe and it's a long way from home.

I kind thought that's what that one was and I don't know how it got so far south but it's cool.

 

[300Six]

Here's that li'l National. The handle is obviously not original and will be getting replaced. Seller did some sort of hack-job "restoration" work to it but nothing damaging. It's intended as a user anyhow, and the price was right.

With a generous poll that is supposedly built for pounding with I don't think that hammer handle (namely any version of a straight haft) looks out of place at all. I can't confirm the timeframe but I suspect that Nationals were discontinued at about the same time that Ames took over the Plumb operations in the early 1970s.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The handle that came on it had obviously come from some kind of eared hatchet. Still had the impressions in the wood and everything.

 

[Wake31]

Sorry for this post

 

[Wake31]

Nice finds! Did you weight the heads? I only ask as those two look bigger than most cruisers, especially compared to the Puget Sounder there which tend to be large. If they are 2.25-lbs or so they are cruisers. Anything else is a full-sizer. Either way you have some great axes that have a lot of life left.

Ya the true temper is a full size black prince Welland Vale but the other Kelly is at the top end of a cruiser / full size. I haven't weighed it yet but I think it's under 3 lbs. I have one little cruiser in my collection and the Kelly is a bit larger. A good buddy of mine was looking for a cruiser and is planning to put a shorter haft on it and use it. I cleaned up the true temper and carving a new haft for her. I'll post when she's done. On a side note, I have a pile of axes that need new hafts but not special enough to carve new ones. Where is the best place to find good quality blanks to make my own and handle those heads?

 

[Wake31]

Finally got a chance to feed my axe addiction again this weekend, been busy for a month or two. Got two nice Plumb single bits, a bluegrass single bit and a very pitted but nice double bit that I've never seen in Arkansas before.

So jealous of the jersey patterns!!!! Can never find one up here!!!! I live on a small island in the pacific northwest and they are just no where to be found!!!

 

[Steve Tall]

...Where is the best place to find good quality blanks to make my own and handle those heads?

House Handle has sold hickory blanks upon request:

... I ended up turning to my previous supplier of tool handles, House Handles. I sent them an email about possibly buying blanks to make my own handles and they shot me back with the dimensions (1 ½” x 3 ¼” x 36” though most are closer to 38-40") and a very reasonable cost (I'd state it here, but since its not an item they openly sell I'll just suggest you email them for a price quote if you're interested). I also opted to pay $2 extra per blank to get premium, hand selected grain orientation. I ended up getting 7, of which I've already used 1 and a half (the 31" for the Keen Kutter and a 21" for the Plumb). While the price is great, do remember that the blanks are large in dimension as well as being quite heavy. The shipping did end up stinging just a tad...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1162753-My-favorite-axe-fun-usage-and-its-reprofiling-journey/page2?p=13329262#post13329262

 

[rbeggs]

So jealous of the jersey patterns!!!! Can never find one up here!!!! I live on a small island in the pacific northwest and they are just no where to be found!!!

Actually they are few and far between here too, in fact this may be the first one I've found, it's mostly Michigan's around here.

 

[RICKOFF]

From last weekend what I think is an unstamped Plum maybe paper label with permabond, Craftsman 2# that looks to be forged. I'm thinking of using the same haft on it which is stamped "HARTWOOD".

 

[jblyttle]

Actually they are few and far between here too, in fact this may be the first one I've found, it's mostly Michigan's around here.

Not too uncommon here in the Northeast. I have some if people are looking.