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It followed me home (Part 2)
- Thread starter Steve Tall
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Hello all. Long time lurker. Picked up this today for $25
4lb Plumb rafter ? Construction axe ? Smooth hardened poll. 26in haft , no permabond.
Any significance to the 5 dots ? They are on both sides. Manufacture date pre 55 ?
Nice axe head. It is a constuction/miner's axe, and although the handle is ruined, is is a fantastic axe head. VERY versatile. If you want to keep it and use it, you paid a fair price. You can either replace the handle with a 28" straight HOUSE Handle to get it close to original, or a 36" handle if you want a good working axe for general use. It should be an awesome splitter, but get the longer handle for that use.
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Terrific axe!
I don't know if you've seen this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1305893-Miners-axe-rafting-axe-construction-axe
You could post it there as well. Square_peg's thread but it seems like a good place for them
Those marks look like they might have been user done- maybe with a punch? Adds character.
I don't know if you've seen this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1305893-Miners-axe-rafting-axe-construction-axe
You could post it there as well. Square_peg's thread but it seems like a good place for them
Those marks look like they might have been user done- maybe with a punch? Adds character.
Nice find MERCULA! $25 would have left my pocket in a jiffy for such a Plumb.
Certainly looks to be in great shape. No bashing or shrooming of the poll or eye and the toe of the blade isn't worn out of proportion to the rest of the blade. Likely to be the original handle as well. If there's no take-up screw wedges in there (or evidence of there ever being any) nor Permabond then we're talking 1943/44 to 1954 era of manufacture.
That handle is a classic and worthy of trying to duplicate (this is going to require a spokeshave, rasp, scraper, sandpaper, lots of patience etc) when you re-hang it.
The punch marks strike me (pun intended) as frivolous and are either owner ID or the doodles of someone trying out a center punch.
Certainly looks to be in great shape. No bashing or shrooming of the poll or eye and the toe of the blade isn't worn out of proportion to the rest of the blade. Likely to be the original handle as well. If there's no take-up screw wedges in there (or evidence of there ever being any) nor Permabond then we're talking 1943/44 to 1954 era of manufacture.
That handle is a classic and worthy of trying to duplicate (this is going to require a spokeshave, rasp, scraper, sandpaper, lots of patience etc) when you re-hang it.
The punch marks strike me (pun intended) as frivolous and are either owner ID or the doodles of someone trying out a center punch.
Again great to hear ! I didn't think twice as I don't have anything like this axe in my collection. I've seen already that Tennessee hickory has a miners handle in various lengths , that's the route I'm planning. I'll get the head cleaned up this week.
Im not sure what to do with this one. It appears to be GW Bradley brand. Mushrooming on the pole by the maker mark so removing it would be out of question. Handle altho in good shape with no craks has been damaged by someone overzelously puonding it on the fawns foot. Should I try and re use the handle? Anyone has one of these laying around. It has to be pretty old being the maker went out of business prior to WW 1. Any input would be appreciated.
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Some folks have mixed up epoxy-type wood fillers to fill or re-shape damaged wood. Since there are no structural stresses at the butt cosmetic fillers won't do any harm. A decorative coat of red or yellow paint after will even look proper plus hide the repair.
It is well worth (mandatory, as far as I'm concerned) pulling the handle off and having a real good look at the condition of the wood contained within the eye before you proceed with trying to re-hang and re-wedge. If it's punky or suspicious in any way do not re-use it. It's not uncommon for old handles to be rotted inside the eye from having been stored head first on moisture prone surfaces.
It is well worth (mandatory, as far as I'm concerned) pulling the handle off and having a real good look at the condition of the wood contained within the eye before you proceed with trying to re-hang and re-wedge. If it's punky or suspicious in any way do not re-use it. It's not uncommon for old handles to be rotted inside the eye from having been stored head first on moisture prone surfaces.
I have two GW Bradley axes, one is worn down with an old handmade handle obviously used for a long time and the other is a nice Broadaxe that wasn't used much. Excellent quality axes. If that axe was mine, I would remove the wedge, rasp and sand the damage and rehang. That has a good full bit and the mushrooming isn't too bad.
Square_peg
Gold Member
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Hello all. Long time lurker. Picked up this today for $25
4lb Plumb rafter ? Construction axe ? Smooth hardened poll. 26in haft , no permabond.
Any significance to the 5 dots ? They are on both sides. Manufacture date pre 55 ?
Great looking rafting axe! Hardly used. Definitely re-hang it. Short handle if for show. Long handle if for work. Any markings on the haft? It could be a replacement which would throw off the dating. My hunch is that it's an original haft and that the axe dates as 300Six suggested. Check inside the eye for any remaining epoxy. There's almost always some remaining if it ever had a PermaBond haft. If the eye is clean it's '55 or earlier.
Sunday's Finds,
Black axe 3lb 6.5oz no name after paint was removed and good haft to be re used
Hammer has a rosette stamp top can only read ville bottom tool works 1lb 3.9oz
Red axe 3lb 15.3oz stamp on bottom of poll(see pic below with out paint)
PLUMB Victory ball pien 2lb 9.9oz
no name cross pien beat to death but I'll find a use for it
All for 16$.
Black axe 3lb 6.5oz no name after paint was removed and good haft to be re used
Hammer has a rosette stamp top can only read ville bottom tool works 1lb 3.9oz
Red axe 3lb 15.3oz stamp on bottom of poll(see pic below with out paint)
PLUMB Victory ball pien 2lb 9.9oz
no name cross pien beat to death but I'll find a use for it
All for 16$.
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- Aug 28, 2010
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- 5,431
Maybe it's EVANSVILLE TOOL WORKS, which has links to American Fork & Hoe / True Temper.
Thanks Steve, must have missed it going through yesteryears tools web site was looking for a rosette stamp not so much the verbiage. Funny the stamp was not visible but the style was all I needed for me to pick it up.
This is the stamp.
Have you ever seen the stamp on the axe 6,9,or g?
This is the stamp.
Have you ever seen the stamp on the axe 6,9,or g?
Last edited:
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Today's haul. Cool old barn, lots of old stuff.
You may already know about the scraper - others maybe not. And I can't be certain from the picture if that scraper is a Stanley. FWIW from 1928 catalog page:
#82 Scraper, 14 1/2"L (12 1/2", 1934 on (12", 1941 on)), 3"W, 1 3/4"lbs 1907-1958.
- The advantage of a scraper of this design is that the blade can be adjustable to different angles, and the workman could bear down on it better than other designs.
- During the early 1930's, the tool was redesigned
- the tool is capable of holding blades of any width, making it useful for scraping into weird locations that aren't accessible by the other scrapers.
- The handle and knob are maple, and on the earliest examples they have a clear finish on them.
- A ferrule is situated at the juncture of the handle
- The cast iron portion of the plane is japanned, while the thumb screws are nickel plated.
Above from: "The Superior Works: Patrick's Blood and Gore Planes #71 - #87"
http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan10.htm
Bob