It followed me home (Part 2)

It seems like the Montgomery Ward axes are usually very ordinary or they're pretty interesting / special and that 1.5lb Michigan hatchet seems like it could put the GB sfa to shame in a heartbeat.
 
Rusty charms.

3lb Hewing hatchet/axe. It looks like it was sharpened on both sides of the bit. The slightly flattened ear at the top makes me think maybe someone got rough with it at one point. There is no maker’s stamp. If there had been one then it was long eaten away. One side is more pitted than the other, there is a small chip that can be worked out, and I don’t know how old it is but it seems like it would be a solid tool.


usDo7k3.png


tEkZDYr.jpg



The “cap” on the poll is what caught my eye. Guesses, impressions, explanations?
zSi8YLy.jpg


The eye seems larger as well. 3lbs and a grind like that… at what point does this pattern like become an axe more than a hatchet?

I might also be looking at it wrong.
It does need a handle and to be sharp – but they all seem to like that.
 
Last edited:
My guess is it was mushroomed over and cleaned up via cold hammering creating a false lip that bent over the original poll. I've had this happen on a smaller scale when using a peen hammer to clean up mushrooming in the attempt to preserve as much material as possible.
 
That's a forge welded hardened piece, I see that all the time on very old carpenter and hewing style heads. They are usually very thin, to the point where I think that they must have been for only light duty such as pounding a nail and never intended to be struck with another hammer. Your example looks like that area was overused. Overall the head looks decent, and perfectly good as a working tool.
 
252chevyboyz said:
Found an old Council Axe today for $3.00 and just couldn't pass it by. It has seen a lot use and may be a little beat up but hated to see it sitting there rusting in a bunch of old jumbled tools. So I picked it up and figured I'd see if I could help bring a few more years to its life. I took the wire wheel to get some of the rust off, washed it with Dawn, and then coated it with a light coat of oil.

I am not familiar with all the Council axes. Can anyone help with a make on this one? I can see that it is marked with "Something Pride". Any info would greatly be appreciated.

Also should I leave the edge as is with just a filing or should I try to even it out? I do plan on rehanging it.

-Rick
Click to expand...

Nice find! It says Pickett's Pride. I have one as well, and yours is the only other one I've seen. If you do a search for Pickett on the forum you'll see mine as well.
 
Today's lot. Both vises are big but the big one is a beastie.
The hewing head is a Winchester and looks like a NOS head, never used or even had a handle put on.

 
Today I was lucky enough to get 6 awesome handles. They are good because they are all straight and slim and uncommon sizes. Also I was able to hand select. The two 19" handles are birch I think, the others (24", 28", 32") are ash. I'm told that they are made buy a guy in Nova Scotia. I paid $56 for all 6. The almost unused Council boy's axe was $8 and the E&S Jersey was $5.

 
Last edited:
Forgot to get before pictures. This was all that came back with me today. I took some 1000 grit sand paper to wet sand it then polished with mother's. Anyone know how to get the scratches or near the edge? Would I need to sand it with 400-600 then work my up to fix those scratches?

Anyone have a clue on a possible maker? Says "tempered" on one side and has a "P" on the other.

f7e822b2e6e9f80290f5623534c1fdcb.jpg


e4e87fccdedfb3d8fe294d0d695dbc19.jpg


8f6d4855e62c27a3b43c88f6bd4426bf.jpg


T2 Tappin'
 
I stopped by Red Pig Tools (local blacksmith) to pick up a “Bigger Holeabout” as a gift for my mother. She does a lot of gardening/transplanting and likes his work.

6hBeyuo.png


kxjFKJ0.jpg


5ac17kO.jpg


U2CUqbd.png


These were new additions in the back of the barn (didn’t follow me home):

AJt6r1P.jpg


Chopper1 inspired at least. They all seem to be possibly aftermarket painted. I didn’t get to ask him about them but if this is on your wish list there are more than a couple…

peBfgQC.jpg
 
Last edited:
252chevyboyz said:
Forgot to get before pictures. This was all that came back with me today. I took some 1000 grit sand paper to wet sand it then polished with mother's. Anyone know how to get the scratches or near the edge? Would I need to sand it with 400-600 then work my up to fix those scratches?

Anyone have a clue on a possible maker? Says "tempered" on one side and has a "P" on the other.

f7e822b2e6e9f80290f5623534c1fdcb.jpg


e4e87fccdedfb3d8fe294d0d695dbc19.jpg


8f6d4855e62c27a3b43c88f6bd4426bf.jpg


T2 Tappin'
Click to expand...

When you sharpen a good part of that will be taken care of I imagine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top