It followed me home (Part 2)

I'm looking at the head and I see the hardening line as plain as day. The vertical line to the right of the #60 runs right into it.

the5farrs said:


Its definitely a rafting pattern. Square_Peg you are probably right about the poll being hardened. I'll try the file trick.
Click to expand...
 
jblyttle said:
I thought that I would share the fence post/tree limb axe that I picked up today complete with knots before I cut it off. The axe head is stamped with a bunch of words that I have not tried to decipher yet, but they include "Boston" and Cast Steel". They must have had different handling ideas way back when. ;) Total tool weight may be the heaviest that I have picked up yet, more than some large fire axes.


Click to expand...

JB,
I really like the fact that someone made a handle with what they had available
I picked these up a few weeks ago, I dont know if you can make out the handles, made from some 3x1 :)
 
Liberatus1


I'm looking at the head and I see the hardening line as plain as day. The vertical line to the right of the #60 runs right into it.
Click to expand...

You are right, I see it now that you pointed it out.

Thanks
 
Sparky415 said:
JB,
I really like the fact that someone made a handle with what they had available
I picked these up a few weeks ago, I dont know if you can make out the handles, made from some 3x1 :)
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, I just bet that they could have found a smaller limb!

Lol on the board axes, I've found one of this before too.
 
We headed to the coast to visit the folks and stopped at an "antique" store. My wife is a good sport and has an eye now for the kinds of tools/ whatnot that I look for. I actually think she has developed the skill to get me in and out of a place quicker lol. Picked up some other goodies as well.

Anyway, she found this in a corner:
nFj8BOH.jpg


spldAzy.jpg


f2K9KcU.jpg


I changed the exposure to pick up the mark- Genuine Norlund. Kind of fun. It has phantom bevels- haven't seen that before. I do have another Norlund that I can't name the pattern on but does have an interesting poll.

m7Ptkqk.jpg


Any ideas on this one would totally be appreciated. The handle looks cut off maybe?
 
Last edited:
I can help! That is a Norlund Logsplitter model, I found one late this past summer (just the head), a local machinist was using it as a shim. Nice find! I think that they are pretty uncommon.



 
Thanks Jb! It needs work done before revival. The handle has some over strike damage. Not sure if it's salvagable but it would be nice. The other (few) pics I could find look very similar.

If a new one is required, I'm debating a straight handle like the other Norlund I have here. I have a nice axe eye maul that might be modified. Curved handle seems to stray from the original but would work as well I guess.
 
If there is an antique dealer near you that deals more with "vintage" cool old things and less with "fine" antiques that gets shown a lot of stuff, make friends with them. If they know what you are after and normally pass on these things they will keep a lookout for you and this can happen. You will pay more than estate sale/garage sale prices but will still get a fantastic bargain. While maybe higher than my last few ungodly scores, this at $122 plus two items in trade that I didn't want is still awesome.



2 old drawknives
3lb Warren-Teed knapping hammer
As yet unidentified cool old style mason hammer
Whalebone stamped blacksmith punch
A 12lb rock smashing hammer head, can't make out the maker yet but I see the mark
An awesome ship builder's adze head marked Libby & Bolton Portland ME
Plumb camp hatchet perfect Permabond
Beautiful 2lb head, I see the words but have not uncovered them yet
Very nice Plumb hatchet head, original but poorer handle
A gorgeous 2lb head that looks hand made
A really nice Plumb Dayton on a good handle
A really nice old beveled head on an awesome old handle (shape, condition is so-so)
A great find, and very nice B&D Special Warrented (mounted upside down)
Another unidentified old Dayton head in OK shape on another perfectly shaped old handle
A True Temper Flint Edge Kelly Perfect Connecticut
Another OLD hand made beveled Dayton that came with what looks like an elephant skin sheath
Another good Dayton head as yet unidentified
 
Last edited:
I'm looking at the knob on the connie in the middle. That's unusual. The one above it is interesting, too. More candidates for duplication.
 
There is a guy 10 minutes from me in the next town whom I have not yet met but am dying to. He sells by appointment only and I left a message with his wife for him to call me when he is feeling up to it. He is an 82 year old collector and occasional seller that I have to wait meeting because he is going through chemo treatment and is not feeling well. I'm respecting that and and am not stalking him. However...he knows several of the antique shop owners and they have been buying from him for years. He has a barn that I have not seen the inside of, but more than one dealer has told me that he has everything. Many anvils large and small, rare historic farm equipment, one of a kind stuff. One dealer told me that he an estimated 500 axes in a pile, and 1-2 million dollars worth of stuff in the barn. Most of the axes can't be seen or moved until the ones on top of them are removed. That many, and this guy does not collect garbage. Due to his age and his health, he is talking with the dealers about having them broker selling his stuff off to provide for his wife when he is gone. They get a cut, he gets decent value. Can you understand the potential here? A pile of rusty axes is of small consequence to most of these dealers, there is big stuff in there. I'm trying to get in as a buyer, and if not more than one dealer will sell me as many as I can take. This is once in a lifetime stuff, to the point where I may be able to take orders for specific requests from anybody that wants something. Connecticuts, Jerseys, anything you want is in there and probably in great shape. I'm dying over here.
 
Another good day. Great axe finds including a Winchester miner's axe, a Jersey head, a small hand forged pick, and other good things. Also a huge old tool chest LOADED with stuff including 17 Buck Bros and Charles Buck chisels of various sizes including some HUGE ones.




The two standout items are two rare old axe heads both in super shape. One is a 3lb head marked H&B Mfg co Waterville ME. Hubbard and Blake I believe, made between 1862-1889. The other is a 2.5lb beveled boy's head marked NIAGARA MANHATTAN AXE CO.





 
Last edited:
I think it IS Hubbard and Blake, here's mine I got last year, I have an article I was reading about the History of Hubbard and Blake with references to stampings. I'll try to find the article.

-Edit-
Yours may be from after their acquisition by AAT&CO.
image-12.jpg

image-13.jpg

image-14.jpg
 
Got this yesterday in a store for $3. A very nice, Collins Legitimus Connecticut, 3.25lbs.




Big estate sale this morning, huge old property with workbenches in the basement, tool heaven and landscape tools in the garage, and separate carriage house with even more tools galore. I'm hoping for axes/anvils/vises/lots of big hammers related to horse care. High hopes, high hopes!

Well that was a bust. It was misrepresented, not much there at all. I got a 10lb Woodings Verona 91 sledge in great shape for $5. Nothing else. Not that it was overpriced, there was just nothing.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top