It followed me home (Part 2)

Hello! This is my first post on this forum as well as my first axe restoration project. I've been looking around for some axe heads within the past week or so and I finally found one today and I'm pretty excited. So, I found this today at my local flea market for $5. It's in pretty good condition, so I thought I'd pick it up for the hell of it to mess around with. I cant find any stamping or anything on it. Maybe somebody can identify it? Hopefully after I soak it to get the rust off something will come up as far as markings.


Here's some photos:

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mkygd3 said:
Hello! This is my first post on this forum as well as my first axe restoration project. I've been looking around for some axe heads within the past week or so and I finally found one today and I'm pretty excited. So, I found this today at my local flea market for $5. It's in pretty good condition, so I thought I'd pick it up for the hell of it to mess around with. I cant find any stamping or anything on it. Maybe somebody can identify it? Hopefully after I soak it to get the rust off something will come up as far as markings.
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My guess is a hardware store Michigan head made by True Temper. It is likely a quality head. Great for $5, and a great base for a first restoration. The edge needs work but is perfectly fixable and the rest looks good.
 
jblyttle said:
My guess is a hardware store Michigan head made by True Temper. It is likely a quality head. Great for $5, and a great base for a first restoration. The edge needs work but is perfectly fixable and the rest looks good.
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You made a good haul JB, can't wait to see what you are going to find when picking season begins.
 
MK, Like JB say's its probably a TrueTemper but Collins, Vaughn and maybe others made axes with ridges in the eye. They are all good American made axes. Apparently ridges in the eye was to technical for the " Made in China" imports. ;)
 
garry3 said:
MK, Like JB say's its probably a TrueTemper but Collins, Vaughn and maybe others made axes with ridges in the eye. They are all good American made axes. Apparently ridges in the eye was to technical for the " Made in China" imports. ;)
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I'm inclined to believe that eye ridges and phantom bevels were US industry's way of showing off improvements in method of manufacture compared to the old traditional ways of forging axe heads. If you watch the videos of the making of current Swedish boutique axes you'll see that they would not be able to do this.
 
Awesome! Thanks for the info. I'm currently soaking it for a few days to get the rust off. How should I go about hanging it? Buy a new and already made handle or have a go at making my own? I have access to all of the tools that I need to make one.
 
If you have the tools and the lumber, why not give it a go and make your own haft. Don't forget to let us see!
 
jblyttle said:
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.
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I would love to get ahold of a 2 1/4 pound Norlund Hudson Bay shape that I didn't have to second mortgage my house for.
 
Curt Hal said:
I would love to get ahold of a 2 1/4 pound Norlund Hudson Bay shape that I didn't have to second mortgage my house for.
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That guy passed away s couple of weeks ago. Sorry I did not get a chance to meet him. It does mean, however, that the contents should open up and become available as it warms a bit and the snow melts a bit. Good news is the guy who will likely be involved with selling off the contents knows me and has told me that he is happy to sell me all of the axes. We will see, but I'm hoping for great things. This was an old collector. I'm expecting lots of locally produced stuff, good imports, American axes of all types and lots of Maine axes. Cross fingers everyone.
 
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This was the mystery Connecticut that followed me home in the last batch. I cleaned is as little as possible to maintain the patina but expose the maker's mark. Turns out that it looks to be an E&S MFG Co 3.5lb Connecticut. I have never seen one before, only wedges and a double bit cruiser wedge. Pretty coo I think, and nearly perfect but for a tiny chip.



 
These followed me home today, but they are are only the smallest part. The main course is still to come.

A very old carpenter hatchet, two 4 and 6 pound hammer heads, A Warren large camp axe, a hand made old hewing axe head, a True Temper Tommy Axe, and a 2lb Atha sledge. I love this stuff.

 
To be honest, these found me rather than the usual other way around. A fellow forum member who lives close to me contacted me to see if I wanted to help him pare down his collection. He picks somewhat like me, but is more interested in the finer pieces and perhaps not all of the common everyday stuff. This was a different kind of seller, so I paid more than I normally have to, but the prices were more than fair and we were both happy with the deal. I know his name but not his forum ID, so I will let him ID himself if wants to. I will only say thank you for the opportunity to pick up so many nice things at once, it saves a ton of looking and driving, and many of these will likely find homes with fellow forum members and axe enthusiasts. Salut!



In this collection from top left going down are: Stanley carpenter hatchet head, A Collins Homestead Dayton, a Collins Legitimus Connecticut, a Millers Falls head, a hatchet marked US, and nice big straight pein hammer, a Plumb BSA hatchet head, a True Temper Dayton, a Kelly Flint edge, A Flint Edge Connecticut axe, a Plumb Connecticut axe, a Collins Legitimus axe, another Collins Legitimus axe, a Collins Legitimus Dayton head, a Craftsman hatchet, an American Axe & Tool hatchet, a Plumb Dayton head, a SIDAXWORTHY carpenter hatchet head, a Plumb Connecticut head, a Flint Edge Connecticut head, a Plumb Jersey head, a Flint Edge boy's axe head, A Kelly Woodslasher boy's axe head and finally a Plumb boy's axe head.
 
I am looking for something to gift to a friend. The small axe two to the right of the hatchet handle, or the head just above the hatchet handle look like good possibilities. If you are interested in parting with them, let me know. I will send you my email address. *** Is that allowed on this site? I don't want to break any rules here. ***
 
Curt Hal said:
I am looking for something to gift to a friend. The small axe two to the right of the hatchet handle, or the head just above the hatchet handle look like good possibilities. If you are interested in parting with them, let me know. I will send you my email address. *** Is that allowed on this site? I don't want to break any rules here. ***
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You picked a nicer one than you know, I think. It is an American Axe & Tool large hatchet, unbelievable condition. Not my work, but rehandled and finished by the previous owner and forum member. He did quite nice work, it is excellent. No really, head and handle are REALLY nice. Maybe I have something good but not that good for your friend and you will keep this? :D I can't hawk stuff here, but you can ask. I should just get a gold membership to take any question away, but haven' had the time. I think that I will just do it. Anyway, send me a note.
 
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