It followed me home (Part 2)

Lucky! You better put it back on the handle, sharpen it, and tell us how it chops! That fancy of an embossing's gotta be for a reason!
 
Thanks guys. Oh it wasn't luck... believe me. Cost me a rib it did. But i figured if anything they'll just get more expensive so i might as well pull the trigger on it. I'm going to file an 18°-20° radial grind on it and call it good. Not sure I'll be using this one all that much. I may save that haft for a different head that will get used. Unless i find out Kelly DID sell axes with a metal cap wedge in which case I'll know it is the original handle and I'll keep em together in that case.
 
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Never heard of Kelly useing a cap wedge.All the original handles I have had a shelf under the head where it was pressed on.Think I remember reading they cost the same as a flint edge,never saw options in the old catalogs for anything but handle length.
 
junkenstien said:
Never heard of Kelly useing a cap wedge.All the original handles I have had a shelf under the head where it was pressed on.Think I remember reading they cost the same as a flint edge,never saw options in the old catalogs for anything but handle length.
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I don't recall them coming with the steel cap wedges either. Then again i never bought one new! The shelf is present. And the fact that the fawns foot has no damage at all tends toward it being a factory hang i think. It's a 31"haft. I've got time to figure it out as I'm drying the tongue out by leaving it in the rush of hot air from the wood stove.
 
The previous or original owner could have bought a cap wedge and just put it on the original handle right? Even if it isn’t the exact factory handle it is definetly a period handle. I would leave it on there but it is yours my friend! Great job pulling the trigger!!
 
I was thinking original but refit. That could explain the wedge too. Still whoever did it managed it with absolutely NO damage to the swell. Definitely a period haft but it's so nice I hate to permanently affix it to an axe I'm probably not going to use.
I wanted to add that upon closer inspection i still can just barely see the 32 on the poll. Nice to know what it started as at least.
 
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Yankee Josh said:
Got it guys. Love it!
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I've since removed it from the haft. They really don't make handles like this anymore. Well evidently some folks are and i think that's awesome! View attachment 1080658
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The head weighs #3-9.4oz. It has a number 7 encircled under the poll. Still has some original black paint in the eye and some in other places too. Did ravens, or any Kellys for that matter, come from the factory with metal cap wedges? I thought this might be the original haft but it did have a cap wedge. Sucker was hard to get out! View attachment 1080667
Anyhow thanks for looking. I'm stoked!
I forgot to add that it is welded with an overcoat bit. Wish i know when AF&H switched to mono steel axes. That would at least place this one between 1930 and 19??
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Hey, could I borrow that? I got a couple stumps to dig out..... ;)
 
Square_peg said:
I'd leave it alone. Why risk reducing the value? They've become too valuable to ever swing.
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I'm not sure i can help myself! I basically bought it to look at and if it's not ready to work it just doesn't look right! It's missing about 3/16" evenly across the bit already plus the chip off the heel. Maybe I'll just do a 35 or 40 degree. I feel like being properly sharpened should increase its value even though i know that's not the case. All that notwithstanding If I were a betting man I'd put money that it gets sharpened... it's not like a REAL relic you know?! Square Peg do you know when Kelly(AF&H) switched to mono steel axes?
 
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I recall that Flint edge and black Raven were the same cost originally as well.

What exactly is the difference, apart from the branding? Same steel and fit and finish? Commercially branded vs. consumer branded?
 
Yankee Josh said:
Square Peg do you know when Kelly(AF&H) switched to mono steel axes?
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I do not. My guess would be pre-WWII.

Fmont said:
I recall that Flint edge and black Raven were the same cost originally as well.
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Yes, in the old catalogs that were posted here Flint Edges and Black Ravens were the same cost. One would suppose they are materially the same - just different marketing. Then again maybe the Raven stamp cost more to make and they skimped elsewhere?

The 1957 TT catalog lists everything as being made from single bars of steel, even the Woodslashers. Also, there are no Black Ravens offered by 1957, still before eye ridges were made.

1913 catalogs show Flint Edges and Black Ravens were the same cost. They are even grouped together in one ad. I'll get pics up tonight to tomorrow.
 
So between '30 and '39 for AF&H Kellys with overlaid bits. I think that's a fair summation till concrete data is available. Could we call it a rule? For now at least. Things like that help un-muddy the waters a bit. I was comparing it to my mint Kelly Perfect last night and to all appearances they look the same. Maybe it was a different class of worker finishing them? I know appearances don't mean a whole lot but the steel looks and feels identical.
 
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I bought these from a guy that was visiting a scrap yard. One is a Plumb the other dB is a kelly with the bevels and the boys ax is a firestone. I almost left the boys axe because it was so rusty but I could see the convex shape so I got it. After cleaning it up I was very happy. It is the first time I have ever found a firestone axe. Thanks for looking!

Oh yes and two perfect handle screwdrivers from the scrap yard. One is in mint condition. The other is in mint condition other than one grip got scorched by something. The third is a made in German perfect handle style screwdriver.
 
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