It followed me home (Part 2)

garry3 · May 20, 2015

Here is the Plumb all cleaned up. It was some work getting that olive drab paint off the handle.
Cleaned up very well I think.
I suspect it has never been re- sharpened or maybe even used. It is stamped 4-2 on the poll.
So it is 4 1/2 lbs on a 30" haft.

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jblyttle · May 20, 2015

What a beauty. Congrats on the find.

stevewest · May 20, 2015

One of the better looking axes that I have seen on the forum. Beautiful.

Bridger · May 20, 2015

jblyttle said:
Strangely enough a whole lot of them will be available soon very inexpensively.

I've added you on eBay recently. VERY fair pricing indeed! It's refreshing in the age of the hipster axe fad. I'm glad I got into axes before the madness started, but I wish I would have gotten into it a few years ago.

Square_peg · May 20, 2015

rjdankert said:
That is interesting, thanks for posting. I've never seen or heard of a killing axe. Wonder why they didn't put a straight handle on them like a DB or Pulaski?

They were originally called Hammer Poll Axes. But when they become popular with the slaughter houses they got marketed accordingly.

Square_peg · May 21, 2015

Samon said:
My bad! I must have mistaken this thread for another one..

Sorry!

Sorry for bustin' your balls over it. I had a rough day yesterday.

Love cast iron.

Agent_H · May 21, 2015

Garry- that is a svelt mix of wood and steel! Not sure if I've come across anything with the weight marked on the face of the poll. Did you scrape or use chemicals to remove the green paint?

Samon · May 21, 2015

garry3 said:
Here is the Plumb all cleaned up. It was some work getting that olive drab paint off the handle.
Cleaned up very well I think.
I suspect it has never been re- sharpened or maybe even used. It is stamped 4-2 on the poll.
So it is 4 1/2 lbs on a 30" haft.

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Ticks all the right boxes, does that.

Beautiful axe and smashing job you've done there. Give us a run down on how it performs in the bushes, pleeeeease!?

Axe Master '94 · May 22, 2015

I've not found a hardened poll under 4# (I don't think) as far as axes are concerned, but I've found a good number of large (2#) half hatchets with fully hardened octagon polls.

-Peg; that killing axe is a beauty. It's a shame there aren't too many left of that pattern.

-Garry; that big ol' Plumb is gorgeous!

Square_peg · May 22, 2015

garry3 said:
Here is the Plumb all cleaned up. It was some work getting that olive drab paint off the handle.
Cleaned up very well I think.
I suspect it has never been re- sharpened or maybe even used. It is stamped 4-2 on the poll.
So it is 4 1/2 lbs on a 30" haft.

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That's one of the best looking axes I've ever seen. Everything about it, head, haft, hang. It's just screaming to chop.

garry3 · May 23, 2015

Agent_H said:
Garry- that is a svelt mix of wood and steel! Not sure if I've come across anything with the weight marked on the face of the poll. Did you scrape or use chemicals to remove the green paint?

Paint remover. Apparently them Plumb handles are stained red. I think it will go back to more of a red with a coat of oil on it.

Thank you guys for your kind words on the Plumb, not sure I can bring myself to use it. It might end up on that auction site.

I do on occasion pick up a brush axe. I know they are not all that popular and I leave most of them alone but sometimes I come across one that is a little different and priced right I just can't say no.
This is the smallest one I have seen. It's under 3lbs with that piece of handle still attached. The forged welded strap is done opposite of what I normally see, inserted into the axe. I have not seen the stamp before either. Any one know anything about this stamp? Its for sure a new one for me.

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Heres a picture of the forge welded strap. Its strange but seems to be a solid way to do it.

Square_peg · May 23, 2015

New to me. Cool!

Steve Tall · May 23, 2015

garry3 said:
...I have not seen the stamp before either. Any one know anything about this stamp? Its for sure a new one for me.

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Here's an 1890 reference to a C.A. Maynard hoe and shovel factory in Hampshire County, Mass. (probably Northampton). Interesting to read that "The factory is always running full, turns out the highest priced goods in America, and gives the most value for their cost.

from Picturesque Hampshire: a supplement to the quarter-centennial [edition of The Hampshire County] journal, by Charles Forbes Warner; Wade, Warner, 1890, page 104

rbeggs · May 23, 2015

garry3 said:
Here is the Plumb all cleaned up. It was some work getting that olive drab paint off the handle.
Cleaned up very well I think.
I suspect it has never been re- sharpened or maybe even used. It is stamped 4-2 on the poll.

Plumb's are becoming my favorite and that is a beautiful one! Is it Australian or a racing axe maybe?

garry3 · May 23, 2015

rbeggs said:
garry3 said:

Here is the Plumb all cleaned up. It was some work getting that olive drab paint off the handle.
Cleaned up very well I think.
I suspect it has never been re- sharpened or maybe even used. It is stamped 4-2 on the poll.

Plumb's are becoming my favorite and that is a beautiful one! Is it Australian or a racing axe maybe?

Click to expand...

Yes, I am thinking it might have been sold here as their racing axe. Its an early one also of two piece construction. There is a line about half way between the bit and the temper line.

I am with you on the Plumbs, some of the best head geometry's, steel and heat treat. I was cleaning up some vintage axes just the other day, Flint Edges, Legitimus, Perfects ect, and ran into a plain jane Plumb bow tie pattern that resisted NOS Simmons and Nicholson files, a new modern swiss file was what I finally found that was hard enough to cut it. Axes can be to hard but I will take that over to soft most of the time. I was cleaning heads up for that auction site. That Plumb found its way into my keeper box.

garry3 · May 23, 2015

Steve Tall said:
Here's an 1890 reference to a C.A. Maynard hoe and shovel factory in Hampshire County, Mass. (probably Northampton). Interesting to read that "The factory is always running full, turns out the highest priced goods in America, and gives the most value for their cost.

from Picturesque Hampshire: a supplement to the quarter-centennial [edition of The Hampshire County] journal, by Charles Forbes Warner; Wade, Warner, 1890, page 104

Steve, you are amazing! As always your efforts are very much appreciated my friend.

jblyttle · May 23, 2015

A noteworthy find- this is one in that huge lot that I brought home last weekend. It is a Kelly (a REAL Kelly) stamped Alexandria Indiana USA ans is from between 1897-1904. Aside from some poll mushrooming it's in terrific shape. It's a 4lb Jersey head.

Square_peg · May 23, 2015

That's amazing, JB.

garry3 · May 24, 2015

Jb, nice find. In pretty good condition also. When I get a few rusty heads I am like a kid at Christmas, just can't wait to see what's hidden under that rust and dirt.

quinton · May 24, 2015

garry3 said:
rbeggs said:

Yes, I am thinking it might have been sold here as their racing axe. Its an early one also of two piece construction. There is a line about half way between the bit and the temper line.

I am with you on the Plumbs, some of the best head geometry's, steel and heat treat. I was cleaning up some vintage axes just the other day, Flint Edges, Legitimus, Perfects ect, and ran into a plain jane Plumb bow tie pattern that resisted NOS Simmons and Nicholson files, a new modern swiss file was what I finally found that was hard enough to cut it. Axes can be to hard but I will take that over to soft most of the time. I was cleaning heads up for that auction site. That Plumb found its way into my keeper box.

Click to expand...

I have a Plumb Rockaway head that sings when you rub it with bare hands..