It followed me home (Part 2)

Remzy said:
Please please tell me you did not soak this in vinegar and ruin that amazing patina... this clearly is wrought iron, which means its very, very old and almost ought to be treated as a museum piece!

Or you could just dont give a crap and do as you please, your call.
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I also think that it has the distinctive look of wrought iron, but what do I know. In any case, I'm sure that this was super rusty and not identifiable- certainly not as an old wrought iron piece before it was cleaned. Give the guy a break.
 
rjdankert said:
... I'm very curious about the bit. I tried searching on how adzes were made, but couldn't find what I was looking for. The bit sits on top of the head (unlike the insert or overcoat methods used on axes), so I wanted to know if this was common...
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A 1905 book from Australia distinguishes between "smith-made" and "shop tools" (which must be the same as "store bought"). It says, "A smith-made adze of thin, solid steel is far before [or superior to?] a shop one, but very few smiths can make one. The shop adzes are all iron but on the bottom, where a very thin plate of steel is welded on to give a cutting edge. An adze is only ground and sharpened like a squaring axe, from the top side."

The book gives this safety tip: "To work an adze so that it will not nick the user's ankle or shin, always keep the left elbow sliding against the left hip. This keeps the blade straight and off the legs."

Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, Volume 16, Issue 1, By New South Wales. Dept. of Agriculture, Feb. 2, 1905, page 178
 
Agent_H said:
In 93-94 I picked up a Norlund, painted red, had a sticker, rode in the back of my truck for most of the time. Had a sheath but it's been long gone. Looks like the equivelant of a CT "rail splitter" on a short/straight shaft. It's a full-sized head with a metal wedge. Came from a place in Grants Pass. Think it was $12 or so. I remember other more expensive axes offered but I bought it to use for camping. It's done a great job but I can't say better than anything I've acquired and used since. I see the Hudson Bays go for a premium but most other patterns seem to languish on auction sites in comparison.

I'll have to dig it out and take a picture. Not sure if something 20+ years owned falls into the "it followed me home" category at this point but I seem to remember the poll looked darker like the bit when I scrubbed it then let it sit for a while. Did Norlund make some with hardened polls without the elongated and beveled poll that we kind of associate with rafting axes? It doesn't look like the one Square_peg has posted before.
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The Norlund I was talking about was this one.
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It’s on a 25” straight handle with a metal wedge. The poll stays dark after cleaning, similar to the temper line in the bit. Does it look like the corners are a bit beveled? It certainly doesn't look like what I think of a "rafting axe".
It didn’t follow me home but some of the posts in this thread got me thinking. After talking about it I thought I should get some pictures of it while it was light.
As Garry would say,
garry3 said:
Yep, pictures or it did not happen.
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:)
 
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jblyttle said:
I also think that it has the distinctive look of wrought iron, but what do I know. In any case, I'm sure that this was super rusty and not identifiable- certainly not as an old wrought iron piece before it was cleaned. Give the guy a break.
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Sorry... i get a fuzzy feeling inside when i see such a rich patina, comes from my love of antique japanese fittings, i sometime forget that many axe lovers like shiney steel.
 
rjdankert said:
This adze head was given to me. It is 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. As best as I can tell it's either a carpenters adze or a railroad adze.

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That might be a very old adze. The striations in the metal look like weathered wrought iron. The laminated bit would go with that period (mid-1800's or earlier). It's well worn so I wouldn't put it back into use. I'd keep is as a cool old show piece.

Good find! Thanks for sharing it.
 
Hello I'm new here and new to axe restoration. I just bought a HB and it is stamped 1.2 2 3/4 with the numbers on the opposite side from the makers mark. Anybody no what size handle to put on it or how old it might be?
 
If your HB is anything like my two, it'll have a full size eye, but should go on a 28" handle like pegs said. Measure before you order a handle.
 
Agent_H said:
The Norlund I was talking about was this one.



It’s on a 25” straight handle with a metal wedge. The poll stays dark after cleaning, similar to the temper line in the bit. Does it look like the corners are a bit beveled? It certainly doesn't look like what I think of a "rafting axe".
It didn’t follow me home but some of the posts in this thread got me thinking. After talking about it I thought I should get some pictures of it while it was light.
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Certainly seems to meet the criterion for 'rafting axe', that I've heard about. Straight haft, bevelled poll edges with poll material that appears to be different from the body. Presumably this implement weighs 4 lb or more too although with a 25 inch handle it would be a brute to use as a splitter. Nice find!
 
garry3 said:
Excuse the off topic, but it kind of goes with this forum.
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I'm certainly no logger, but as I understand it an axe was used in conjunction with these.

Nice wedge. I've got a five pounder, and I thought that was big. :) Glad you posted it.
 
Still out picking around, nothing too spectacular this far. Two old unfinished hafts for 8 bucks a piece, a union tool works boys axe (I think) and one marked Carant. The cheeks are flat and the handle is fat but straight grain. Only stamp on t is Caran(t?) with the weight (1 3/4 lbs) marked under it.
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Crazyotter said:
If your HB is anything like my two, it'll have a full size eye, but should go on a 28" handle like pegs said. Measure before you order a handle.
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Thank you I just compared it to my council tool 4# felling and the eye looks just a ball hair smaller.
 
DarthTaco123 said:
Still out picking around, nothing too spectacular this far. Two old unfinished hafts for 8 bucks a piece, a union tool works boys axe (I think) and one marked Carant. The cheeks are flat and the handle is fat but straight grain. Only stamp on t is Caran(t?) with the weight (1 3/4 lbs) marked under it.
C70DFA8B-C417-491F-8492-64C0C8997315.jpg
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It's a Garant, sold in Canada. 300Six is the guy to ask about their axes.
 
Fantastic! I'll wait for his input then. I figure it's pretty hard to lose money when I picked it up for 14 bucks.
 
If youe out picking Canadian axes, have you seen that Walters "European style" boys axe at the Roller Rink? Its been there for a while, I almost bought it last Monday.
 
Montreal pattern yeah? It's 20 something bucks last I saw.

Actually met the guy that runs that booth that has all the axes today whilst out picking out some finds.

Picked up 4 axes, two heads, and two handles for about 60 bucks. Gonna resell some I think, might have a post asking for appraisals later.
 
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