It followed me home (Part 2)

Agent_H said:
JB - Is this the prospect you were mentioning earlier about an older gentleman who passed away and left a barn full of implements for his widow to figure out?
Click to expand...

No, but good memory. If this comes to pass it would be %1000 bigger than that. It's one of those too good to be true possibilities that has a chance. It's not that what I'm being told is BS, it's that there are a bunch of logistical issues that I have to work through. More later.

As for the first story, that is still in limbo. I assumed that things would have happened by now. She isn't into the stuff but back then we were in the middle of the worst winter ever and everything was inaccessible. I figured the warm weather would open things up. My dealer friend was friendly with both of them and chances were great that he would get the deal to sell everything off and take a percentage rather than having an auctioneer come in or have other dealers try to buy everything cheap. It is literally a full sized barn loaded with a lifetime collection of all of the old things that we like. RR stuff, farm stuff, logging and woodworking stuff, old industrial stuff, blacksmith stuff. Steam engines, MANY anvils, more of anything else of that type that you can think of. Also outbuildings and tents full too. It could supply many museums. It's insane. I don't have the cash to even scratch at it, and while fair nothing is being given away. The goal is to set this woman up for her future. A $400 anvil will sell for maybe $300-350, not $100. I can buy a couple things for myself, but not a bunch of big things at resale pricing. However, among all that is there, the 500 or so axes are small beans for most of the dealers compared to the other things there and time wise they would rather sell one anvil than take the time to sell 50 or so axes. So my friend was going to let me buy them for $5-10 each and sell them. He knows enough to realize that there will be a more than a few REALLY nice ones that are valuable and will want more but that is fair and expected.

The problem is that lots of people knew this guy and his collections. They are circling like vultures. She has been fire hosed with calls and visits to the point of harassment and has turtled up. I don't blame her. I called once late last year while he was still alive to see the collection. I knew that he was sick and not up to it so I asked for them to call me when he was feeling better. I respected their situation and never called back as i did not want to hound a sick man while he was in treatment. Unfortunately he passed away before anything could happen, and I'm sure that my one call long ago was swamped after the fact by all of the big time dealers and auctioneers knocking on the door. So that's where it stands. Maybe it will still happen, maybe not. If it does you guys will know first, I can tell you that.
 
I spent $25.50 at the flea market today, found a $5 pick $10 boys axe a $10 brush axe and a $0.50 ball hammer head.

IMG_0826.v01.jpg
 
Today's haul, $210. Lots of good stuff, particularly the condition of most everything. Also loving the curved adzes, and check out that Kelly Perfect!







 
Jay Mulcahy said:
JB, nice score (again). What are the specs on the rafting pattern axe and the one below it?
Click to expand...


Plumb rafting, guesstimate a 2lb head, 27", other is a true boys axe, an old Kelly Axe Mfg Co, replacement 28" handle. The big Dayton is a 5lb Legitimus.
 
After closer inspection, I believe that both the Plumb Permabond and Kelly Perfect double bit axes are both NOS. Both have not the slightest sign of having ever been used. No marks, dings, scuffs in the paint, dents in the handle, nothing. Perfect edges without the slightest scratch or nick or sign of ever having been sharpened. They are flawless.



 
I ended up needing to work today and coundln't go to a sale that looked very promising so my wife went for me and took the kids. What followed her home was this copper wash tub(?)/boiler tub(?) with lid, Chinese machete for the kids to beat on brush with, beat up large wedge, and three axe heads. The grand total was $15.



The orange head is more than likely offshore junk with a chipped heal. I will test it with the file but I am not holding my breath. The red one has ridges in the eye with a nice profile and some numbers stamped on the cheak which I need to investigate further. It looks like a promising unmarked head thats in good condition. The third head is a True Temper Flint Edge Kelly Works that will clean up nicely and require some work to remove the mushrooming. The two quality axes have bits that won't require too much file work to put an edge on. She did real good in my opinion.

I love my wife!
 
jblyttle said:
After closer inspection, I believe that both the Plumb Permabond and Kelly Perfect double bit axes are both NOS. Both have not the slightest sign of having ever been used. No marks, dings, scuffs in the paint, dents in the handle, nothing. Perfect edges without the slightest scratch or nick or sign of ever having been sharpened. They are flawless.
Click to expand...

Those are beautiful.
 
Yup, very pleased. I find quite a bit, bt not usually in that kind of condition.

That orange one looks like a Council Tool from the pic, so probably all 3 are good heads. She did VERY well, what a bargain. The Flint Edge alone is worth the $15.
 
jblyttle said:
That orange one looks like a Council Tool from the pic, so probably all 3 are good heads. She did VERY well, what a bargain. The Flint Edge alone is worth the $15.
Click to expand...

Good eye jb. I was just out touching the axe heads with the cup brush and noticed that the orange one had a real nice ring to it. That got me rethinking my initial impression of that head. Indeed it has a Council stamp distorted by some mushrooming on the poll and the other side is stamped with a "4". It will be getting refurbished too one of these days.
 
$12 garage sale haul. I may actually tip my hand into auctioning off the little Norland Hudson Bay to pay for all of it.
DSCN0111.jpg

DSCN0112.jpg
 
Okay, I finally (FINALLY!) got to do some scrounging at the flea market this weekend. I think I did okay. $5 for the 3 USA Nicholson files...they feel sharp but have some rust and a few worn spots...but they'll do the job for what I have in mind. Is vinegar or evaporust the way to go so I don't dull the files getting the rust off?

On to the axes...I picked up a nice rusty CT 3.5 lb Dayton pattern on a short, ruined handle...good solid head but will need a LOT of filing to get the thick, blunt bevel down. It has a decently high centerline, so this may be my first foray into a banana grind. We shall see. I pulled it out of the vinegar today and it's in great shape.

And then my good find. It's another Council, but one I've never seen or heard of. It's a CT with phantom bevels, and it says "Pirbott's Pride" I think. The font is diferent, so I think it's definitely an older Council axe. Too bad about the small chip in the toe, but once I sharpen it up it will get diminished somewhat. Other than that it appears to be in great shape, with what I think is an original handle that will get sanded and treated with BLO, and re-wedged as the head is loose with a few random screws and such acting on the wedge currently. Anyone know anything about this unusual CT? I think I'll be emailing Council to ask.





 
Update: I think the beveled Council actually says "Pickett's Pride" and may be regarding John Pickett Council. Onward to research!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top