It followed me home (Part 2)

Square_peg said:
You can never have too many shackles if you do any rigging or heavy lifting work. Like clamps, I always grab them when the price is right. A 7/8" screw pin shackle like that would probably set you back $70 new. Screw pin, round pin, reach, they are all useful.

When the work allows I prefer to use round pin shackles just because they are faster to release. Just pull the cotter pin, then the round pin.

They were very helpful when I picked up this 1000 pound basalt birdbath last spring.
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Splish splash.
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I bet the raccoons don’t tip that birdbath over! I like it! T-A
 
I've been on the hunt for a saddle cruiser for what seems like forever now, but I have a hard time with the idea of coughing up the $$$ they tend to sell for. I finally lucked out and found one in the wild today, super stoked!

NI1CmMN.jpeg


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It's a Stiletto, which I don't recall seeing in this pattern before. I've seen unbranded examples, lots of Collins and Norlund, and a Plumb I believe.

The handle is toast, I plan on making a new one from my small stash of riven and air dried Oregon white oak. A pouch style leather sheath is also in the works.

Its been a pretty productive summer of rust hunting otherwise, but as far as axes go this is definitely the cream of the crop!
 
Travbud1 said:
I've been on the hunt for a saddle cruiser for what seems like forever now, but I have a hard time with the idea of coughing up the $$$ they tend to sell for. I finally lucked out and found one in the wild today, super stoked!

NI1CmMN.jpeg


gAV95iF.jpeg


It's a Stiletto, which I don't recall seeing in this pattern before. I've seen unbranded examples, lots of Collins and Norlund, and a Plumb I believe.

The handle is toast, I plan on making a new one from my small stash of riven and air dried Oregon white oak. A pouch style leather sheath is also in the works.

Its been a pretty productive summer of rust hunting otherwise, but as far as axes go this is definitely the cream of the crop!
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Very nice score!! I’ve found some decent stuff in the wild but still searching for a saddle cruiser.
 
I thought I remembered hearing somewhere (probably here!) that True Temper was the mfg. of Stiletto's axes.

In terms of quality it is definitely miles ahead of any of the 60's-70's era Norlund/Collins that I've come across. Nicely finished with some shapely convex cheeks!
Square_peg said:
True Temper supplied many Stiletto axes so there's a chance that is higher quality than a Norlund.
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Travbud1 said:
It's a Stiletto, which I don't recall seeing in this pattern before. I've seen unbranded examples, lots of Collins and Norlund, and a Plumb I believe.
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I've only ever seen 1 plumb saddle cruiser, 10 years ago at a flea market and I thought the $30 the guy wanted was too much.
Today I'd have no problem giving that guy even $50 for it in a heartbeat.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I've only ever seen 1 plumb saddle cruiser, 10 years ago at a flea market and I thought the $30 the guy wanted was too much.
Today I'd have no problem giving that guy even $50 for it in a heartbeat.
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I think I gave $50 or $55 for my PLUMB cruiser 2-3 years ago. I thought I paid every penny it was worth, but I have no regrets! T-A
 
I snagged this one for $25, normally I might try to haggle the price a bit at a garage sale but for this I couldn't pull out my wallet fast enough! There were a few plain-jane Plumb hatchets for the same price and a couple nicer pieces priced on the higher side of eBay comps. I'm surprised that this one slipped under the radar!

I spotted the axe in a blurry pic on a FB Marketplace ad, messaged the seller and she was kind enough to let me come out a day before her sale was actually starting. I may have bribed her by telling her that it will be a keeper for my young son... ;) I can imagine there were a lot of disappointed dealers/resellers this morning!

I'll be sure to post up some more pictures when I get the handle and sheath done.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I've only ever seen 1 plumb saddle cruiser, 10 years ago at a flea market and I thought the $30 the guy wanted was too much.
Today I'd have no problem giving that guy even $50 for it in a heartbeat.
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The one that I saw was on a table at the Oregon Knife Collector's show just a few months ago. It was a pretty worn down head with a $350 tag on it, the same seller had a few Collins as well for $250-300 and I know at least a few of those sold at the show.
 
Travbud1 said:
I thought I remembered hearing somewhere (probably here!) that True Temper was the mfg. of Stiletto's axes.

In terms of quality it is definitely miles ahead of any of the 60's-70's era Norlund/Collins that I've come across. Nicely finished with some shapely convex cheeks!
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I might be wrong. but I have never stumbled on a pic of TT made Saddle axe. It does not look like Collins made product. For me the primary suspect would be Warren


https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/forest-king-axe-nos-double-bit-warren-4642912691
 
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crbnSteeladdict said:
I might be wrong. but I have never stumbled on a pic of TT made Saddle axe. It does not look like Collins made product. For me the primary suspect would be Warren


https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/forest-king-axe-nos-double-bit-warren-4642912691
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Good call.
I've never actually heard of a True Temper saddle cruiser either.

a nice vintage saddle cruiser ( I'd settle for a Collins made example if I had to ) will always be on my list.
the Imicasa made Marbles example I have is not bad, but nowhere near as nice.
I actually have two and one's decent while the oother which I bought more recently is pretty terrible.
 
I think the Warren has more geometry to the axe than that Stiletto, thinner, more taper to the edges. The last picture in the Worthpoint link shows a good picture of the top of the axe.
 
A couple of Disston rip saws.

The D-8 thumbhole has the 1917-1940 medallion, pre 1928 etch. It's in pretty good condition with a nice clean etch and replaces one I traded for a hatchet. I always regretted it and it had a nicer handle than this one.



Not sure what model the rusty one is yet. I think an etch will come out when it's cleaned up.

I'm thinking it's the later half of the 1800's. Flush one inch medallion with a keystone but I haven't seen a match to it. Does somebody know about this medallion?


 
Since we have some saws on here.......any info on these guys would help, I don't really know much about saws I just pick them up if they are cheap.






garry3 said:
A couple of Disston rip saws.

The D-8 thumbhole has the 1917-1940 medallion, pre 1928 etch. It's in pretty good condition with a nice clean etch and replaces one I traded for a hatchet. I always regretted it and it had a nicer handle than this one.



Not sure what model the rusty one is yet. I think an etch will come out when it's cleaned up.

I'm thinking it's the later half of the 1800's. Flush one inch medallion with a keystone but I haven't seen a match to it. Does somebody know about this medallion?


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JLRubicon said:
Since we have some saws on here.......any info on these guys would help, I don't really know much about saws I just pick them up if they are cheap.





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JLRubicon said:
Since we have some saws on here.......any info on these guys would help, I don't really know much about saws I just pick them up if they are cheap.





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Nice ones too.
That's about what I do, if I find something I think I need or catches my eye it comes home.
Is the Wheeler Madden second from the left?

I cleaned up that rust bucket rip saw. I can't see a model number but it's an early etch, Disston & Son, three piece rocker style with the bottom reading "patent ground". The nuts are more modern so handle might not be original, don't know about the medallion.
 
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