It followed me home

[cooperhill]

score indeed. Nice. Where's this flea market again?

 

[Square_peg]

Sweet! The rust ain't bad and even the poll is pretty clean. That's a winner.

If you haven't cut the handle off yet then please consider saving it. Those old dried out handles are just the ones that can be brought back to life with BLO followed by tung oil (3-4 coats each).

 

[John Frankl]

Thanks, all.

Cooperhill: The flea market is in Rowley, MA. Search for "Todd's Farm". Funny thing is I asked a bunch of local buddies and none recommended it. I went to a couple others (Reatta Ranch--pretty good--and another that stunk so bad I can't remember the name) before stumbling upon Rowley. Highly recommended, as well as being in a cool town with other antique shops with some used tools, etc.

Square peg: Thank you. I was thinking that as well. Until now I have either gotten handles that were fairly good or completely useless. This one is in the middle, and I will do my best to save it. I may be asking you all for advice as far as getting it out cleanly.

 

[Bull Mountain Custom]

It wasn't sold it was free (I won't sell them).The head was one fire crew threw out(must be under size limit?) still lots of life left. Found the sheath in the same dumpster.We don't use Pulaski much,more pick mattocks and axes, so I hope it gets put to work.Also the manuals are free at Mtdc call them and they will send them out if in stock.For those interested in crosscut filing the new dvd with W Miller is out, I think they still have some left at mtdc

What does Mtdc stand for? I am interested in contacting them to see if they have any manuals available.

 

[Square_peg]

What does Mtdc stand for?

Missoula Technology & Development Center
http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/techdev/mtdc.htm

 

[bearhunter]

It followed me home! After I gave it my address...
Got this off the 'bay, you fellas prolly saw it.
Interesting piece and very little info searchable online, probably because the marking is so generic.
This appears to be the original haft, also marked U.S. The paint is a recent refurb job, but I think references the original. Cheeks are slightly convex, and the bit is thick - easily fixed. It came sharp. I think I paid more for shipping than for the piece itself. The head can't weigh more than a pound - it's nice and small. Lighter than the Husqy hatchet I picked up recently. And BTW, that decides it: the husqy goes on a boy's axe handle next. The head looks unused except for the cheek surfaces under the paint. The poll is polished and untouched. I wonder if these were hardened? The haft clear took some hits just under the head in the usual spot, so it's not pristine. There are vague references that suggest this could be WW1 or WW2... no idea myself.

I love the haft, but wish it was new. Guess I'll use it until it loosens up.

I've got one very similar to that. My great uncle gave it to me. He got it when he served in Korean. It doesn't have a makers mark on it either. Just the 'US'.

 

[cooperhill]

A little tiny beater of an axe. Marked S.E.Co Maine and stamped with a star. Lots of other what look like post production stampings. Hung it on a reclaimed handle from another bigger axe. Most of the temper is probably gone but i'd make a good kindling axe. Substantial toe wear

 

[Square_peg]

Substantial toe wear

Wow! No kidding. Almost a candidate for flipping if the eye dimensions would support it.

 

[G-pig]

I think there is probably a good bit of tempered bit left. A lot of the Maine axes were really really short and fat, so the temper is going to be consistent with that. Thats a cool little axe, over time it might be worth filing into a more symetrical shape. I have a S&N hudson bay that had awful toe wear and it took many hours of filing to bring back to a symetrical roundish shape, but now its a sweet little carrying axe, at 26 inches and 1 3/4 pounds. Enough of these old axes got destroyed over the past 50 years that I feel like its worth putting some time into the ones that survived. Nice work.

 

[cooperhill]

Thanks. It's hard to see in the after pic but I did some substantial filing to bring the center of the bit back and the heel back to make it more symmetrical .

 

[G-pig]

Thanks. It's hard to see in the after pic but I did some substantial filing to bring the center of the bit back and the heel back to make it more symmetrical .

I noticed, it looks a lot better. With that much wear on the toe, you might not ever get an ideal straightish edge, but end up with something more half moon shape. Dudley Cook didnt like that much curvature, but for certain things and especially for an axe of this size, its not a problem. How much does it weigh you think? I have a 2 lb snow and nealley (made later, no stamp just weight) that is quite nice. Still trying to carve the perfect handle for it.

 

[daizee]

Thanks. It's hard to see in the after pic but I did some substantial filing to bring the center of the bit back and the heel back to make it more symmetrical .

You'll just have to post more pix.

 

[John Frankl]

Here's a nice little True Temper I picked up as a head, did a bit of grinding on, then fit to a Craftsman handle. Not sure what the "TFH" stands for.

 

[Square_peg]

The belt grinder makes 'em look like a brand new tool.

 

[daizee]

Oh, I like it on the long handle! How long is that one? I'm thinking about putting 20" or so on the old Hudson Forge half-hatching that I don't really like that much. Bet it will be funner that way.

 

[bearhunter]

A little tiny beater of an axe. Marked S.E.Co Maine and stamped with a star. Lots of other what look like post production stampings. Hung it on a reclaimed handle from another bigger axe. Most of the temper is probably gone but i'd make a good kindling axe. Substantial toe wear

You and Pegs are in the running for...

'THE OLD BEATER AWARD'

 

[AKC]

This thread got me to remembering....

We just moved about 3 years ago. Wife and I shared a 10"x50" 1BD/1BR trailer for, oh, about 27 years. Ayup....

While I was packing stuff and going thru the yard, in some ivy between my driveway and the neighbors fence, I found a small, VERY weathered axe.

I just chucked it in with the rest of the garden toolery and off we went.

So I took a closer look at it and with a little wirebrushing just to make out the mfg., it says "Snow and Nealley" Hmmmmm.....

I'll get a pic up soon, it definitely needs to be rehung, the handle is pretty grey, weathered and dried out. And a little loose.

It may have belonged to the old-timer that used to live next to us, he passed on and the his trailer was replaced.

 

[G-pig]

The older S&N were top notch. if its stamped, its old. We gonna need some pictures for sure. Love all the old Maine axes.

 

[John Frankl]

Not sure of the length off hand. But it is just the standard one on the shelves at Sears as a replacement handle. The length feels good, but haft was a bit small for the eye, which is why all the funky wedges in the photo.

 

[G-pig]

You and Pegs are in the running for...

'THE OLD BEATER AWARD'

Ive got some real gems too, but given that I subscribe to the “save the beaters” philosophy in more than one facet of life (including cameras and computers) I cant post pictures. youll have to take me word for it.