It followed me home

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I have the same issue of not finding much in the area I live in. I have found four this summer. One I bought, one that they would have to give me, two I want but they are overpriced. The saws I find have been painted with "art". There is just not much availability around here.

Chris
 
Lots of guys collect axes and most of them aren't on these forums. There are some major stashes out there. Most of the good stuff has already been bought up.
 
Recently acquired Collins undercutter.

Undercutter%201.jpg
 
Do you know what the intended use of the adze is? It looks very stout, like it could be used for prying.
 
Do you know what the intended use of the adze is? It looks very stout, like it could be used for prying.

From yesteryearstools.com:

undercutter axe: an axe with the appearance of a modified mattock with a regular axe bit on one end and a narrow cross bit on the opposite side. Also similar in some respects to a Pulaski but the cross bit is approximately 1 1/4” wide or less. Advertised to be used to free up chainsaws when they got bound up in the kerf. (also: chainsaw axe, chisel axe)

http://yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears%20Tools/Glossary%3A%20Axes,%20Edge%20Tools,%20etc..html
 
Do you know what the intended use of the adze is? It looks very stout, like it could be used for prying.

From a local logging tool collector/reseller,
"Early chain saw axe. Made for a short time during the years when the chain saw was not the best for cutting at an angle. When cutting the notch to determine the direction of falling a tree the logger would use the chisel like end of a chainsaw axe to knock out the notch."

They are not common and fetch a nifty price at auction.
 
I found a few goodies this morning at a sale.

Impact%20tools.jpg


On top is an unmarked carpenters adze. It's pitted and the blade is nicked up but those will sharpen out the handle is in great shape. Below that is a True American cruiser axe that's a little unusual. Bottom is a TT Flint Edge Cruiser with most of its factory paint intact though it has a replacement handle.

True%20American.jpg


True American, Mann Edge Tool Co. - 7-3/4" bit to bit with a 26" handle. Real sexy bevels in the cheeks.


TT%20Flint%20Edge%20Cruiser.jpg


Flint Edge - 8-1/4" bit to bit with a 27-3/4" handle.


Here's what's unusual about the True American. The eye size is a little smaller than a standard cruiser eye. The Flint Edge eye is 2-3/8" wide. The True American eye is 2-1/8" wide. See comparison photo. The axe is too big for a saddle axe but the eye is small for a cruiser. Is anyone here familiar with this eye size?

Eye%20size%20comparison.jpg
 
Squarepeg, you are rocking, Love that undercutter.
that True American reminds me of a riggers axe with the hole in the handle. How long is it?
 
Squarepeg, you are rocking, Love that undercutter.
that True American reminds me of a riggers axe with the hole in the handle. How long is it?


It's been a dry summer in my axe world but suddenly things have turned around. Even a blind pig finds an acorn now and again.
wink.gif


The previous owner of the undercutter thought it was a pulaski and priced it accordingly. Woohoo!
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The True American is on a 25-7/8" haft but it's obviously not the original haft. I might rehaft down to about 20"-22" and turn it into a saddle axe. These 3 new tools were $5 apiece. Did I do OK?
 
You scoring some great stuff Pegs. I stopped at five places today, pawn shopes, flea market and a resale shop that deals mostly in furniture. I found one unmarked, beat to death double bit. The guy at the resale furniture shop said he has around six old heads at home and will bring them on Monday. So perhaps my summer pilfering may pan out some.

Chris
 
It's been a dry summer in my axe world but suddenly things have turned around. Even a blind pig finds an acorn now and again.
wink.gif


The previous owner of the undercutter thought it was a pulaski and priced it accordingly. Woohoo!
2862happydance-thumb.gif


The True American is on a 25-7/8" haft but it's obviously not the original haft. I might rehaft down to about 20"-22" and turn it into a saddle axe. These 3 new tools were $5 apiece. Did I do OK?

Yep you did very good. It's kind of the way it goes for me also, go for weeks with nothing, and then they all come at once it seems.

Chris, it never hurts to ask. I have scored several axes this summer at garage sales just because I thought they should have an axe around but I didn't see any.
I have some basic garage sale rules, always dress down, never wear sunglasses, always exchange pleasantries.

Here are a couple I picked up Friday, they are both Sager's. Look a little tuff, but they will clean up well. I found these in a shop so I had to give $10 a piece.
002.JPG
 
Yep you did very good. It's kind of the way it goes for me also, go for weeks with nothing, and then they all come at once it seems.

Chris, it never hurts to ask. I have scored several axes this summer at garage sales just because I thought they should have an axe around but I didn't see any.
I have some basic garage sale rules, always dress down, never wear sunglasses, always exchange pleasantries.

Here are a couple I picked up Friday, they are both Sager's. Look a little tuff, but they will clean up well. I found these in a shop so I had to give $10 a piece.
002.JPG

Excellent advise garry! Sager double bits are on my hunt list. I like rusty axes with lots of life in them since there is a feeling of accomplishment when they are brought back. Are you going to save the original haft on the left or rehaft?
 
Great finds Garry. The garage sales I have been to this summer have been a bust for axes, but most have had very pleasnt people. I always ask after some pleasant small talk.

I did find a U.S. marked Amerincan Fork and Hoe hatchet dated 1949 at a flea market yesterday. I couldn't get them down on price and couldn't pay the $65.00 they are asking.

Chris
 
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Here's another statement about the use of undercutters.

" these were used for only a short time back when the first power chainsaws were starting in the woods. they were used to cut and then chip out the undercut in the tree as the faller faced up the tree for falling. after they perfected the power chainsaws carbureators to run tilted on thier side, these went out of favor."

Pages 19 & 20 in 'Axe Makers of North America' go into a little more detail about their origin and use.
 
Here is what I found so far this week end, I don't think I am done. I have a couple of people that have some axes but are not sure where they are at or didn't have the time to look for them when I talked to them. It pays to ask at yard sales.
002.JPG

Collins Legitimus miss hung on a vintage cruiser handle, Home stead, Kelly works, TT Kelly works, TT Kelly and a Flint Edge. Most expensive was nine dollars.
 
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