It followed me home

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wesm said:
Not exactly about axes but... its a sharpening system so I figured I'd throw this up!

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I picked these up from a woman selling her fathers "old tools" so she could park in the garage. Her father had passed away 9 years ago and had left these in the shop/garage. It looked like maybe a knife shop in the photos and I thought the belt grinder was a 2x72 but the photo was fooling me! They all work and I paid about $45 each for them. Not sure what I'll do with them now, I'll keep at least 1 of the 1x44" as they are solidly built. The last photo (wooden base long arm sander thing) is actually a circular saw polisher.
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Nice meeting you tonight, Wes, and thanks for the great deal on the belt grinder. You've got quite an eye for old tools. You seem to like the same kind of stuff that I like. We'll have to get together on a trail work project sometime soon. I think you'll really enjoy it.
 
Here's a few that have come home with me the past couple of months.

R. Mfg. Co. (Rogers) CT pattern @4#


Plumb 3.2#


G.W. Bradley @4# CT Pattern


Collins 3# CT pattern


a 3 1/2# E. & S. (Emerson Stevens) I re-hafted on the original handle
 
an A.A. & T. boys axe with scalloped cheeks


I seriously thinned down the club that came as "boy's axe handle"


Varying levels of skill and success. They have all held so far, mostly splitting and bucking
 
Found this one at a yard sale on the way home tonight. Set me back $1.50. TT boy's axe - hardly used. Nice convex cheeks of a vintage axe.

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No stamp but the ridges in the eye give it away as a True Temper. Other makers did this but this looks typical of a True Temper.
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No mushroooming of the poll is a bonus.
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It's funny, guys will spend $100-$200 on a Euro-import bushcrafting axe when a vintage American axe like this will outperform it in every regard.
 
M3mphis said:
What a haul, Garry! You must know how to pick the sales! Can I come next time!?
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Sure M3mphis,
We will probably come across a canvas canoe for cheap, get in an argument over who seen it first and I will have to explain to my wife when I get home why I have a size 12 Vibram sole imprint on my fore head.

Hey, it could happen. :D
 
garry3 said:
Sure M3mphis,
We will probably come across a canvas canoe for cheap, get in an argument over who seen it first and I will have to explain to my wife when I get home why I have a size 12 Vibram sole imprint on my fore head.

Hey, it could happen. :D
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I'm a pacifist, Garry. No worries. (I don't know how that 1911 got on my belt!) :D
 
Square_peg said:
Found this one at a yard sale on the way home tonight. Set me back $1.50. TT boy's axe - hardly used. Nice convex cheeks of a vintage axe.

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No stamp but the ridges in the eye give it away as a True Temper. Other makers did this but this looks typical of a True Temper.
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No mushroooming of the poll is a bonus.
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It's funny, guys will spend $100-$200 on a Euro-import bushcrafting axe when a vintage American axe like this will outperform it in every regard.
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Very nice find. How can you walk away for a $1.50? Looks like there is still part of a "Woodslasher" silver label on it.

For a little more than the cost of a handle guys can have a very good vintage axe.
 
garry3 said:
Very nice find. How can you walk away for a $1.50? Looks like there is still part of a "Woodslasher" silver label on it.
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Thank you!

I couldn't tell what the label said. It definitely looks like it starts with "Wo". It's a fine little axe. I was thrilled to pick it up.

Anyone else notice that they didn't use any metal wedge on this? With a proper hang they simply aren't needed.
 
I was thinking the local scrap metal dealer might be a source of axe heads so I went in a week ago and left my number and asked if the could send me a text if any came in. Turned out the manager is a woodchopping and Tuatahi fan and was keen to see axes not melted down. Went in yesterday and asked if they had any and one had just turned up, it cost me $5 and was covered in rust, he said I was going to have to do some work on it.

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After 24 hours socking in vinegar you can just make out worlds finest , its a nice Kelly axe head. No idea how old though, it has ribs running up the inside of where the handle goes if that helps anyone.
 
It's probably a later model True Temper/Kelly Works. Connecticut pattern and not overly worn. Those make really fine choppers.

Good idea talking to the local scrap yard.
 
raumatibeach said:
I was thinking the local scrap metal dealer might be a source of axe heads so I went in a week ago and left my number and asked if the could send me a text if any came in. Turned out the manager is a woodchopping and Tuatahi fan and was keen to see axes not melted down. Went in yesterday and asked if they had any and one had just turned up, it cost me $5 and was covered in rust, he said I was going to have to do some work on it.

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After 24 hours socking in vinegar you can just make out worlds finest , its a nice Kelly axe head. No idea how old though, it has ribs running up the inside of where the handle goes if that helps anyone.
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I have came across adds from TT Kelly mentioning them ribs. I can't remember where I seen them. If I remember right it was a 60's era, so maybe before and after that time period?. That axe seems to have very little ware. It's going to turn out nice.
 
Square_peg said:
Thank you!

I couldn't tell what the label said. It definitely looks like it starts with "Wo". It's a fine little axe. I was thrilled to pick it up.

Anyone else notice that they didn't use any metal wedge on this? With a proper hang they simply aren't needed.
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Yes, I have noticed. Here is a picture of my better label, its on a cruiser. Later manufacture. It's lacking in my opinion.

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There seems to be a "TG" stamped on the cheek. I have know idea what that would mean, TC would make sense.
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No wedges. I have this cruiser and a boy's axe in this color with label and like you some others that don't have labels that are probably TT's.
 
Thanks for the information on the axe , its a four pounder too. There's another local scrap metal dealer I'll go and chat too and see if I can save any more.
 
garry3 said:
Yes, I have noticed. Here is a picture of my better label, its on a cruiser. Later manufacture. It's lacking in my opinion.

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This axe has a different color writing on the label. It's green. I can't make it out except that it looks like a 'Wo....'.

Maybe someone here will recognize it. Sorry for the bad pic. I can't use flash or it just reflects. Maybe it's a reseller's label.

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Just pulled another one out of the vinegar and it had a nice surprise for me

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An Aussie hytest, doesn't look it hard much use but wasn't treated very well, it came with a no name that I can find boys axe. Cant wait to try the hytest.
 
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