Kelly Axe Manufacturing Thread

^ no probs.
Oh sorry, I didnt realize they were from different year catalogues :o. That does not tell us very much then!
Am interested to learn more :)
 
It still establishes that they advertised distinctions in their steel. Reminds me of Craftsman's 'Razor Blade' line. It reportedly used a bit of steel with over 100 points of carbon.

Of course this is all still supposition. I don't see where anyone has the funds to start chemically testing the steel of old axes. It's a shame.
 
Square_peg said:
It still establishes that they advertised distinctions in their steel. Reminds me of Craftsman's 'Razor Blade' line. It reportedly used a bit of steel with over 100 points of carbon.

Of course this is all still supposition. I don't see where anyone has the funds to start chemically testing the steel of old axes. It's a shame.
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Here's some evidence that Warren Axe and Tool used different grades of steel, depending on whether the product was the "first quality" brand:

In making the "Grey Gorge Cedar Axe" the manufacturer [Warren Axe and Tool] now uses two grades of steel. All of the first quality axes are made out of an alloy steel, and all of the intermediate and cheaper grades are made of a high grade carbon steel. The alloy steels are much more expensive, and the alloy used, both chrome and vanadium, tends to give the steel a tougher and more elastic property to hold a keener edge for a longer period.
from The Kerrville Cedar Axe, The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 50, July 1946 - April, 1947 Page 249


Reminds me of the Craftsman Vanadium axes like this one:

craftsman-vanadium-axe-double-bit-ax_1_851c24d462ef8dbbf01bf101355c293b.jpg
 
This has been a pretty cool thread. I dont hang out much on the axe forum much but i thought id share what I got today. A friend of mine brought me an old axe head today and i imediately recognized it as a Kelly. Unfortunatley,most of the stamp has worn off but you can still kind of read it. Im going to polish it up and rehaft this old girl and put it to work



 
It's a fine axe. Good find. It would clean up real nice with a brass wire cup brush on an angle grinder.
 
Square_peg said:
It's a fine axe. Good find. It would clean up real nice with a brass wire cup brush on an angle grinder.
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Thats true. Im debating whether to jist clean it up or go all out for a smooth polished finish. Id hate to loose the stamp but its barely visible as it is. Its definitley going to get used either way
 
No need to polish. It will look great with its natural patina after the cup brush work. Then just give it a light oil, BLO or whatever.
 
Square_peg said:
No need to polish. It will look great with its natural patina after the cup brush work. Then just give it a light oil, BLO or whatever.
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I just found the thread that the Operator started on brushing the old rust off. After seeing that Im sold. Ill dig out the side grinder and put the brush on. Ill have more pics soon
 
Same db, 5 lb mark. A 3? Do not know what that means. And stamped on bothe sides ? Mm or? NM? Again do not know why.








 
Lippincott is an old name in axes that has been sold many times. I didn't know True Temper ever used it.
 
garry3 said:
That is an interesting one. Is that an inserted steel bit?
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That's hasn't been done in a 100 + years. Looks more like a very shallow temper. If my tool history is correct you shouldn't see Kelly and true temper together until after the 40s.
 
Square_peg said:
Lippincott is an old name in axes that has been sold many times. I didn't know True Temper ever used it.
Click to expand...

I have tried over and over to find one like this, but all of them have "Kelley" somewhere on them as well. I have yet to find another one that just says "True Temper Lippincott".
 
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