Kelly New Jersey? No name or markings

M

Mike082080

Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
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Bought this on the bay today, it looks like a Kelly ESP w the ridges in the eye. What do u guys think? Maybe a kelly produced head for another company? Or did kelly make these and just label them instead of stamps? Any input would be awesome!
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Mike

I think you're on track with the maker. I've seen similar heads from Flint Edge and from Red Warrior, both Kelly Works.

Nice Jersey pattern. You've got a real beauty there. I can't wait to see it after you've done your refinishing magic on it.

Later,
Brent
 
Yeah that's what I was thinking, yeah I think I'm going to do the strait haft on this one. I'll be sure to post em once I'm done.
 
Mike

Good choice on the straight haft. You should try an octagonal handle. It's a lot of work but it gives you a feeling of accomplishment when you're done. That thing is going to be awesome for splitting or chopping. Don't forget to weigh it before you rehang it.

A spoke shave or draw knife helps with the octagonal handle, but you can do it all with a rasp and sandpaper. I usually look for slightly fat commercial handles and then convert them to octagonal. They feel really good in the hand, and I think they help with accuracy too. They're easier than you think, just takes time.

You have a really nice axe head. Nobody has used the eye ridges for a long time. It won't be a moneymaker without the roll stamp but people like us will appreciate it. I would re-profile the bit a little to make it look like the classic jersey pattern shown on the back cover of " An Ax to Grind".

When you start sharpening, let us know how it takes a file.

Later
 
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I'd bet it's a True Temper or Kelly. Though I've seen the ridges in Collins and Stiletto axes, too.

Bbforstr gave you some good advice.
 
I have even seen vintage collins handles milled to except the ridges in the eye. Vaughan also had ridges in the eye and were also red in color to further make it hard to seperate from some True Temper's.
Your picture is not real clear on the ridge pattern in the eye. It looks like two ridges per side not inline with the other side. Kind of like this.
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I have only seen this pattern on True Tempers. Which don't mean a thing.
 
This ridge pattern is on TT Pulaski's with the FSS stamp. The earliar TT pulaski's have three ridges per side and are stamped FS. This might kind of help date these tools.
 
Yeah the pictures are directly from the seller on the bay. I just posted em up here. The head should be here in a few days though and I'll inspect it and post more pics. Thanks for all the advice and info! You guys are great!
 
Square_peg said:
I have that pattern in a no-name and in a True Temper.
Click to expand...

I will venture a guess and say that the True Temper with that pattern that you have is just a plain True Temper, no "Flint Edge" or "Kelly works", ect.

That rib pattern might be unique to later True Temper axes, stamped or unstamped. If some one has a similar ridge pattern that is Stamped something other than True Temper, I would like to hear about it. I would hate to think that those ridge patterns were unique to True Temper only to find out later that they are also in axe heads from South America.
 
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