Kelly 'Silver Eagle'

Frank-New Zealand

Frank-New Zealand

Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Messages
333
Do any of you guys own one. I came across one (in very good condition) a few years back. I re-hung it and gave it to a family member who was becoming interested in such things. I don't regret giving it away because he now owns several good axes...but I do regret not being able to find another.

Timber industry in this country in the pioneering days was huge. We are a small country but most of it was bush clad.

NZ imported many thousands of axes. Many of them were Plumb or Kelly (but other brands as well).

Almost all of the Kelly I have seen are branded. True Temper Made in Canada. And on the other side.
Worlds Finest Kelly Dandenong.

I also own Walters and Welland Vale...Both from Canada. I wonder if there was some Commonwealth agreement? All of the Plumb axes I have seen are branded USA.

Kelly was so popular that many of the Old-timers referred to any axe as a 'Kelly'. I suppose because most of them were.

regards...Frank.
 
At the peak, most if not all Kelly axes were made over in your neck of the woods. Other manufacturers still imported them. Kelly had a very large following in Australia, NZ, etc. I have never seen or heard of a Silver Eagle, though take that for what you want. If you get on google and search axe collections - there is a guy on there from austrailia that has an extensive collection that might be able to help you out.

Thanks.
 
Found a picture online:

1_ed7df832eb4c2d3510b82bfd8494a808.jpg

from http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-w-c-kelly-broad-axe

"...the head is stamped with the name W.C. Kelly Charleston W. Va. Reg US Pat. Office.. it is 7" long with a 5" cutting edge...the tool is 30 1/2" long and weighs 5 lbs..."
 
Hi Frank , I have a Kelly Silver Eagle , True Temper , on the other side says Made in Canada.It measures 140 mm across the cutting edge and looks very similar to a Dandenong in shape.I am struggling to find out anything about it .It has been suggested to me that it was probably made between 1930-49 but that is about all I have to go by at this stage.Did you manage to find out any more about them.It sounds like their rare and I am wondering if there may have been a limited of them to cetain markets only.I am also in New Zealand.Is there any one out there who can shed some light on this model ? Cheers Poike. NZ
 
Great looking axe. Surprising how unknown and rare some axes are. How many different kinds of axes did manufacturers like Kelly make which have gone under the radar of us axe enthusiasts and historians? I am sure there are a bunch of Silver Eagles around sitting in peoples dusty cobwebbed ridden tool sheds; they are just not the kind of people to even consider taking a picture and uploading it to a forum for others to look at - it's just an axe in the dusty ol' shed after all.

I am wondering why 2 Kiwi's have spoken of having Silver Eagles and I am now the 3rd to bring it up also from New Zealand..? Was this possibly a line just for NZ or perhaps NZ and AUS?? Intriguing to say the least.
 
picked up a kelly silver eagle in the salvation army store the other day. 8 dollars.At haywards auctions in Wanganui saw a welland vale black prince axe head welded to 3 metres of galv pipe (probably a drainlayers tool) put a bid on for 20 nz but with it going with a lot of other tools was a bit light money wise.
 
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