Legitimus Axe head information and identification

W

Wild Toad

Joined
Jun 1, 2013
Messages
5
Hope this works this time. The following photographs are of an axe head I bought at a garage sale this week. It is stamped Collins & Co Hartford Cast Steel Warranted Legitimus with the Crown logo stamped in the middle. There is a #1 stamped below the name and no stamps of US or USA or made in USA. Nothing is on the opposite side as far as I can tell. Any information on the date? What the #1 means? Thank you.
www.flickr.com/photos/wildtoad/15460337475/
www.flickr.com/photos/wildtoad/15437253616/
 
I basically just got done with researching this but can add only a bit regards value. In my looking around value went from $35 to maybe $90 for the head only with condition from fair to lightly used with very good stamp marking. The tempered is reputed to be excellent. Looking at your pics if you picked it up for under $20 then you have a nice score assuming you want to put it to use.

I know that's not much but outside of a small, dedicated group of collectors I couldn't find a ton of information. Did you read the Collins Tool Co. thread with provides some basic history here on this forum?
 
Yes, I have read what I have been able to find. I guess I am hoping for an expert that might clue in on the fact that there is no US stamp, a #1 stamped or some other feature to claim it as fake or real.
 
Wild Toad said:
and no stamps of US or USA or made in USA.
Click to expand...

Last time I checked Hartford, Conn. was in the USA. It's a Legitimus but it's pretty hammered. Sharpen it up and use it. As for value - it's worth whatever you paid for it.
 
Square_peg said:
Last time I checked Hartford, Conn. was in the USA. It's a Legitimus but it's pretty hammered. Sharpen it up and use it. As for value - it's worth whatever you paid for it.
Click to expand...

I am not that interested in value. I am much more interested in history. I bought this at a garage sale this last weekend for a dollar. Yes, it is beaten up but it still has plenty of tempered steel along the cutting edge. I usually fix up these old axes to give to my sons. I get a kick out of the research and history of the axes I find. With all the fake Collins axes I was just fishing for someone that specializes in the early Collins axe blades. Thanks for your reply, Bill
 
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