Let's ID some axe heads!

jblyttle

jblyttle

Joined
Sep 3, 2014
Messages
3,741
These 4 are all good, but I can't positively ID them. Well, the Panther I have figured out, but I'm at a dead end on company info.

The first one is a 1.25lb hatchet head, stamped US, it's a Dayton pattern but with a fairly thin bit.

Next is a 3.75lb head marked Panther. I figured out that it was made for a hardware company called Honeyman Hardware in Portland Oregon (I found this on Cape Cod), but really no more than that.

Next is a really nice boy's axe head. Great shape, great condition, looks hand made to me. 2lbs 2oz, marks "RAZOR BLADED" This one intrigues me the most.

Last is a 1.75lb Hudson Nay head. Super clean, unabused, looks good. I just have no clues on maker, maybe some recognize it. It is stamped "1 3/4" under the poll.





 
The razor may be a Hurd's razor blade axe. The Hudson bay is probably a Snow and Nealley. They stamped the 1 3/4 on the bottom of their Hudson bays and had light maker stamps.
 
halfaxe said:
The razor may be a Hurd's razor blade axe. The Hudson bay is probably a Snow and Nealley. They stamped the 1 3/4 on the bottom of their Hudson bays and had light maker stamps.
Click to expand...

That's pretty goo, I have not heard of Hurd before but I think that you are right on. If true, the condition is amazing, I'll post more detailed pics. If I were to look for a S&N mark on the HB, where would it be?
 
jblyttle said:
That's pretty goo, I have not heard of Hurd before but I think that you are right on. If true, the condition is amazing, I'll post more detailed pics. If I were to look for a S&N mark on the HB, where would it be?
Click to expand...

On the side next to the poll like most axe stamps. Two lines, second line is Bangor-Maine, with the dash. Some Snow and Nealleys only had a paper(foil) label in the later years. The shape is exactly like S&N later models, not Norlund or Collins, the other two big Hudson Bay makers.
 
Looks just like a paper label Snow and Nealley that my Grandfather uses, marked under the poll yeah?
 
Like halfaxe said, Hurd's is the first thing to mind on the Razor Blade. Theirs were AA&T co. made, if I remember correctly.
 
That one and maybe the S&N are keepers. The Hurd is the first that I have seen and I need a boy's axe. The HB is just too uncommon around here for me to let go, at least until I find another. I'm going to ME in a couple weeks, for a week. We will see.
 
Square_peg said:
Sears also sold 'Razor Blade' axes.
Click to expand...

Shush!

Seriously though, I'm going with Hurd for a few reasons. Is is extremely well made, and has visual cues that say "hand made by a real craftsman". The shape is nice, but aside from that, some of the tell tales may be the marks in the eye from when it was formed, as well as the slightly thinner eye walls and the slightly wedged shape. Another may be the non standard weight of 34oz. It may be from wear, but it doesn't look worn enough to have lost 2oz. It just doesn't look like any Sears axe that I have seen so far.




I think that I will keep this one. I need a boy's axe and this looks like high quality. It's also one that I may never come across again. The shape looks like a hybrid, I see aspects of Dayton, Connecticut and Maine axes all in this one.
 
Last edited:
Square_peg said:
Sears also sold 'Razor Blade' axes.
Click to expand...

jblyttle said:
Shush!

Seriously though, I'm going with Hurd for a few reasons. Is is extremely well made, and has visual cues that say "hand made by a real craftsman". The shape is nice, but aside from that, some of the tell tales may be the marks in the eye from when it was formed, as well as the slightly thinner eye walls and the slightly wedged shape. Another may be the non standard weight of 34oz. It may be from wear, but it doesn't look worn enough to have lost 2oz. It just doesn't look like any Sears axe that I have seen so far.
Click to expand...


I suspect you're right about this one being a Hurd. But don't discount the quality of Sears' Razor Blade axes. They were a top shelf axe in this 1916 Sears catalog. I'm sure that in use they would satisfy the choosiest among us. It's also highly possible that Sears was reselling Hurd axes as their Fulton line of Razor Blade axes.

Fulton%20Razor%20Blade%20Axes.jpg
 
Look at the prices in that catalog! I'd pay 1.40 for a Fulton Clipper (with Extra Fancy handle don't ya know!) any day of the week! You can't even find the modern chinese crud for that low of a price.
 
I just googled it, and the inflation calculator I found says 1916's $1.40 had the same buying power as $30 today. Seems like a great deals on Sears axes back in the day, the Fulton axe heads I have are way higher quality than any box store China Truper.
 
New to he forum and new to buying and refinishing axe heads. I bought a hatchet at a local flea market for a project. Only paid $5, but think I found something cool. After Electorolysis rust removal I can see that it is in pretty good condition and may be quite old, from what I have read and seen it may be hand forged. I cannot make out the makers mark and am hoping that someone more well-versed in the hobby may be able to make it out.

I have the pics on my computer, can anyone suggest where I can upload them to get a URL?
 
madv79 said:
New to he forum and new to buying and refinishing axe heads. I bought a hatchet at a local flea market for a project. Only paid $5, but think I found something cool. After Electorolysis rust removal I can see that it is in pretty good condition and may be quite old, from what I have read and seen it may be hand forged. I cannot make out the makers mark and am hoping that someone more well-versed in the hobby may be able to make it out.

I have the pics on my computer, can anyone suggest where I can upload them to get a URL?
Click to expand...
Welcome to the obsession. You can post your pictures to a hosting site like photobucket for free. Then you click on the url next to the photo, then come here and click on the tiny photo icon in header here when you post. Then paste the photo link.
 
You are correct; I'm into the obsession hook, line and sinker. I just picked up a 4lb single bit Collins Legitimus on ebay and what seems to be a homemade brush hook at a local flea market. Im gonna get quality handles and restore all of them to their prior glory. New tools are garbage; I am willing to invest a bit of effort and elbow grease to have a quality tool I can pass down as part of my legacy.

This hatchet is really interesting, it is tough to make out the makers mark, but it looks like a very worn out flower on one side (a daisy type), and an equally worn out stamp on the other side of the poll. Can only make out the first few letters (using my imagination) "DRUM....", Maybe DRUMMOND? Any help would be appreciated.
 
JB, That US marked hatchet I believe is from the same company that made boy scout hatchets in the 60's(USA Co). They have been discussed here before. I am thinking maybe INNES or something of that nature. They have a texture to there forgings and no makers mark. I know you have had their scout hatchets. Besides there Scout axes I have seen the army issue, olive drab paint, the traditional military style handle and a canvas head cover that fit on a military belt. Just stamped US.
 
garry3 said:
OK this is them guys. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/860838-Please-help-unknown-hatchet-boy-scout
They made an official scout hatchet also, only distinguished by the painted and decaled handle, no head stamps.
Click to expand...

More information about Ennis Manufacturing Co., Reading, PA (from another thread):

jblyttle said:
This one?

Click to expand...

Steve Tall said:
Ennis Manufacturing Co.
Reading, PA

Note the "NS" logo in this 1969 photo, and the sign "Ennis Manufacturing Co. Hand Tools"
https://books.google.com/books?id=IkmZ67GCBNcC&lpg=PA97&dq=ennis%20tool%20company&pg=PA97#v=onepage&q=ennis%20tool%20company&f=false

This company's "Zytel"-handled hammers were shown in Popular Science, June 1970:
https://books.google.com/books?id=qNgDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA181&ots=Mutpc3Q468&dq=%22ennis%20manufacturing%20co.%22%20reading&pg=PA181#v=onepage&q=%22ennis%20manufacturing%20co.%22%20reading&f=false
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top