Looking for some Hatchet advice .

M

Mike-The-Knife

Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Messages
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First a little explanation . Although I have always owned a hatchet I am not really an axe and hatchet guy . Or wasn't till more recently anyway . I recently came across a sale were it seems a family was getting rid of (probably their grandfathers) old stuff . I found an axe a hatchet and two smaller hatchets all made Walters , in Hull Quebec . I believe the smaller ones where marketed as the "Midget" Hatchet .
Anyway , here's the question . One of them has the normal "axe" looking head and one has the Hudson Bay style head . I don't really need them both and was thinking of selling one . I just wanted to know weather the Hudson Bay style one was any more collectible or valuable than the other one before I sell either one .

I thank you all in advance for your input .
 
We aren't alowed to ask or give values for objects on these forums. But in general Hudson Bay style axes and hatchets are in vogue right now and fetch something more than than comparably sized pieces in more common patterns.

It would be nice to see pictures of your Walters pieces.
 
I for one am always keen to see photos of a "stash" of Walters goodies. Presumably you live in eastern Canada. Walters Axe, Hull, PQ - stamped tools date from 1922 to 1973. Rarest of the bunch (in your case) would be a Hudson Bay pattern but more than likely what you've got is a Montreal pattern.
 
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Ok , not how I wanted it to work , but the links work . I hope to get more of your feedback on what you think of these .
 
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PhotoPhucket sort of worked for me and I did manage to rubberneck 2 of the links. As you admit the supposed HB is in fact a Montreal pattern. The handles all look to be original (Plumb-type stain job on the axe though makes me wonder), they've been toyed with (re-paint and lanyard holes amongst other things) and all of the heads have 'enjoyed' considerable use before their owner moved on or kicked the bucket. God bless 'grandpa's' foresight in thinking for himself and not for his grandchildren!
 
Yes they certainly have been used and used pretty hard by the look of most of them . I was sure about the handles on the bigger hatchet and the none Montreal pattern small one being proper Walters handles . The full size axe and the Montreal one I wasn't too sure . It's a shame that the larger hatchet is so sharpened back , because it's a black diamond and the only one marked as such .

I got all four of them for $40 though , so regardless of their used condition I think I did ok .

Thanks for the input and information .
 
I just wanted to see them with the comments :)
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P1080840_zpskhay6da2.jpg~original

P1080841_zpsqeydisxs.jpg
 
Thank you Agent_H

Oh I should say here too that as 300six mentioned and you can see , the end of the handle on the larger hatchet has been repainted . I painted it as it had been red , but the paint was mostly warn off and I replaced the red tape on it and the smaller Montreal pattern one . I find the bright color can help in not loosing something you set down in the woods . The other handles are as they came .
 
Mike-The-Knife said:
Thank you Agent_H

Oh I should say here too that as 300six mentioned and you can see , the end of the handle on the larger hatchet has been repainted . I painted it as it had been red , but the paint was mostly warn off and I replaced the red tape on it and the smaller Montreal pattern one . I find the bright color can help in not loosing something you set down in the woods . The other handles are as they came .
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I don't know who pioneered painting of butt swells (presumably for the purpose of visibility) but Morley Walters was certainly quick to adopt it. The hafts were 'white-washed' with a beige stain and the butts were usually painted a deep yellow. However a Toronto Star article (Aug 7 1965) shows a Walters broadaxe with a red butt along with an H.B. that has no paint at all. Garant et fils of Quebec carried on with this tradition (even on sledge hammers) and mix sand/stipple or some such in with the paint to ensure a positive grip even when they're iced over.

"Black Diamond" was Walters highest grade. Whether this related to degree of polish and finishing, or whether this had something to do with the steel or the tempering I don't know.
 
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