Looking to purchase felling axe

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Patrickcrowleyjr

Joined
Feb 10, 2017
Messages
15
I am looking to purchase a felling axe... I have a hults bruk splitting bjork axe and a gransfors bruks small Forrest axe (will arrive tomorrow) I am still new to axe collecting, but when I like a topic I learn quick and that seems to be the case with axes.

Although I find European axes as superior blades, I also love American history, especially the WNY buffalo area. I would like any recommendation on axe brands new and old, especially something to look out for in the US.

I am willing to purchase so, if you have anything for sale please post with asking price. Thank you all ahead of time for your responses. Looking forward to what you think.




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For brand new made in America look no further than council tools, just remember that they're working tools and not boutique axes so don't expect them to look like a million bux.

For vintage there are many.
Plumb
Kelly
True temper
Collins
Homestead ( also Collins but don't always say Collins )
Mann edge
Craftsman
Keen kutter
Council tools ( been around for over a century )
And lastly Stanley
There are many others, but these are the most common that you're likely to find.
Look for convex cheeks as this usually means that they're older and likely to better ( ie made when axes were still king ) when chainsaws got popular the demand for axes slowed drastically and manufacturers did away with the convex cheeks to cut costs and in most cases quality just went down across the board ( I believe the really starting happening most in the late 60's )

BTW while Swedish axes are known to be better than most other axes on the market today, many vintage American axes are known to be far superior in every way.
 
Welcome aboard. Forum member jblytle is pretty good at sniffing out 'previously enjoyed' heirloom axes in the northeast States and I know for a fact that a nice Plumb head is coming back at him because of a busted handle. Get a hold of him to see what he's got up his sleeve. Learning how to conduct a competent hang and profile and sharpen a blade makes for an interesting hobby and will generate a lifelong useful tool.
 
Hickory n steel said:
For brand new made in America look no further than council tools, just remember that they're working tools and not boutique axes so don't expect them to look like a million bux.

For vintage there are many.
Plumb
Kelly
True temper
Collins
Homestead ( also Collins but don't always say Collins )
Mann edge
Craftsman
Keen kutter
Council tools ( been around for over a century )
And lastly Stanley
There are many others, but these are the most common that you're likely to find.
Look for convex cheeks as this usually means that they're older and likely to better ( ie made when axes were still king ) when chainsaws got popular the demand for axes slowed drastically and manufacturers did away with the convex cheeks to cut costs and in most cases quality just went down across the board ( I believe the really starting happening most in the late 60's )

BTW while Swedish axes are known to be better than most other axes on the market today, many vintage American axes are known to be far superior in every way.
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Awesome stuff... thanks so much for your time and input. I see plumb mentioned a lot on other threads, I am going to start looking into the others you have mentioned.

321a3fc5b198e856a482575f29a87253.jpg


I recently picked up this hewing axe at an antique dealer along with an old carbonundrum wheel. Any idea what it might be from? Marked <1818> inside a horizontal diamond, another member noted possibly Stanley but wasn't to sure on it.

Everyone seems to be so cool on these forums, means a lot you'd take the time to introduce these companies and exactly what to look for!


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300Six said:
Welcome aboard. Forum member jblytle is pretty good at sniffing out 'previously enjoyed' heirloom axes in the northeast States and I know for a fact that a nice Plumb head is coming back at him because of a busted handle. Get a hold of him to see what he's got up his sleeve. Learning how to conduct a competent hang and profile and sharpen a blade makes for an interesting hobby and will generate a lifelong useful tool.
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Awesome thanks for your time as well. I'll check out jblytle's stuff. I have sharpened a lot of blades before, but I've learned axes are a bit different already.

I'm working on hanging my first one as well. Any recommendations on where to get quality American hickory handles?


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Beavertooth is the online outlet for Tennessee Hickory Products. IMO they sell the finest white hickory available. The drawback is that their handles tend to be quite fat and need a lot of slimming to become a really great handle. Some retailers also carry TH handles. Check your local saw shop.

House Handle sells handles that are closer to being in finished condition. They are usable as they come but are not without flaws - sometimes serious. But some very nice handles come from HH.

Link is now owned by Seymor but still makes handles which are often found in hardware stores small and large. Be selective, you might find a lot of junk mixed in with a few real gems. For some reason their boys axe and cruiser axe handles tend to be better than their full size stuff.
 
Patrickcrowleyjr said:
Awesome stuff... thanks so much for your time and input. I see plumb mentioned a lot on other threads, I am going to start looking into the others you have mentioned.

321a3fc5b198e856a482575f29a87253.jpg


I recently picked up this hewing axe at an antique dealer along with an old carbonundrum wheel. Any idea what it might be from? Marked <1818> inside a horizontal diamond, another member noted possibly Stanley but wasn't to sure on it.

Everyone seems to be so cool on these forums, means a lot you'd take the time to introduce these companies and exactly what to look for!


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No problem man, it was my pleasure. Sorry that I can't help with that hewing axe though.

BTW jblytle definitely is a great guy to work with which I know from personal experience, and is always finding loads of great stuff.
 
Hickory n steel said:
No problem man, it was my pleasure. Sorry that I can't help with that hewing axe though.

BTW jblytle definitely is a great guy to work with which I know from personal experience, and is always finding loads of great stuff.
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It's funny you mentioned him, I came across his seller dilemma on that same axe you brought up. All around stand up guy, easy to see that right off the bat. I'm gonna reach out to him and ask to keep me in mind. Looking to acquire 5-6 more in the near future, so really appreciate the referral and insight, thanks again bud!


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Adding my personal experience with what was already said about handles, Link handles are junk. (All of them. Flame treated, waxed, and the giant glazed donut handle. All are carried locally) Sorry they just are. I have a couple that are just amazing. Awesome, still had to work them quite a bit though. I had to dig through literally hundreds to find those two. They produce crap by the ton and occasionally a user falls out. Not worth giving them my business.
Beavertooth makes good handles. The grade 2 beavertooth handles are leaps and bounds better than link handles let alone the top grade.
 
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Square_peg said:
Link is now owned by Seymor but still makes handles which are often found in hardware stores small and large. Be selective, you might find a lot of junk mixed in with a few real gems. For some reason their boys axe and cruiser axe handles tend to be better than their full size stuff.
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The problem (circumstantially) seems to be that hardware stores usually carry Link's lower grades of handles. The only ones I've ever bought were their top-class wax finished handles and have consistently been quite pleased with the quality of the wood. The only downside is that most of them were quite thick, but I consider too thick better than too thin. You're gonna' need to be doing some finish work anyhow, and with more wood on the handle you can get some small degree of wiggle room out of it to tune the handle to the head. If memory serves correctly, Link supplies handles to Council.
 
I've purchased a few Link handles. Like most, they don't seem to pay attention to alignment and runout. However, as long as I can hand select I've been pleased. One thing that they seem to do better than anyone in at least one area is making every handle the same exact shape, and in my experience they have been thinner than standard House handles and also thinner than the True Temper replacement handles.
 
jblyttle said:
I've purchased a few Link handles. Like most, they don't seem to pay attention to alignment and runout. However, as long as I can hand select I've been pleased. One thing that they seem to do better than anyone in at least one area is making every handle the same exact shape, and in my experience they have been thinner than standard House handles and also thinner than the True Temper replacement handles.
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Thanks man. If you have a good handle for a hewing axe approx 16-20" (heavy head 2+lbs)I am looking to hang the recent one I bought. Maybe you can let me know what you have in e-mail. We've been talking about doing some transactions recently. Buffalomarketinginc email.

Thank you to the rest of you for your input too. Been really enjoying this forum. Everybody is great, and I've been learning a lot just from reading the threads!


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