Lurker posting for the first time. Half Hatchet

trigger_andy · Feb 8, 2017

Bit of a Lurker here from Scotland. Loving this section of the forum and I purchased what was labeled as a Plumb Hatchet but now I have the hatchet shipped over from the US Im not sure what it is and any help would be appreciated.

ebay item number; 112271583775 and hopefully the link; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112271583775?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

not sure how to add images here? But tonight I managed to get a nice hone on the edge, enough to slice paper.

Any help would be appreciated.

Andy

garry3 · Feb 8, 2017

Hi Andy, thats a nice looking old Plumb. Is it cracked on top in front of the eye? If so I would weld it and file or grind the weld smooth. Should be able to do it with out messing up the heat treat to the bit or the poll.
Some information on your Plumb can be found here.
http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears Tools/Home.html

Steve Tall · Feb 8, 2017

Here's the stamp on your half hatchet:

Here's a similar stamp on a cleaver:

(Plumb ANCHOR BRAND logo with EXTRA above it, and DAMASCUS STEEL below it)

Woodcraft · Feb 8, 2017

Steve Tall said:
Here's the stamp on your half hatchet:

Here's a similar stamp on a cleaver:

(Plumb ANCHOR BRAND logo with EXTRA above it, and DAMASCUS STEEL below it)

Not to sidetrack but I was unaware Plumb made a cleaver.

Steve Tall · Feb 8, 2017

Woodcraft said:
Not to sidetrack but I was unaware Plumb made a cleaver.

Woodcraft · Feb 8, 2017

Steve Tall said:

Very cool, thanks.

300Six · Feb 8, 2017

Forum member Operator1975 spoke very highly of the steel and heat treatment of older Plumbs and your's definitely qualifies. After Yerkes retired the company went forward as Lafayette Plumb with the anchor symbol in 1887/88 and then the square-framed PLUMB logo appeared in around 1917, with patent granted in 1920. Your baby is at least 100 years old!

trigger_andy · Feb 9, 2017

Thanks for the awesome response guys! It's great to know I got a Plumb and one that's at least 100 years old is a real bonus.

Thank you Steve Tall for taking the time to add the pictures. I tried so many combinations in google for extra Damascus steeel and Plum but it came back with no results or images other than my own hatchet, ha ha. It's good to know itborigianakly had the logo in the middle.

Gary3, I'll look into the oddity in the eye tonight, hopefully it will be ok but good to know it will take a small weld and a file.

Thank you for the info 300sux, great to know it's ago and I'll look at the links later when I get home.

Well, I spent 4 hours honing the edge on my Japanese Water Stones and managed to get the dings and burrs out and got an edge that sliced through paper. I'm planning on replacing the shaft with a Viking one I'll make from Ash. I hve a 1000 year old Viking Hatchet replica I picked up in Norway as my template. Looking forward to that.

trigger_andy · Feb 9, 2017

Managed to figure out the uploading.

Started on the shaft out of a bit of Oak Ive got. I'll make an ash one later.

300Six · Feb 9, 2017

Myself am 'tickled pink' that you've elected to 'get the old girl back on the road'. Trades folks intimately knew and understood hand tools 100+ years ago and wouldn't settle for junk. That Plumb was successful during that era tells me modern garbage cannot even get close to competing with what was considered 'common' quality at the time.
Stamp on yours is faint (but does prove origin) and the tool has been 'previously enjoyed' for a long time (ie the collector value is low) so please carry on with becoming an appreciative and discerning user.

trigger_andy · Feb 10, 2017

Thank you for the kind words.

it's my first time messing about with a vintage Hackett and the first time attempting a handle. Having a lot of fun and learning along the way. I've ground the face(if that is the correct word) to acutely so when using on the oak the cutting edge folded over a touch at one section. I'll have to regrind with more of a convex.

Out of interest who would have bought such a Hatchet?

I'm
Wondering what to buy next? I'd want another hatchet I think? Maybe one specifically for Camping.

300Six · Feb 10, 2017

trigger_andy said:
Thank you for the kind words. it's my first time messing about with a vintage Hackett and the first time attempting a handle. Having a lot of fun and learning along the way. I've ground the face(if that is the correct word) to acutely so when using on the oak the cutting edge folded over a touch at one section. I'll have to regrind with more of a convex.

Out of interest who would have bought such a Hatchet?

Building materials (studs beams and joists etc) were rough sawn (and not dressed and round edged) and required shaving and fitting and strategic smoothing until around the time of the second world war. Single bevel hatchet was handy for that. Lathe and plaster wall and ceiling finishes required truckloads of wood strips to be cut, trimmed and fitted. Hatchets were quite handy before the electric tool era took hold beginning in the 1950s. Carpenters generally had a few types of hatchets in their tool kit before that time. They certainly weren't in common use anymore (except for roofing) when I got involved in residential construction in the early 1970s.