- Joined
- Aug 31, 2012
- Messages
- 390
A month ago I brought home 3 double bits and a cracked rafting axe from the local metal recycler for ten bucks. They were rusty and in rough shape.
The Collins rafting axe has been covered in another thread and will unfortunately be heading back to the metal recycler. I have started to clean up the 3 double bits but the one pictured on the right seemed to capture my attention the most.
I cleaned out the eye and hit it with a wire cup brush. I wasn't very happy with how it was looking and could find no makers mark. I mean the profile looked good but the patina did not, so I gave it a vinegar bath. After a couple days in the bath and cleaning it up I noticed the very faint remnants of what looked like a Plumb stamp. It is really hard to see and does not photograph well at all.
Anyway, the finish quality of the top and bottom of the head, profile and that faint stamp all lead me to believe that I have a Plumb DB here. It weighs in at 3lb. 7oz., measures 10" from bit to bit and the bits measure 4" from heel to toe. I have yet to look into what pattern this is.
Today I began filing the bits. They were heavily dinged up, even chipped, but I saw no evidence of a grinder being taken to it.
The bits cleaned up nice and once I got past the pitting and chips the metal was quite nice to work with.
About a week ago I was gifted a piece of purple heart that was long enough and thick enough to fashion a haft out of. The grain orientation was not good but I did what I could with what I had and it was free. I would not have picked poorly oriented purple heart for this full size axe but since it came to me at no cost I figured it would be a good experiment. So I carved it out and hung it.
I will let it sit around for a few days and let it turn more purple before I put a finish on it but this is what the axe looks like now.
The Collins rafting axe has been covered in another thread and will unfortunately be heading back to the metal recycler. I have started to clean up the 3 double bits but the one pictured on the right seemed to capture my attention the most.
I cleaned out the eye and hit it with a wire cup brush. I wasn't very happy with how it was looking and could find no makers mark. I mean the profile looked good but the patina did not, so I gave it a vinegar bath. After a couple days in the bath and cleaning it up I noticed the very faint remnants of what looked like a Plumb stamp. It is really hard to see and does not photograph well at all.
Anyway, the finish quality of the top and bottom of the head, profile and that faint stamp all lead me to believe that I have a Plumb DB here. It weighs in at 3lb. 7oz., measures 10" from bit to bit and the bits measure 4" from heel to toe. I have yet to look into what pattern this is.
Today I began filing the bits. They were heavily dinged up, even chipped, but I saw no evidence of a grinder being taken to it.
The bits cleaned up nice and once I got past the pitting and chips the metal was quite nice to work with.
About a week ago I was gifted a piece of purple heart that was long enough and thick enough to fashion a haft out of. The grain orientation was not good but I did what I could with what I had and it was free. I would not have picked poorly oriented purple heart for this full size axe but since it came to me at no cost I figured it would be a good experiment. So I carved it out and hung it.
I will let it sit around for a few days and let it turn more purple before I put a finish on it but this is what the axe looks like now.
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