Miss-aligned head on NOS Collins Connecticut

J

jmh76

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Mar 27, 2012
Messages
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I just bought a NOS Collins Connecticut, 3.5# and the head is miss-aligned about 1/4" to outside of fawns foot. Not 1/4" off center, 1/4" off the edge of fawns foot. What would the "Pro's" do? Leave it or try to straighten it? If straighten, how would you go about it? Otherwise the axe is a bute! I will get pics in am.
 
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Well here she is before clean-up. This is the best feeling axe I own. The weight and feel of the haft are great, on a 28-1/2" The good and the ugly. It looks like the curve is in the last half toward fawns foot. I think I will steam it. The pic looks a little wore than it really is.







 
she's a beauty. I have a NOS Collins Legitimus Connecticut head - it's a beauty - I doubt that I will ever hang it but it's sweet.
 
I'm not familiar with the timing on the box logo but it looks to me somewhere in the 50s and 60s. Just a guess. I don't recall seeing any patterned axes (like CTs) from the 70s and later. I could be wrong on this. Operator may know more.

Sure. She'd be a good user. I chose not to hang my NOS as I have several Collins CTs already in my user group. At best count I think I have 20 or so Connecticuts (Collins and others).
 
It probably leaned against a wall for a few decades. Steam or just heat should work. Heat the wood, clamp it down straight or slightly the other way for a few days.

Collectors item. I would concur that it looks 50's or 60's but I'm not 100%. Just going by the handle stamping. I have a new old Witherell and a couple other new old axes that I go back and forth whether to use or not. So far they are unmarred. I only paid 1/3 the cost of a Gransfors Bruks so it isn't the investment. I think potentially they may be worth more in the future, plus I have a lot of other axes. If you find the right collector, you may be able to get a good trade for a few good used axes. Once you use it, it's a used axe. Instant devaluation.
 
jmh76 said:
It looks like the curve is in the last half toward fawns foot. I think I will steam it.

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That will straighten right out with some steam. I do mine over a shallow roasting pan on the stove top. I just tent it with foil. 20 minutes then clamp it to the bench. Only trouble I've had is bending it too far. A couple times I've had to steam it again to take the opposite curve out of it.
 
Be warned if you try to straighten that handle it will more than likely mess up the varnish or whatever finish it has on it. If its a user no problem. Looks like some one painted the head with a brush?
 
Yeah, they did. It came from a guy that worked for Collins. Were the axes of this time painted? If so would they have been brushed? I'm also wondering if this one was rejected because of crooked handle and the guy painted it himself, IDK. If they were not originally hand painted I am leaning to using it. The only wall hanger I own is a JNT and only reason it hangs is cause it does not perform.
 
The polish on the head and poll also the top of the handle and wedge all look factory new. It doesn't look like a restored axe. Original varnish on the factory handle. It could be factory paint but with the brushstrokes I don't know. Earlier axes were hand painted with brushes. I'm not sure when they started spraying paint.
 
I steamed her a few times and made a new sheath. Both turned out satisfactory IMO. Thanks for the steaming tricks. Now I got to decide to let her hang or use her. I'm torn...
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I think it has some collector value being in such pristine shape. You might leave that one for a wall queen.

I'm not sure it's as old as some of the others have speculated. I've seen that 'Geniune Hickory' stamp on the handle of later model Collins axes made during the Mann Edge Tool years (1966 and later).
 
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