My Discovery of the New World of the North America Axe, (Out West, As They Say)

Ernest DuBois said:
Your pictures drew me to the hosting server and I just bumbled around from there only intending to hoist up the turkeys which are in full ritual mode these days, really more impressive than what my poor shots can manage to show. But it's a step closer to posting shots and so be patient while I figure out this new method and thanks for the revelation though the extra unintended shots show me the need to proceed in a bit more informed way.
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Let me know and I will edit out those 2 pics of buildings.
I do not want to generalize but very often in Colorado's ghost towns I could see very cheap, fast built buildings dating XIX century. Over next decades new owners of the property would build another/better house or just mobile home next to it and just and let the old buildings deteriorate. Not sure if it was done to preserve history or just laziness. Let's say, if 60 years ago I was the owner of the property I would probably try reuse/ repurpose building materials.
 
Go ahead and remove the ones without turkeys thanks. All kinds of examples of what you describe of abandoned structures here near and far. I think in part caused by radicle boom and bust cycles. Unusually the place where I'm staying shows signs of more continuity from the very time of settlement but it is time for some serious fixing, even though the old stall is in full use and functional, that is to say keeping coyote at bay and the rain out.
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Trailsawyer said:
My experience in Colorado was not real rewarding, in terms of finding decent axes. I spent about a week in the summer of 2019, and again in 2020, stopping in antique stores and flea markets between Denver and Cheyenne. I came home with one axe - a nice #4 Plumb Jersey with an original haft. We had lots of fun looking around though! Part of the "fun" was flying home with an axe..... rather than just package it and pay to ship it, I bought a rifle case to carry the axe in, and checked it with the airline! Lots of "interest" and questions at the airport.... but no problems!
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Reminds me coming home from Bladeshow in 2019. We bought maybe 40 pounds of knives, axes, and everything in between. We just packed them in a duffle bag and put em on the plane. I was praying the entire flight back that duffle bag would make it back safely and wouldn't be stopped or questioned. We were good though, no one even opened it. Makes me miss bladeshow. I wonder if it'll run this year.

Apologies for going way off topic by the way
 
Today I've taken a handle from House company, a first since my normal supply of self harvested and processed handle material is unfortunately inaccessible, you know. Chosen for consistency of the wood and more or less 45 degree ring orientation in order to minimalize exposure of flat grain all around, herratic that I am in this regard it made perfect sense under current local atmospheric conditions and the effect I've observed those have on wood of handle dimensions. Ok, I'll leave it at that as far as this aspect. Once home I quickly did away with this godawful finish applied on the manufacturing scene by scraping then coated with some unknown substance I'd found stored then discarded, sealed in a mason jar in the old ranch dump. The handle was defective having a slight bow but I oriented it to what should be an advantage for intended use
 
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M3mphis said:
Ernest, did you move permanently to Colorado?
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This is a voice from by-gone days, if I don't mistake it.

I am back and forth these days, eventually to plant myself, yes in Colorado where the climate and demographics suit me and my bones.
 
Now, back to these explorations of New (to me) axes. I have discovered a new made axe from the shop by the highly touted Vaughan company turns out unusable since the grinding, (most of the formation of the axe achieved by this method, a Sure sign of poor craftmanship in axes) has left the blade askew.
 
How old of Vaughan? They outsourced their striking tools works to India about a decade ago.

Vintage Vaughan axes are terrific tools. The Supersteel and Sub-Zero are especially well made of top quality high carbon American steel.
 
All excuses to the Side, I can assure you square peg that its "100%" USA origins are prominantly pointed out even on the stickers. I was anticipating getting educated about the character of the steel used for the axe but the defect mentioned intervened.
 
I need to get back into my axes. Started removing the Lacquer coating on some of the otherwise nice handled store bought and BHQ axes i purchased over the last year and applying multiple coats of linseed oil. One old axe head i brought back needs to be re hafted too! Thanks for the inspiration!!
 
My litteral discovery turns up in an excavation under an old cabin, little used and a little abusedimage.jpegimage.jpeg

This one axe, profile and top down, the second of two from under there plus two wedges, one kerf & one splitting. I begin to see what has always attracted all those treasure hunting mad men to this place from back there in those days .
 
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