Need help identifying hatchet.

I found a hatchet recently that I got for practically nothing at an old garage sale. I don't know who made it, or if it has any significant value. I brought it home because it was one that I've never seen before and I can't find any other examples like it online. The cutting edge is flared out from the rest of the bit. I assume it's to help with splitting. There are 3 marks on the side of the pole: X-X
4
A reversed capital B underscore _
Does anyone here know what the marks mean? They are arranged in that order. Also, I think the head has been coated in asphaltum jappaning. I'm trying to figure out how to post some pictures of it in this thread. Any suggestions would help!
 
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DCarter84 said:
I found a hatchet recently that I got for practically nothing at an old garage sale. I don't know who made it, or if it has any significant value. I brought it home because it was one that I've never seen before and I can't find any other examples like it online. The cutting edge is flared out from the rest of the bit. I assume it's to help with splitting. There are 3 marks on the side of the pole: X-X
4
A reversed capital B underscore _
Does anyone here know what the marks mean? They are arranged in that order. Also, I think the head has been coated in asphaltum jappaning. I'm trying to figure out how to post some pictures of it in this thread. Any suggestions would help!
Click to expand...
Made by Barco
 
That sounds like the barco " light duty scout axe " as they called it, I'm not really sure on the purpose of it's design.
 
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Is this what you have ?


The heads on these appear to be cast, that would just be standard black paint not any kind of textured finish.
Thinking about it now, maybe they thickened the bit that way for strength. The heads look like they could be cast of some kind of ductile iron, that could explain why a 1.5lb hatchet which is heavier than a typical 1.25lb hatchet would be called " light duty ".
 
Yeah, it's the same. The coating on it is definitely tougher than ordinary paint.On the top of the pole the coating has worn off with use and you can see tool marks, but no mushrooming of the metal. I'm probably going to take the rest of the coating off and sharpen it. The handle is a little loose in the eye, but it has a tight and properly oriented grain.

Hickory n steel said:
Is this what you have ?


The heads on these appear to be cast, that would just be standard black paint not any kind of textured finish.
Thinking about it now, maybe they thickened the bit that way for strength. The heads look like they could be cast of some kind of ductile iron, that could explain why a 1.5lb hatchet which is heavier than a typical 1.25lb hatchet would be called " light duty ".
Click to expand...
 
One year after this thread started I picked up this same hatchet. $4 how could I pass?
 
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