New find: Axe

KYenglish

KYenglish

Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
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Looking at JK's choppers has had a "bad" influence on me. I've been short two tomahawks for a while now after they got lost in a move (the week after I found out was a long, grumpy one) and my belt axe has been handless for nearly as long.

Still I had a double bladed axe that was pulling it's weight just fine on the wood pile. Since all these hawk/axe/hatchet pictures have been turning up I've just had one more reason to do something about the axe situation. So lately whenever I've been near a flee market I've found myself looking for something axe shaped. I found one.
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I don't know much about axes but I think it's a Belknap, (stamped bluegrass, Louisville, KY - not to far from where we live.) either way it's a welcome member of the family. Also found a long overdue handle for my belt axe which is nice.
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Anyway I thought I'd share. It'll keep me company till my JK belt hawk comes around.
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I like the grain of this handle quite well actually:
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Nice find. One of my "bad habits" is old axes. My shop wall is covered in them, and everytime I`m out and about I look for them.
 
I am also a fan of old axes and hatchets. In the past few months I've picked up a really nice old (unmarked) Boy's Axe which was already sporting a new handle and my first Double Bit (a Wards Master Quality). About a year ago, I picked up a great old Hults Bruk hatchet with the original handle and red paint at a Flea Market for 7 bucks. I am probably up to around 15 all together and have not stopped looking.
 
Hi English -

I look for them, but the flea market up here is always all picked over and I rarely find anything that is cool or worth the price.

Still hoping though -

Great find - thanks for the pictures -

best

mqqn
 
Speaking of axes, I posted some photos of some I made on Bushcraft USA. Got a pm today, they deleted the photos because I am not a forum owner over there. Total BS, I won`t be going back there.
 
Nice score :) I have a couple of old axes too, though I have no idea what maker. Anyway they last forever. Growing up, our house was wood heated with two stoves. I remember totally dreading all the wood chopping and stacking my dad would make me do, when I'd rather have been out with my friends. Now I find a lot of mental relaxation in processing some wood with a good axe, plus it's damn good exercise :D

Of course, this January in Massachusetts it has been like 40-50 degrees all month it seems. I feel like I'll be mowing my lawn in February if this keeps up.
 
I used to chop a lot of wood for our Franklin stove at our old cabin about 30 years ago. I'd have to relearn to use an axe, but I remember loving the work!
 
thanks for the comments, I was pretty happy with it.

mqqn, thats how i always feel bout knives, never found a good flee market deal like I see posted on BF sometimes. I do see things that make me smile like a Maxam folder or something selling for a whole bunch of money. Last court day i saw some Kershaw Junk yard Dogs but they were selling at retail. I wonder if it's a state thing because I saw a lot of old axes around here when i actually started to look for them instead.

John, that sucks about bushcrafter USA, their loss though.

I'd never had to chop wood as a way to heat a house until we moved into this house only to make a camp fire, which is mosey gathering wood. now we have two wood stoves, Central heat as well but I when it gets real cod you need the wood. It's a chance to cut the heat costs and spend some time by the barn instead of in the living room if nothing else. :) I can see how if it had been a chore as a kid it would have gotten old fast. Mbeebe's, I find a lot of things I used to dread relaxing now.
 
My best find for axes and hatchets have always been near Amish communities. There is a shop in Arthur where I have never spent over $12 for anything, including a really nice old American made Collins. If I recall, there is an Amish area in Kentucky too.
 
Yeah there is, some Mennonite's to I think, we go to a store of theres for home made jams, soaps and candy when we can. I'll ah ve to look for some place that might sell axes around there next time we're close. Thanks.
 
Great find. I need to get a good axe. All of mine disappeared a few years back although they may be in the back of my storage. Hmmm, good luck finding them there.
 
outdoorsfan said:
I am also a fan of old axes and hatchets. In the past few months I've picked up a really nice old (unmarked) Boy's Axe which was already sporting a new handle and my first Double Bit (a Wards Master Quality). About a year ago, I picked up a great old Hults Bruk hatchet with the original handle and red paint at a Flea Market for 7 bucks. I am probably up to around 15 all together and have not stopped looking.
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Nice scores! The Wards Master was a line from the retailer Montgomery Ward. There's a very good chance that your double bit was made by Kelly. Here's a 1895 Montgomery Ward catalog page 367 has the axes. http://books.google.com/books?id=zWel51IwQ2AC&pg=PA393&lpg=PA393&dq=montgomery+ward+axe&source=bl&ots=LRSPvYxJnd&sig=O8ShMlL_0chXVRsyjKvD-Hd88gg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=x2olT-7FGMGhiQLfro3oBw&ved=0CIUBEOgBMAU#v=onepage&q&f=false
 
JK Knives said:
Speaking of axes, I posted some photos of some I made on Bushcraft USA. Got a pm today, they deleted the photos because I am not a forum owner over there. Total BS, I won`t be going back there.
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That is BS. I saw your pics. You didn't have any sales or contact info with them, so where's the foul???? I don't get it. That's irritating.
 
M3mphis said:
That is BS. I saw your pics. You didn't have any sales or contact info with them, so where's the foul???? I don't get it. That's irritating.
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Somebody over there contacted a moderator and told them I was a knifemaker. I still go by Stomper over there, no JK Knives. Now I just don`t go there at all.
 
Hi guys -

I went to the local "pile of junk flea market" today.

There were a few unmarked hatchet heads that looked reasonably old, and there was one Keen Kutter that had been cleaned up on a wire wheel and did not look bad, but he wanted $60 for it.

I did finally find something that was worth buying - I found an older original Spyderco C21 Merlin Clipit in great condition throw into a pile of cheap Chinese made junk knives. I bought it for a song - even rounded the price up for the fellow - should have seen the look on his face lol.

best

mqqn
 
Sounds like a deal on the Spyderco. I found one of the original Leatherman tools yesterday, with leather sheath, in new condition, for $3.
 
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