New Guy - Collins Question

[MrLegitimus]

Hey guys, I am new to this forum, and just wanted to see what people thought about Collins. I know they have been around a long time, and they had many lines, one main one of course being Legitimus, which I really like with the crown, arm, and hammer symbol.

Good, bad, ugly, indifferent, what do you guys think?

 

[tltt]

You have to know what vintage you're buying. The early ones are top grade. The post WWII ones and the 1970's - early 2000's models made by Mann are very good too. The new ones are serviceable to bad.

 

[thriller100]

i have a few older collins 70's-80's, i love em.the onlt thing i would say i ever find wrong with them is the thickness of the cheek around the eye can be thicker on one side than the other.nothing that would hinder preformance,but asthetically it can be irratating......a friend of mine has one he got from his dad that has considerable difference from side to side. i only have 2 like this,a boys axe and a 3 1/2 lb. single bit.i have a homestead bouble bit,a double bit cruiser,3lb single bit and another 3 1/2 that are all excelent users.of course im sure there are more "desireable" ones than collins,but ive not had any problems with any of mine.with that being said,ive checked out the collins selection at the local ace hardware and noticed in the rack of wood handled ones(i dont even look at the fiberglass onmes) in the very back one of the boys axes doesnt look like complete garbage(as the rest do).the head is not painted black,has a slightly different shape,has a collins stamp on the head(none of the other ones do),a much thinner blade,a slightly different handle(alot thinner and contoured than the others) and its actually sharpened w/ a cheesy rubber gaurd on the bit......every time i go in there i want to buy it but never have brought myself to do it......ill probably kick myself for not buying it when i go in there and its finally gone........

 

[Section10]

I agree. I have an excellent double bit Collins Legitimus that is as good as they come. And I would trust anything that was made by Mann. Today's Collins don't cut it.

 

[Pipeman]

Hi there Legitimus, welcome to the axe and stuff forum. I grabbed a new Collins hatchet on sale for 10 bucks at Christmas as an extra gift for my Son in law. It was a Mexican made hatchet, hafted nice and tight and took a very sharp edge. I didn't chop anything with it but another forum member here also grabbed one and says it cuts well and stays sharp. Look for a thread by "theevilmike" Re: his collection, there's a pic in there.

Regards

Robin