New Warwood tools " perfect axe " ?

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Has anybody heard of it ?
Seen a picture of the actual axe ?

It's supposedly a 2.25lb boys axe in 5160 with Phantom Bevels, represented as a Dayton pattern, and is available in 19" and 24" lengths.
Based on their pulaski it seems retro poster/ artistic print style picture should be a fairly accurate representation of the actual axe, but it's crazy that they don't use an actual image of the axe.
The_Perfect_Axe_Dark_Poster_d30880c0-eb81-40a5-a0ef-8e0aed3a51ce.png

Would you spend $180-$190 on the axe based off this artistic picture ( currently out of stock anyways) , or would you want to see an actual image of one 1st ?

I would want to see an actual image 1st, and even then regardless of the price it looks like they based this off a head with a heavily worn toe.
It looks like they found an old Kelley perfect head and thought it looked cool so they copied it not knowing it was heavily worn.
 
I don't mind the geometry as pictured, but it's a hard no from me. I would want to know at what hardness they ran the 5160 at also.

I wonder if any of them actually were sold? I don't think the price would be out of line depending....
 
To the best of my knowledge they haven't been released yet, and it's still a project they're in-process on.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
To the best of my knowledge they haven't been released yet, and it's still a project they're in-process on.
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Interesting.
one of my favorite Youtubers read an add spot for Warwood in their latest video that I watched this morning, and they talked about the Perfect Axe like it was currently available.
The marketing employee who wrote the add spot probably made a mistake.
 
garry3 said:
I don't mind the geometry as pictured, but it's a hard no from me. I would want to know at what hardness they ran the 5160 at also.

I wonder if any of them actually were sold? I don't think the price would be out of line depending....
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To me the bit looks worn at the toe, really a little too round in general really.

A few years ago I'd have said this was way too expensive, but while I still probably wouldn't spend that much on an axe I certainly don't think it's too out of line these days.
Prices on Ebay have gotten out of hand and there's little opportunity for me to find vintage Axes in the wild if they're even out there in my area.
 
I believe they're up for preorder for those who wish to back the project sight-unseen but the axes themselves are not yet done and available or else I'm pretty sure they'd have photos. They seem to have a social media manager at this point and have been sharing photos and video of their day-to-day operations so if they had a physical product available right now I'm pretty sure they'd have a photo available of it. The form may be more rounded in the heel and toe than my personal preferences in the product illustration, but are well within what was common as a feature on many vintage axes fresh from the factory, and the Perfect was made in many pattern variants. Boy's axes seem to have always been virtually their own pseudo-pattern and I've seen catalog prints and NOS heads alike that had the square poll/round heel and toe combo shown here.
 
its definitely not worth it, but if it were a faithful reproduction, it would be one of better axes out there, and i wouldn't mind having one as a novelty. I feel like this will be aimed at 20-somethings who've given up on having a house within 10 years.

Given that these are cheaper than an actual KP, i think they may have small market, again, only if theyre a good reproduction
 
Hickory n steel said:
it looks like they based this off a head with a heavily worn toe.
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They wouldn't be the first to make this horrible mistake. I recall some made in India a few years back which were made with the toe completely worn away.

They should look at what a new Perfect looked like. They had at least 1-1/2" of bit beyond the bevel. You'd have to be a fool to buy the thing shown in the cartoon.

True%20Temper%20Single%20Bits%201938.jpg
 
Square_peg said:
They wouldn't be the first to make this horrible mistake. I recall some made in India a few years back which were made with the toe completely worn away.

They should look at what a new Perfect looked like. They had at least 1-1/2" of bit beyond the bevel. You'd have to be a fool to buy the thing shown in the cartoon.

True%20Temper%20Single%20Bits%201938.jpg
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You of all people should be well aware that the Perfect varied considerably over its production history and the one Warwood seems to be replicating is the earliest variety of them, but furthermore that they were made in a variety of patterns, not just a singular one. That axe in the drawing, in addition to being an artist's rendering rather than an actual design document, is within the scope of what many boy's axes looked like new.

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rjdankert said:
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I love Warwood's striking tools, but this is new chapter for Warwood. I believe new owner's , freshly out of college, son is running social media and marketing and also running Warwood Perfect axe project. I think the axe was supposed to hit the market in August.
I very much dislike what they dared to trademark; they took old Kelly etching design and just slapped Warwood, Wheeling on it making an impression like they have been in axe business for 140 years.
 
We've been crying for an old fashion design rather than manufactures trying to reinvent the wheel and we might be getting one. The size is right in the wheelhouse for most users and I have a thing for house axes too.

If you go to a cowboy action shoot them guys aren't shooting original Colt's, so I have no problem with what Warwood is doing here.

I think this offering is a good idea, hopefully it goes well for them and we will get some other more affordable common man options.
 
garry3 said:
We've been crying for an old fashion design rather than manufactures trying to reinvent the wheel and we might be getting one. The size is right in the wheelhouse for most users and I have a thing for house axes too.

If you go to a cowboy action shoot them guys aren't shooting original Colt's, so I have no problem with what Warwood is doing here.

I think this offering is a good idea, hopefully it goes well for them and we will get some other more affordable common man options.
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I love the idea of resurecting Louisville/Alexandria time beveled heads, I only object unethical marketing practice (no need to do it: Warwood can stand on its own accomplished history without misleading their new axe customers)
That kid implied on instgram 5 month ago that that the look will differ from that picture; I hope it will not end up looking like crappy Barco era Kelly Perfect
 
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crbnSteeladdict said:
I love Warwood's striking tools, but this is new chapter for Warwood. I believe new owner's , freshly out of college, son is running social media and marketing and also running Warwood Perfect axe project. I think the axe was supposed to hit the market in August.
I very much dislike what they dared to trademark; they took old Kelly etching design and just slapped Warwood, Wheeling on it making an impression like they have been in axe business for 140 years.
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I mean, they've been in the business since 1854, in fact. This from a 1917 catalog:

BookReaderImages.php


While axes aren't listed here, it's because it was from a mining tools catalog listing and they aren't as relevant as the other tools listed. Warwood is pretty transparent that the patent date they're talking about isn't to do with Warwood owning the patent at that time, and so is a correct label. They aren't trying to pass it off as an antique, merely a tool made in the style of the original axes. They're deliberately evoking the styling of the original etch without cloning it because it's a pseudo-replica.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I mean, they've been in the business since 1854, in fact. This from a 1917 catalog:

BookReaderImages.php


While axes aren't listed here, it's because it was from a mining tools catalog listing and they aren't as relevant as the other tools listed. Warwood is pretty transparent that the patent date they're talking about isn't to do with Warwood owning the patent at that time, and so is a correct label. They aren't trying to pass it off as an antique, merely a tool made in the style of the original axes. They're deliberately evoking the styling of the original etch without cloning it because it's a pseudo-replica.
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You are wrong. Their marketing does not even mention Kelly Mfg Co as original pattern designer. at all. Omitting to present such important info may cause average customer to think this patterm has been made in Wheeling. WV for 140 years
 
crbnSteeladdict said:
You are wrong. Their marketing does not even mention Kelly Mfg Co as original pattern designer. at all. Omitting to present such important info may cause average customer to think this patterm has been made in Wheeling. WV for 140 years
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You ARE aware that in their blog post (linked from their brief product description) that they link directly to information on the pattern and its history, yes? And that page is one independent to them and is headed with "KELLY AXE MFG. CO" rather than anything about Warwood? This is a limited edition tool that was made specifically for people who largely already are familiar with the pattern. They have stated they have no intentions on releasing it as a standard axe.

Literally the very first sentence in the item description states that it was first patented by William Kelly in 1885.
 
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FortyTwoBlades said:
You ARE aware that in their blog post (linked from their brief product description) that they link directly to information on the pattern and its history, yes? And that page is one independent to them and is headed with "KELLY AXE MFG. CO" rather than anything about Warwood? This is a limited edition tool that was made specifically for people who largely already are familiar with the pattern. They have stated they have no intentions on releasing it as a standard axe.

Literally the very first sentence in the item description states that it was first patented by William Kelly in 1885.
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Ha!!! I focused on Warwood info slapped on old Kelly logo that I missed it, or possiby the description was modified during last 5 months and my brain unintentionally skipped it cause I already saw that webpage 5 months ago. I really hope they pay somebody to design new Warwood Perfect Axe logo and leave the old one alone
 
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FortyTwoBlades said:
While axes aren't listed here, it's because it was from a mining tools catalog listing and they aren't as relevant as the other tools listed.
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Their bread and butter has been supplying to industrial users, mostly railroads but also the mining industry. That's a good thing. Industrial users won't tolerate junk.

I'm most familiar with their grubhoes because our trails group has a bunch of them. They're a good tool but notably lower quality than the vintage Corona grub hoes we have. But we can't get Coronas anymore and Warwood is currently the best available. Not just the edge but the blade will sometimes roll on a Warwood. I've never seen a Corona do that although I'm sure it could under heavy enough use.

I'm pleased to see them getting back into axes. Axes have not been in their lineup anytime recently. I've written encouragement to them several times over the years. I support this new venture but I hope they make a practical vintage styled full sized work axe and not just something to appeal to lumbersexual weekend bushcrafters. But I bet that's the market they go after. Boutique axes are the thing right now.
 
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