old felling axe question

[JoeZeph]

Hi this is my first post .. I am thinking of buying a felling ax from a coworker but I cannot find out much info on it on the internet. This is what is engraved on the ax "ACTION TOOLS, STRATCO-LINER, QUALITY BUILT". Does anyone on here know anything about this ax? It's about 35" long, looks pretty solidly built.... thanks. Joe

 

[jpeeler]

Hello. Pictures would be great. This is probably a hardware store axe, made by a large manufacturer, then stamped for the store after forging. We could ask tons of questions, but the truth is, it could be really good, or it could be kinda bad. Again, a better description or pics would be ideal.

 

[Steve Tall]

Stratton & Terstegge Co., Louisville, Kentucky

The company was a hardware wholesaler. Later became S&T Hardware, and S&T Industries. Had the "Falls City" brand (similar to Belknap's "Bluegrass" brand.) Acquired the Bluegrass trademark from Belknap. Eventually was rolled into the Do It Best Corporation (according to the last source linked below).

Sources:
http://books.google.com/books?id=ts8TAQAAMAAJ&q=%22stratco-liner%22&dq=%22stratco-liner%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7sRYUpqnOYm9iwKDq4CACA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA
http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.kentucky.counties.jefferson/5262.1/mb.ashx
http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id5.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=QQIUAQAAMAAJ&q=S%26T+hardware+louisville&dq=S%26T+hardware+louisville&hl=en&sa=X&ei=z85YUtW_EeGDiQLS_oFo&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAQ
http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUS-0-hardw/belknap/hist/byBS/bHistory1.asp
http://www.thehighlanderonline.com/print-articles/features/647-casting-a-line-to-the-past?start=2

 

[JoeZeph]

Thanks to Steve Tall for all that info, it set me up for more searching. Looks like that is indeed the distributor of the ax. I found an interesting article about the company Stratton & Terstegge in American Artisan and Hardware Record, Vol. 83 No.4 January 28, 1922 pg 13-14. Describes the spirit of the company during war times.... they planned to "Stratco-Advertise"... love to dig into companies pasts...

http://books.google.com/books?id=3K...=onepage&q=Stratco STRATTON TERSTEGGE&f=false

thanks again, it puts some meaning to the ax. Still thinking about the purchase.
Anyone else have anymore info?

 

[300Six]

The majority of weekend warriors and occasional choppers would never be able to discern a good axe from a bad one anyway. Presuming yours to be vintage and made in USA from the days when people were fussier about the quality of their tools I would bet your inexpensive (?) purchase will out perform any of the current $20-30 imports.
If you can borrow the axe before purchase get out an axe file and see just how easy or difficult it is to sharpen the blade and then bang it around a bit on hardwood to see how long the edge holds.

 

[G-pig]

The majority of weekend warriors and occasional choppers would never be able to discern a good axe from a bad one anyway.

I think it'd be reasonable to say that most of them haven't been exposed to good axes. I think a side by side comparison between a piece of shit and a decent axe filed up to old time standards would be night and day even for an oaf.

 

[300Six]

I think it'd be reasonable to say that most of them haven't been exposed to good axes. I think a side by side comparison between a piece of shit and a decent axe filed up to old time standards would be night and day even for an oaf.

I've gone out of my way to fondle each and every homeowner/client axe I've ever come across (and managed to get hold of dozen+ Walters brand that way) during 20 years as a residential renovation trades contractor. All told probably handled a couple of hundred, not a single one of which could be judged as sharp by any standard.
For the majority of folks a factory sharp cheap axe is probably a way better performer than a vintage classic USA/Canada badly dulled version. I even noticed amongst the Oji-Cree natives up north that they merely buy a new Garant axe whenever a handle breaks or a blade chips.