Old Stanley Double bit Axe head Cragslist find

S

spyder10

Joined
Dec 19, 2005
Messages
672
Picked this up for a few buck and wondering what I have. Any info and any suggestions on a handle would be great.

The nickle is shown for size comparison and the picture is taken on top of a standard letter size manilla envelope


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I'm not familiar with Stanley axes but as old double bits go that one is in good condition. The toes (upper points) show very little wear. Old Stanley tools in general were very well made. It's a nice axe and if you picked it up for a few bucks then you made a good deal.

Judging by the thick eye walls I'd guess that to be a 4 pounder. I'd hang it on a 36" haft.
 
quite possibly made by one of the big axe manufacturers ,Collins,Plumb or Kelly
i'd bet on Plumb

your axe appears to be in good shape, not used much or abused

like square_peg said a 36 inch hickory handle , it is a job hanging an axe

some like to sharpen the bits[ cutting edges] without the handle, some like to hang the axe first and then sharpen
i've done it both ways, having the handle attached lets you clamp the handle down while filing the cutting edges
luck

buzz
 
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Very cool.

One of the toes is chipped but it is not bad.

I will clean up the rust, sharpen, and find a nice 36" handle. More pictures to come.
 
Nice find. Give her a soaking vinegar for 3 days and wire brush her, she will have a nice clean light grey finish. You will also be able to see were the bits were hardened (hamon line), they will appear a little bit darker than the rest of the head.... Or give it a good brushing with a course wire cup on an angle grinder and that will remove the rust and leave the natural patina on the head.

I like the latter with a natural patina on the head.

Thanks for sharing, Double Ott
 
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markv said:
quite possibly made by one of the big axe manufacturers ,Collins,Plumb or Kelly
i'd bet on Plumb

your axe appears to be in good shape, not used much or abused

like square_peg said a 36 inch hickory handle , it is a job hanging an axe

some like to sharpen the bits[ cutting edges] without the handle, some like to hang the axe first and then sharpen
i've done it both ways, having the handle attached lets you clamp the handle down while filing the cutting edges
luck

buzz
Click to expand...
Stanley actually made there own axes.

Stanley tool works; New Britian, CT
 
In keeping with the cheap and old school theme I'd like to try my hand at hanging the axe.

Where is a good place to pick up a hickory handle with wood and metal wedges?
 
A Stanley axe - we havent talked to much about on this forum really.

You are probably looking at an axe that was made by Stanley(obviously) but the question is, where was it made? Stanley has a long history of items made in various locations. Most major axe manufacturers were out of the axe game by 1985 at the latest, the vast majority way before that.

The first thing I would look at is how similar it looks to a Craftsman. I will let you put the rest together. Let me know.

Thanks!
 
Craftsman undoubtedly used more than one manufacturer. I'm pretty sure they had some made my Vaughan. With their power tools it wasn't uncommon to see rebranded Skil tools one year and rebranded Black & Decker or Dewalt tools the next year.
 
Well the edge is chipped pretty bad but it feels like it has a pretty good temper based on how hard it is to file.

I plan to clean up all the rust with some 220 sandpaper, it is already looking really good. I'd like to keep some of the pitting and show the wear of the axe.

I'm assuming the eye is measured at the longest and widest parts right?
 
Right. And you might want to correct the small mis-shapen corner of the eye (seen on the right side of your second image) with a rat tail file. Those are fairly common and file easily as the eye isn't hardened like the bit.
 
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