Penncraft Axe

[rkmoore]

I was recently given an old axe that was found at an estate sale. Can anyone tell me who made it? So far I've only been able to find a copyright for the name that dates back to '65. The axe head is stamped Penncraft Made in U S A. The head is about 7.5" x 4.5" the handle is 34" and seems a little thinner than what I'm used to. Any info would be greatly appreciated. *1st post*

 

[Dusty One]

Welcome......Tried to find some info on Penncraft and not much luck....I do believe that J C Penney sold some Penncraft tools.
May have been sold thru them ?

 

[rkmoore]

Yep, that's about all I've found too. I was, still am, hoping to get a line on who actually manufactured this one. I'll keep digging. Sometimes that's how you get to meet great people and maybe have a beer with an old timer who knows a lot more about everything than I know about anything.

 

[robauf72]

I recently acquired a FALL/WINTER 1968 PENNEY'S Catalog and they had a LOT of products sold under the PENNCRAFT name, I'm talking a LOT. I see the axes for sale. Apparently they measured them by the "cutting edge". The one in here is measured at 4 and five-eighths, with a "flame-sealed", 36" hickory handle with a 3 and a half lb. head. It cost $5.49. Yeah, 5.49! It's not exactly yours but I thought I'd give you a balllpark idea of what you have..

 

[Square_peg]

Penncraft was to JC Penney what Craftsman is/was to Sears. It was Penney's house brand of tools. Like Sears they outsourced their manufacturing, buying from other manufacturers and rebranding it with the Penncraft label. Penncraft tools I've seen have generally been of good to very good quality.

As far as who made it for Penneys, that's anyone guess and it likely changed from year to year.