Plumb Axe ID Please

Zymologist

Zymologist

Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
1,058
Hello all Im new to the forums and I snagged this Plumb Axe this AM at the flea market and was inspired to post some pictures of it.
In one of the following pictures you can see it has the regular PLUMB on it but also carries a 35 above it.
If anyone could shed some light on what that 35 means Id really appreciate it.

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My buddy Rudy and the axe:cool:
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The axe and handle both appear to be in decent shape snagged it for $10.
Gonna clean it up a bit and get that edge sharp and go play hopefully tomorrow.
 
That makes sense thank you very much. I just couldnt find any other posts/pics that matched I hunch it had something to do with dimensions or weight.

My next goals to find a bigger axe and then a smaller one yet. I have an old plumb boy scout hatchet aswell but Im just getting the itch on axes and
other old tools/knives.
 
Square_peg said:
Or could it mean 3 pounds, 5 ounces? I've often seen a 3^2 stamp to indicate 3-1/2 pounds.
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i suppose that you could be right. i know that 3/2 normally means a 3 1/2 pound axe. i just assumed that maybe plumb used 3/5 at one time instead of 3/2...

but i know what you make of yourself when you assume :D

edt: i found an old auction for a plumb DB that was labeled 3/5 as well. it looks like your standard 3 1/2 lb DB to me...
 
Square_peg said:
Or could it mean 3 pounds, 5 ounces? I've often seen a 3^2 stamp to indicate 3-1/2 pounds.
Click to expand...
hey pegs! its kinda ironic that the 3/5 debate came up. i got an OLD RUSTY 'plumb' the other day off of e bay for hardly nothing. anyway, after i got some of the rust off of it today i saw 3/5 on it and laughed. i weighed it, and sure enough it weighs 3 1/2 lbs.
a little over due to all the rust :D so, the mystery hase been solved;)
 
Zymologist said:
Thanks again Bear and Peg!
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your welcome zymologist!

i was going to post again on this thread about the weight.
well, its NOT 3 1/2, its 3lb 5oz. as i mentioned above, i weighed mine and it was a bit over 3 1/2lbs but, dummy a$$ me didnt take into account the 1/4" thick layer of wax (it apparenty still had the original handle, but has been cut off) and the wood in the eye. i really didnt think that it weighed that much.
anyway, after i got it out, i re-weighed it at it WAS excatly 3 lbs 5oz...
whew! well, at least maybe now we know the weight of your head and we all learned something... :D

see what happens when i/we assume...;)
 
So if 16 ounces are in one pound, and thus 3 1/2 pounds would mean 3 lbs 8 ounces, what is the sense in making an axe that would be a whole 3 ounces different?
 
Operator1975 said:
So if 16 ounces are in one pound, and thus 3 1/2 pounds would mean 3 lbs 8 ounces, what is the sense in making an axe that would be a whole 3 ounces different?
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thats a good question. thats why i just assumed that 3/5 meant 3 1/2lbs, but the one i got is clearly marked 3/5 like the one above. it hasent been ground on and is in its original factory shape (other than the rust) and it weighs 3lbs 5 oz. i recently got an a TT kelly works 'worlds finest' conneticut that also is/was in its original factory shape except for a slightly mushroomed poll and a chip in the toe of the bit (looked like it had been dropped on a rock/concrete or something). it has no weight markings on it. it weighs 2 3/4lbs...
so i dont know... interesting subject for sure!
 
Interesting topic - ill dig into it see what I can find. Larry from axe makers of north America told me they do exist and are rare - so might have our work cut out for us.
 
To further muddy the waters, I've seen some pulaskis stamped with a 3^3. Those weigh 3 3/4 pounds.
 
It would seem it should be 3 1/2 pounds. If an axe weighs less than the indicated weight, maybe it has been ground enough to loose weight. If it really means 3 pounds 5 ounces, I'd say it was rare. If axes were made in ounce increments, there would be all kinds of second numbers from 1 to 15 and I don't think they did that.
 
Section10 said:
It would seem it should be 3 1/2 pounds. If an axe weighs less than the indicated weight, maybe it has been ground enough to loose weight. If it really means 3 pounds 5 ounces, I'd say it was rare. If axes were made in ounce increments, there would be all kinds of second numbers from 1 to 15 and I don't think they did that.
Click to expand...

the one i have was not been ground an at all when i got it. it still has the factory profile and the factory edge, it really dosent appear that it has ever been sharpened. and it weighs 3lbs 5 oz...! i have ground and filed on it some now trying to get a chip out of the bit. other than that it hasent been touched... i will post some pics of it later today. it actually is a nice looking axe and a bit of a unique style... has some really nice bevels ;)

as i mentioned above, the conneticut i have is 2 3/4 lb and it had not been ground on nor did it appear to have ever been sharpened either. i'll post pics of it as well...
 
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