Plumb Axe Question

[raja]

I bought this Plumb axe and would appreciate some information.

The axe weighs about 3 lbs and the bit measures 6 1/25 x 3 7/8 - the handle is 14 inches.

My question is - is this the original handle?

With that heavy of a bit I'm wondering if it originally was on a 30" + handle.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin

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[markv]

looks like the handle is original Plumb. if the handle fits the eye it prolly is .

 

[raja]

markv,

Thanks for the response. It is a very stout hand axe.

 

[Hacked]

Is it possible its a Miner's axe? They where typically full sized heads on shorter than usual handles.

 

[300Six]

As of the early 1920s LaFayette Plumb featured 'patented wine-coloured' hafts. Perhaps this rich red colour wears off over time but in my opinion your's is not OEM.

 

[Hacked]

As of the early 1920s LaFayette Plumb featured 'patented wine-coloured' hafts. Perhaps this rich red colour wears off over time but in my opinion your's is not OEM.

Man I didn't know it dated back that far! Do you know about when they stopped? I ask because a mom and pop hardware store in my neighborhood has what looks like a new old stock Plumb roofing hatchet for sale. I was never sure if it was worth picking up.

 

[garry3]

raja, can you give us the measurements of the eye size on the bottom of the axe, both length and width at its widest point? It looks like what Plumb sold and advertised as a "House Axe". The house axes are substantial hatchets. I love them, but most will find them unwieldy.

If you don't like the hatchet let me know and I would gladly trade you for another axe or hatchet that would suit you.

 

[raja]

garry3,

Thanks for the response. I will measure it tonight and post the measurements tomorrow.

 

[300Six]

As mentioned before on here if the handle fits the eye without shims and fillers than likely you do have a miner's axe. Regular hatchet handles would fall right through a conventional 3 lb head. The Plumb wine-red wood colour is still in use even though the Plumb stamped stuff is now made offshore.

 

[markv]

the shape of the shoulder behind the eye and the pommel or fawns foot look to be Plumb type.
hard to say without seeing this axe in person.
the curved handle seems a little bit odd for a minors axe but what do i know, most likely a House Axe as stated by garry.
if i could get this photo posting thing worked out i'd post some photos of Plumb axes and handles

 

[BG_Farmer]

I'm saying house axe due to curved handle, as some above. Miners axe was probably used as much for "hammering" as for cutting, so it would best have a straight handle.. .

Is the whole axe three pounds or the head only?

 

[Steve Tall]

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What threw me off was the 14" handle, but maybe the 14" measurement doesn't include the handle that's in the eye, and the total handle length is around 17"?

For comparison:

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The Saturday Evening Post, January 28, 1922, p. 74

 

[gben]

One thing you could do is look at the top of the axe and see how the handle is wedged on. A genuine Plumb handle from the mid-fifties onwards would have it's top poured full of plastic resin. Before WWII an original handle would likely have a screw-wedge in the top of it. If it was from WWII into the early 50s the handle would have a reddish tint to it.

Also the handles often had a Plumb logo stamped right into the wood itself. So with all that to go on, someone should be able to make a pretty good guess if it has it's original handle or not.

The handle looks like it has the red tint I have seen on other old Plumb tools, usually after decades they fade a bit. If you carefully clean it, dry it and then put some clear oil on it as a preservative, it should bring some of the red tint back out more how it was years ago.

 

[raja]

I really appreciate your responses; I've used axes my whole life but don't have much knowledge of various brands

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The weight of 3 pounds includes the handle and the 14 inch handle does not include what is in the eye.

Steve, thanks for posting the advertisement for the House Axe; it looks like that may be what it is.

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[raja]

I forgot to add that the measurement of the eye at the widest points is approximately 2 5/16 x 3/4.

Thanks again for your interest and information.

 

[raja]

Here is another picture for comparison; it is the second from the right.

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[garry3]

That is indeed a house axe raja. The handle I am pretty certain would be original to the hatchet. Plumb listed there house axe as having 2 1/4lb heads, but the actually weights can be off by quite a bit, I have seen one that weighed 2 3/4lbs, about what yours would weigh with out the handle.

 

[raja]

garry3,

Thanks for your response and the information. My wife bought it for me last weekend at a yard sale for $15.

As you mentioned earlier, it does seem a bit unwieldy because of the weight, but I do like the extra heft.

I haven't had time to clean it up yet but plan on doing that soon.

I appreciate everyone's comments and information.

 

[rjdankert]

I didn't see any size measurements in the Plumb add, so for the heck of it I overlayed the Plumb advertisement over the photo.

Not saying this proves anything, but it seems to match up pretty well.

Bob

 

[SC T100]

Oh wow! Cool idea, and I think you've determined it's a house axe about as definitively as possible.