Plumb axes

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pauldulson

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Mar 22, 2000
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At a local sale I found a small axe /hatchet marked Plumb Victory, anyone know how old this axe would be ? It has sharpened up quite well but needs a bit more work to get it right. I also have what appears to be a military Plumb hatchet , it is marked Plumb and US. The canvas carrier this came in is marked up but is too faint to read, I am sure I have seen a photo of one of these being carried in Vietnam.
Paul.
 
I can't help you with your question, but I have a Girl Scout Plumb axe that my 81 year-old mother used as a girl. Unfortunately, it was sharpened a lot with a power grinder and is now only a keepsake.
 
Plumb at one time was the premiere axe and hatchet maker in the US. They supplied lots of tools to the military during WWII, and made civilian models too... your 'Victory' marked hatchet is one of those. I have a Plumb Boy Scout Hatchet, marked with the Scout seal, that I received for my birthday 60 years ago. It is infinitely better than most such tools available today; it spent 50 years chopping kindling, sod, roots, stones, cleaned several deer, and argueably saved my life and/or limb several times. It has had three handles, the latest applied by Plumb's present marque-holder, Cooper Tools of Texas, USA. Now in honored retirement.
I also have a Plumb felling axe that has held up equally well, but it's only 35 years old, so we can't really tell if it's going to last!
 
Thanks Guy's,
the Plumb Victory I have has only been with me a short while and seems to be a nice tool to use,it had not been abused by the previous owner, just not cared for very well.The military axe has never been shown a stone.They both have a home for life now.
Paul.
 
Gunhou,

When you mentioned the 3 handles, I thought for a second that you were setting us up for that old joke about the guy who wouldn't chop with anything but his great grandfather's axe. In fact, he loved it so much that over the years he had replaced the handle three times and the head twice.

I know it's an ancient joke, but I couldn't resist.
 
Paul
A few years ago I too picked up an old plumb Victory at an auction. No body else knew what it was because it was a bit rusty, but I knew. I paid a whopping three bucks for it. It was the best $3 I spend. Does the Victory you bought have a wide cutting surface with a fairly tapered head? I think the Victories are amazing tools for around the yard and in the woods. Thanks for posting this...I am glad to know that there are other Plumb lovers out there.
Luke
 
Lukers,
the edge on the hatchet is @ 3.5" and tapers up to the eye, overall handle length around 14", handle has traditional curve to it .It needed a good clean when I got it but apart from that it is in great shape.
Been trying to get a mirror finished edge on it as per Cliff Stamp's advice, I'm getting there slowly.
Did a little bit with it at the weekend and it does feel just right in use.
Paul.
 
Paul:
You'll find if you polish up the sides of your old Victory that there's a ragged line about two inches in from the edge that is a demarkation line between harder and softer material. They'll take polishing differently. This is the line where the hard steel of the edge was sandwiched and welded into the softer malleable poll piece. Most modern axes are forged (or even cast) in one piece...not as good. Maine-made Snow and Neally axes and hatchets are made the old way...I don't know if there are others.
 
Thanks gunhou,
it has cleaned up quite well so far, but still a bit more to go.
Made a primitive style edge cover for it last night with a couple of bit's of leather I had laying around and some leather bootlace. Simple but effective.
Paul.
 
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