Plumb BSA ceder pattern hatchet info needed

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greggski

Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
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Hi everyone long time lurker , minimalist poster with a question. Does the Plumb ceder pattern hatchets have a harden poll? It sure looks like it does but I can't seem to find info that has a yay or nay.....
Thanks for the help!
 
Some do, some don't. If it has the rafting poll, then probably yes. Would have to vinegar test it to find out.
 
Operator1975 said:
Some do, some don't. If it has the rafting poll, then probably yes. Would have to vinegar test it to find out.
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As Operator says, even bevelled poll edges on Plumbs don't seem to be a guarantee of hardening. If there are chipped edges along the poll, or it's already mushroomed somewhat, you will already have an answer. If a file skates across the top (ie refuses to bite) that'll tell you something, or you can wire wheel the head and perform the vinegar soak routine in order to be sure.
 
I have access to two, mine had some mushrooming leading me to believe it is not hardened. My old man's I can't be sure but I'll look for chips or mushrooming the next time I see it.
 
In Square_Peg's thread dedicated to rafting axes he shows a picture of a Walters with noticeable mushrooming. Either that particular axe has a million miles on it (even over-used sledge and hammer heads deform over time) or the poll was not tempered to the same degree as the blade.
 
Thanks for the info gentlemen. I have been trying to find one for the collection but it's been hard to tell just from pictures.
 
In one of the forum threads from 2015 someone (probably Steve Tall)posted a vintage magazine ad for Plumb official Boy Scout hatchets. Within the description it was stated that their polls were hardened. This might have applied solely to BSA-stamped hatchets. If I recall that same ad also mentioned the Plumb proprietary 'screw take-up wedge' system that existed from about 1920 to 1940.
 
300Six said:
In one of the forum threads from 2015 someone (probably Steve Tall)posted a vintage magazine ad for Plumb official Boy Scout hatchets. Within the description it was stated that their polls were hardened. This might have applied solely to BSA-stamped hatchets. If I recall that same ad also mentioned the Plumb proprietary 'screw take-up wedge' system that existed from about 1920 to 1940.
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I don't recall any ads saying the Scout axes had "hardened" polls, but some ads for the regular scout axe (with nail notch) did mention a "toughened head for pounding".
 
vcbvcbvcb said:
As usual, you know something I don't. How would we vinegar test for hardness? What are we looking for?
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Often (not always) the hardened area will become noticeably darker once soaked in vinegar for a day or two. This lets to see where the hardened portion of the axe, hammer, or other striking tool ends.
 
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