Plumb Victory

[emechtech]

I'm fairly new to axe/hatchet use, and I recently won a Plumb Victory Axe at an auction. It seems like there is plenty of life left on the bit, but the handle looks questionable at best. Can anyone offer advice regarding the current state of this tool? Is it usable as is?

 

[smith357]

I would put a new haft on it before I used it. I can't tell if the eye is slightly bent or if it is just a camera angle illusion.

 

[emechtech]

I appreciate the advice. Since you recommend a new haft, I'll read through some of the handle/hanging threads to see if I can learn the correct process. Is a bent eye really a problem, or just cosmetic?

 

[300Six]

You have one of the earliest versions of Plumb's then-new-fangled "National" pattern axe/hatchet heads. These weren't awarded a pattern copyright or trademark, or whatever, until 10 Sept 1948. Plumb's 'Victory' editions of any of their patterns are entirely post WWII and it's unlikely such branding continued much beyond 1947.
I'm guessing that head was made in 1947 because the Nationals that followed it for a short period (during 1948 and until Sept 10 of that year) were stamped 'Plumb' on one side and 'Patent Applied For' on the other.

 

[emechtech]

That's great information! Thanks so much for passing that along! That gives me even more motivation to get this working! Since you're knowledgeable regarding this piece of history, do you know what type of handle (style, shape, wood) this era Victory National pattern used?

 

[Grimalkin]

That's great information! Thanks so much for passing that along! That gives me even more motivation to get this working! Since you're knowledgeable regarding this piece of history, do you know what type of handle (style, shape, wood) this era Victory National pattern used?

For what its worth, I have likely the same plumb victory head (1.75 lb?). I put a 24" on mine and it feels like gold.

 

[emechtech]

I can see why! That's a nice looking tool! Thanks for the photo and idea! I was debating between an 18 inch and 24 inch, but now I think I'll go with the 24. It just looks more balanced with that head.

 

[300Six]

That's great information! Thanks so much for passing that along! That gives me even more motivation to get this working! Since you're knowledgeable regarding this piece of history, do you know what type of handle (style, shape, wood) this era Victory National pattern used?

Steve Tall deserves much of the credit for hound dogging the history on these but it was me that accidentally noticed that 'National' pattern has usually been mistaken for 'Cedar' pattern. Shown below is the 3 .2 (3 1/2 lb head) National that I have via jblyttle a few years ago. This one is OEM from the late 40s/early 50s (no Permabond!) and has the typical wine-coloured wood finish of Plumb handles (ever since about 1920) and also shows the original black paint and paint masking pattern of the heads. Feet of the handles weren't 'clipped' back then either.