Rare !!!Plumb axe help dating and other information

My apologies for having offended you Operator1975. Previous to this it seemed that forum members collectively had deduced a wealth of age determination techniques regarding Plumbs and suddenly you've dispelled those notions. That's what these forums are all about isn't it.; live and learn.
 
That doesn't make you an expert in anything other than being salty, period.

Haha!! Not poking fun at you Operartor but that made me laugh! Interesting thread with good observations from all participants. As someone said earlier we are all here to learn, unfortunately communications on forums Is often misinterpreted whereas as face to face discussions are not as easily misinterpreted.
 
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm99232823/images/fig021b.jpg
fig021b.jpg

I can't read very well, prolly because I walked to school barefoot, in the snow. My eyes are getting old and tired too, prolly from swinging a hammer for the last 40 years..the only job dummies like me could get. But, if I read it right, the Plumb add says: "ALL Plumb hatchets have Permabond handle assembly" I don't see an option for hold the pickle, hold the lettuce.

I know axes pretty well too, Operator. If I came across the axe you posted at a flea market, I would definitely try to buy it. But I would consider it a restoration.;)
 
Well, that may serve for hatchets - at that point, but leaves the issue of whether hand axes and other axes come your way.
 
Yarin said:
So which is it old or new ??? Now I am totally confused???
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Can't blame you. Suddenly we all are. Your's is smoothly finished, has a traditional-stamped handle with the OEM wine-colour (anytime after 1920?) and the blade does not have flat cheeks such as do offshore-made but everything else to with 'take-up' wedging and Permabond guesstimating of age is entirely up in the air.
 
Yarin said:
So which is it old or new ??? Now I am totally confused???
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quinton said:
Your Plumb is old.
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BG_Farmer said:
I'm probably not "quality" enough to make this observation, but the handle in particular has been reworked it appears to me. The stain is blotched and there are sanding scratches on it, almost as if it has been sanded down and refinished; the stamping on the handle is not NOS either, in my opinion.
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I don't see a problem with either of those things. I've seen NOS Plumbs with that mottled look. I've seen scratches like that on a new handle, too. While a forger trying to pass it off as new would have certainly sanded them out.

halfaxe said:
I still think the original posted hatchet is pre 1955. Based not only on no permabond but the gold embossed lettering on the handle instead of a sticker like the above db axe. Also the round knob end instead of a fawn foot.
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Also another good clue. I think it's early 1950's.
 
Square peg, my opinion is based on the assumption that Plumb handles are not stained and finished in a two part process but rather finished with a one step tinted finish. The OP handle looks like it has clear finish over what is left of original dark finish. That and the softened, damaged stamping are what led me to think the handle is not as originally sold. I didn't mean it was an intentional forgery: many axes are "restored" by users with little disregard for the original, e.g. taking paint off and polishing the heads, staining and/or fire roasting the handle, and so on.
 
BG_Farmer said:
Square peg, my opinion is based on the assumption that Plumb handles are not stained and finished in a two part process but rather finished with a one step tinted finish. The OP handle looks like it has clear finish over what is left of original dark finish. That and the softened, damaged stamping are what led me to think the handle is not as originally sold. I didn't mean it was an intentional forgery: many axes are "restored" by users with little disregard for the original, e.g. taking paint off and polishing the heads, staining and/or fire roasting the handle, and so on.
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Agree, many reasons to rehandle a tool.
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To add to the discussion: We have no claim, let alone evidence, that that handle is original to the head. Without this, identification is not possible based on the handle.

Bob
 
Yarin said:
I investigated the axe closely there is a stamp under the decal (sticker)
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I wonder what the stamp is, PLUMB or something else?

I don't have the information to do this, but someone else might have evidence to give a ballpark age based on weight, dimensions, and shape of the head.

Bob
 
By the way quinton what is the date of the illustrated catalogue, or magazine page, featured in your post #64? In it is stated: "Permabond is a revolutionary new chemical weld that binds head to handle"?
Other curious thing about those illustrations is that what we've been calling 'cedar' pattern all along is referred to as 'National' by Plumb.
 
300Six said:
By the way quinton what is the date of the illustrated catalogue, or magazine page, featured in your post #64? In it is stated: "Permabond is a revolutionary new chemical weld that binds head to handle"?
Other curious thing about those illustrations is that what we've been calling 'cedar' pattern all along is referred to as 'National' by Plumb.
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I found it by image search, I don't know the date. I'm curious as well. I think the page is in An Axe to Grind.
 
quinton said:
I found it by image search, I don't know the date. I'm curious as well. I think the page is in An Axe to Grind.
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An Ax to Grind: A Practical Ax Manual

United States
Department of
Agriculture

Technology &
Development
Program

2300 Recreation
July 1999
9923-2823-MTDC

Bob
 
And then quinton there is your picture of a WWII Aussie-bought Plumb from USA that features the same (colour/size/font) water-soak decal over the stamp as that of the original thread starter hatchet. For a change we're going forward and not backward. No take up wedge and no Permabond either I would expect.
 
300Six said:
And then quinton there is your picture of a WWII Aussie-bought Plumb from USA that features the same (colour/size/font) water-soak decal over the stamp as that of the original thread starter hatchet. For a change we're going forward and not backward. No take up wedge and no Permabond either I would expect.
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The Plumb double bit I posted earlier in the thread has the same handle sticker. So I would date it to around WW 2 also.
 
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