Schwitzers True Blue axe

[Marcelo Cantu]

So I picked up this old axe on the bay. It's a bit of an anomaly to me. Google isn't turning anything up. It's either a Dock or a Kentucky pattern. It has a thick edge profile and takes a wicked edge. The eye is narrower on top than on the bottom. It came with a nice handle but was hung too high and lacked a wedge. It was a bear to re-hang. It's heavy for its size. Anyone have any info in Schwitzers?

 

[Steve Tall]

I did some searching and didn't find much. An unrelated Australian racing axe was called True Blue. This one looks old, 1800s maybe, like the work of a good blacksmith. There was a reference to a blacksmith named Adolph Schwitzer listed in the City Directory for St. Louis, Missouri, 1869. Maybe this is his work. His address was 2503 Broadway:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2503+broadway+st+louis&ll=38.650729,-90.189182&spn=0.004927,0.006201&sll=38.651250,-90.189854&layer=c&cbp=13,258.11,,0,0.11&cbll=38.651235,-90.189827&hnear=2503+N+Broadway,+St+Louis,+Missouri+63102&t=m&panoid=ptOiilQBScmpX-r2OH1R1w&z=17

I was thinking that the expression (and hockey team) "St. Louis Blues" could be historically related to the "True Blue" name, but the St. Louis Blues expression only dates back to a 1914 song.

There were hundreds of blacksmiths (tool makers) listed just for one state (Maine) during the latter half of the 1800s, so maybe the origins of this axe have been lost to history.

I like the look of that axe. Has a lot of character.

 

[SC T100]

That's a cool find! I agree...it has tons of character. Even the typeface used in the stamping looks like the stuff you see stamped on 100+ year old and Civil War era metalworks. That would be awesome if it truly is from the 1860s, and it's in amazing shape as well for the age.

 

[lmalterna]

Marcelo,
I followed that one for a bit but had to drop out due to "overreaching expenditures" I am glad it went to a good home! Really interesting axe.
Bill

 

[halfaxe]

That looks early to me, I mean mid to late 1800's. Sometimes on close inspection you can detect the lamination line between the two steels. A two piece method was used in axe making during that period.

 

[Marcelo Cantu]

Thanks for the info guys. It really is a nice axe. It seems it was stored somewhere dry as there is almost no pitting. I'll take some better pics my next day off. These were the seller's pics.