SLOCOMB broad axe

M

Mikethebuilder

Joined
Nov 20, 2017
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Hello, I'm a brand new member. I'm a woodworker and collect tools. I just recently purchased a broad axe on EBay and I was hoping someone could help me out with the history of it. It is marked SLOCOMB and under that WARRANTED. Searching Slocomb all I can find is J.T. Slocomb manufactured micrometers.
 
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Here's a broad hatchet marked C.H. SLOCOMB, which was the name of a hardware company in New Orleans during the 1800s.

vintage-broad-axes-h-slocomb-collins_1_87665c1772481df6a68623c5a7aa708f.jpg


vintage-broad-axes-h-slocomb-collins_1_87665c1772481df6a68623c5a7aa708f.jpg

"The middle one is stamped C. H. Slocomb by the butt and No. 3 on the blade. Weighs 2 pounds 4 oz. Length is 6 3/8 inches. Bit on cutting edge is 5 1/4 inches."
from https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-broad-axes-h-slocomb-collins-1876471481

The company history is given in the article below, and it had several variations on the Slocomb name during the 1800s.
C.H. Slocomb was evidently the company name between 1858-1867.

content


from Industrial distribution, Morgan-Grampian Publishing Company, 1922
 
That's a lead and the only one I've got so far. The axe came from Texas, so - ? Maybe an axe maker stamped the stores name on it; warranted was a big deal back then. Thank you for the information. I'll update when I discover more.
 
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I'm puzzled by 'warranteed' markings. I know this isn't a recent phenomenon like 'wear safety goggles' but I'm not aware of markings like that going back to the 1800s.
 
Did some more digging, and found some newspaper advertisements from 1859 and 1860 that mentioned "a full assortment of Slocomb's premium axes and edge tools, which were awarded the silver medal at the late fair at Jackson, Miss. For sale by C.H. Slocomb & Co., ?? Canal and ?? to ?? Common Street."

This is based on the sometimes sketchy OCR (Optical Character Recognition) conversion of image to text:


Also a full assortment of Sloeomb's Premium Axes and Edge Tools, which were awarded tbe silver medal, at the late Fair at Jackson, Misa For sale by C. H. 8LOCOMB A CO., do tm 97 Canal and 60 to 68 Common street
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/28343378/
January 15, 1860
The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 5

We a fall assortment of Slocomb't Premium Axes and Edge Tools, which were awarded the silver medals at the late Fair at Jackson, M iss. For sale by C. H. 8 LOCO. VI B CO., do tm - "T Canal and AO to (ss Common street.
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/28343399/
January 18, 1860
The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 2

We a fall assortment of Slocomb't Premium Axes and Edge Tools, which were awarded the silver medals at the late Fair at Jackson, M iss. For sale by C. H. 8 LOCO. VI B CO., do tm - "T Canal and AO to (ss Common street.
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/28343399/
January 18, 1860
The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 2

Alan a full assortment of Sioromb s Premium Axes snd Edge Tools, waieh were awarded tbe silver medals at tne late Fa.r.tJa.k.ou. -f. ft CQ , d 4m W Canal and "i to As Common street.
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26562508/
December 30, 1859
The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 11



Here's a photograph of the C.H. Slocomb & Co. building(s) in New Orleans, dated 1861-1865, and the address given is:
74 Canal, 50 and 58 Common ("Canal Street from Slocomb's block")

fa8f06948109bb8f30d98f6e0a0bf933


Description: C.H. Slocomb & Co., hardware, (74 Canal, 50 and 58 Common). Louisiana State University Libraries, Special Collections (http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special). Marshall Dunham Photograph Album (Mss. 3241), Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Subject: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs
https://dp.la/item/fa8f06948109bb8f30d98f6e0a0bf933


A book from 1885 shows the company name as A. Baldwin & Co. (74 Canal, 91 to 94 Common Street), and says that the company's territory extends "from the Missouri to the Amazon, and from the Rio Grande to the Florida Keys". There is specific mention of their axes, which by now seem to have the Baldwin brand: "Some of its specialties, such as the Baldwin axe, have completely shut out other brands from this market."

content

from The industries of New Orleans, by Andrew Morrison, 1885


So it sounds like a Slocomb axe would be a true antique, with surviving examples appearing only rarely online. Perhaps it would have the greatest value to a Civil War reenactor looking for a real "Confederate brand" from that period?
 
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Steve Tall said:
Did some more digging, and found some newspaper advertisements from 1859 and 1860 that mentioned "a full assortment of Slocomb's premium axes and edge tools, which were awarded the silver medal at the late fair at Jackson, Miss. For sale by C.H. Slocomb & Co., ?? Canal and ?? to ?? Common Street."

This is based on the sometimes sketchy OCR (Optical Character Recognition) conversion of image to text:


Also a full assortment of Sloeomb's Premium Axes and Edge Tools, which were awarded tbe silver medal, at the late Fair at Jackson, Misa For sale by C. H. 8LOCOMB A CO., do tm 97 Canal and 60 to 68 Common street
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/28343378/
January 15, 1860
The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 5

We a fall assortment of Slocomb't Premium Axes and Edge Tools, which were awarded the silver medals at the late Fair at Jackson, M iss. For sale by C. H. 8 LOCO. VI B CO., do tm - "T Canal and AO to (ss Common street.
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/28343399/
January 18, 1860
The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 2

We a fall assortment of Slocomb't Premium Axes and Edge Tools, which were awarded the silver medals at the late Fair at Jackson, M iss. For sale by C. H. 8 LOCO. VI B CO., do tm - "T Canal and AO to (ss Common street.
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/28343399/
January 18, 1860
The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 2

Alan a full assortment of Sioromb s Premium Axes snd Edge Tools, waieh were awarded tbe silver medals at tne late Fa.r.tJa.k.ou. -f. ft CQ , d 4m W Canal and "i to As Common street.
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26562508/
December 30, 1859
The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 11



Here's a photograph of the C.H. Slocomb & Co. building(s) in New Orleans, dated 1861-1865, and the address given is:
74 Canal, 50 and 58 Common ("Canal Street from Slocomb's block")

fa8f06948109bb8f30d98f6e0a0bf933


Description: C.H. Slocomb & Co., hardware, (74 Canal, 50 and 58 Common). Louisiana State University Libraries, Special Collections (http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special). Marshall Dunham Photograph Album (Mss. 3241), Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Subject: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs
https://dp.la/item/fa8f06948109bb8f30d98f6e0a0bf933


A book from 1885 shows the company name as A. Baldwin & Co. (74 Canal, 91 to 94 Common Street), and says that the company's territory extends "from the Missouri to the Amazon, and from the Rio Grande to the Florida Keys". There is specific mention of their axes, which by now seem to have the Baldwin brand: "Some of its specialties, such as the Baldwin axe, have completely shut out other brands from this market."

content

from The industries of New Orleans, by Andrew Morrison, 1885


So it sounds like a Slocomb axe would be a true antique, with surviving examples appearing only rarely online. Perhaps it would have the greatest value to a Civil War reenactor looking for a real "Confederate brand" from that period?
Click to expand...
I absolutely love studying history and collecting old tools and some coins. You are a wealth of information, Mr. Steve Tall. I very much appreciate it. There are also some initials stamped into the axe "C.V.R.". It would be nice if I could date it back between the dates 1822 - 1833. The axe is definitely pre 1867 though by what you've supplied and I've read.
 
300Six said:
I'm puzzled by 'warranteed' markings. I know this isn't a recent phenomenon like 'wear safety goggles' but I'm not aware of markings like that going back to the 1800s.
Click to expand...
I have several pre civil war chisels by different companies that are stamped warranted.
 
Wow, you're impressive, Mr. Steve Hall. You're definitely more computer literate than I am. And, I'm not a slouch. I'm going to restore the axe and use it. Most likely make a handle a little shorter. I'm 58; used to swing pick axes all day, (still do, rarely) but I'm thinking short strokes now. The railroad connection makes a lot of sense. What made me pull the trigger on this one is the very well made curve in the blade. A talented person made this axe.
 
Agent_H said:
s-l1600.jpg


Interesting marks. Graphite scribbly?
(Left handed)

vintage-broad-axes-h-slocomb-collins_1_87665c1772481df6a68623c5a7aa708f.jpg


Comforter pic? Respect.

My favorite patttern for roughing wood/shapes/handles for other tools.
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I'm going to make a handle similar to what you'd see on a pick axe. Then a person would be able to knock out the handle and insert it the other way; depending on which way you want to walk down the log.
 
Mikethebuilder said:
I'm going to make a handle similar to what you'd see on a pick axe. Then a person would be able to knock out the handle and insert it the other way; depending on which way you want to walk down the log.
Click to expand...

There are other options for doing that which can include a nice full swell on the end of your handle.
 
Mikethebuilder said:
....depending on which way you want to walk down the log
Click to expand...

I appreciate what you're saying. I've found it best to hew from top of tree to base to avoid diving under the grain and splitting off more than intended. When you switch sides you would switch hands and flip the handing of your broadaxe.

But there's another way to do it. After hewing one side just roll the log over 180 degrees and the second side will hew the same as the first.
 
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