So i asked my buddy's dad if he had any old axes...

E

eduardo_kang

Joined
Jan 10, 2013
Messages
2
[My first post... totally new to the axe thing..]
And this is what he gave me (dropbox folder link https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rroo2srwc4tmhck/23O11viB1f)

The first two looks like a "newer" collins axe, it had a sticker on it that fell off as soon as i picked it up that stated it was manufactured in Lewistown, Pa (IIRC). Is this a decent axe? I've read that when the company stopped producing in Connecticut the quality went down.
One appears to be a True Temper Flint Edge, however, unlike the images I've seen on the web it doesn't have the Kelly name on it.
The last two ar of an axe that appears to be a Kelly Perfect, but because of the condition all I can make out is the faint lettering along the pole. It looks like the end of the word "Perfect" over a "USA".
The latter two were/are pretty beat up. I took a little time to get all of the nicks out of the blade before moving on to anything else as I wasn't sure if they were worth the effort. I was amazed at how sharp they got just with a bit of filing and now would like to do something with them. These will be my first projects and I'm totally green outside of sharpening and hafting them.

A couple of questions:
What is the best way to get the rust off of these guys?
The two latter axes are too big to mount on a handle that can be gotten at Home Depot or the like. Where would be the best place for a quality handle that will fit?

Like I said I'm new to this, any comments or advice are welcome.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
All of those look salvageable to me, although others with more experience than me should be along shortly.

You can use a wire brush on a drill or angle grinder to remove the surface rust and leave a nice patina. The other way to do it is to soak overnight in vinegar. This will remove the rust and patina. Personal preference as to which is better; yours look like they would clean up nice with the wire brush method.

I think you can order handles from House Handle and tell them in the notes to leave the eye oversized and they will. I need to order one for a Puget sound pattern that has a huge eye.

Randy
 
Awesome fInds, man. I'm still learning as well. But they seem to be in great shape and should clean up nicely!
 
"Lewistown, PA" is probably a Mann Edge Tool Co. Look on the other side too. Good axe.
 
Nice work.. The perfect is a WC Kelly Perfect, made before True Temper and Kelly got together. Those are good axes. The flint edge is, I think, towads the end of the time when they still stamped them. Sometime in the 60's maybe is when they gave up on that, if what I remember reading on here is correct. The other one looks like a collins I have but I don't know about the lewistown thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top