The Victor Bush-Axe

G

gben

Joined
Nov 26, 2014
Messages
501
A Victor Bush-Axe. The Victor company in Reading, Pennsylvania made a variety of tools for cutting whatever was in your path to pieces. The "Woodsman's Pal" model was used by the USA military for many decades beginning in WWII. The Bush-Axe variant which I found has saw-teeth added to the blade. I found a couple of these in an old estate locally, I will have to clean and sharpen one of them up and see what I can do with it. Notice the number on the blade looks to be re-stamped over another number? I think the old advertisement is from 1949.

34499476_1733021693455370_5418836417751023616_n.jpg


34366841_1733021776788695_6584050204658368512_n.jpg


34538097_1733021700122036_3013528047635660800_n.jpg


34319157_1733021630122043_8680029326399242240_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
Except for the saw teeth, that photo seems to match the "Bush-Axe" (not Brush-Axe) model shown in the advertisement. The patent number (stamped on the blade) leads to an interesting patent about how they are manufactured:

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6b/b7/02/3bed46ecba36b8/US2335497.pdf

The overstamped model number, 661S, was evidently the type used in survival kits for airplanes, etc.
From an old auction listing (no photo available, unfortunately):

VINTAGE SURVIVAL KIT
by SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT CO. Division of VICTOR TOOL CO.
PROBABLY MADE FOR THE MILITARY AND TO USE ON AIRPLANES ETC.
EXCELLENT CONDITION, COMPLETE & NEVER USED!
WATER BAG IS DATED 1946
WHAT YOU GET:
Nice unused Machete type knife #661S for cutting and sawing your way through the jungle! (w/ case) Bundle of rope. Heliograph Signalling Mirror w/ directions & case. Plastic Blanket. Insect Repellent Stick. Water Boy Drinking Water Bag by Wenzel Tent & Duck Co. Bandage w/ directions for Arm Sling, Tourniquet, & more. Silva Compass (type 5) 2 10 Min. Red Highway Fusee (Flares) Field Champion Whistle. Waterproof Survival Matches. Mosso'o Oil-O-Sol (soothing antiseptic) Tablets for purifying drinking water. LIPKOTE by Coppertone. BC Tablets for Headache, Neuralgia. Red Cross Cotton. Gauztape - Cohesive Gauze (medicated w/ Mercuic Chloride) Asst. Bandaids, guaze pads & tape. Case & Box.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-victor-tool-survival-kit-complete-unused

Victor Tool's "Survival Equipment Co." had an advertisement in Flying magazine, July 1959, that lists a
"Combination 16-1/2" Survival Axe & Saw 661-S-CZ4"
 
gben said:
A Victor Brush-Axe. The Victor company in Reading, Pennsylvania made a variety of tools for cutting whatever was in your path to pieces. The "Woodsman's Pal" model was used by the USA military for many decades beginning in WWII. The Brush-Axe variant which I found has saw-teeth added to the blade. I found a couple of these in an old estate locally, I will have to clean and sharpen one of them up and see what I can do with it. Notice the number on the blade looks to be re-stamped over another number? I think the old advertisement is from 1949.

34499476_1733021693455370_5418836417751023616_n.jpg


34366841_1733021776788695_6584050204658368512_n.jpg


34538097_1733021700122036_3013528047635660800_n.jpg


34319157_1733021630122043_8680029326399242240_n.jpg
Click to expand...
They still sell these guys for a considerable chunk's change at Bass pro. I didn't know they were this old, I'll be keeping my eyes open for them now
 
Steve Tall said:
Except for the saw teeth, that photo seems to match the "Bush-Axe" (not Brush-Axe) model shown in the advertisement. The patent number (stamped on the blade) leads to an interesting patent about how they are manufactured:
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve. I edited the thread to say "bush" instead of "brush", it was a brain-fart on my part. If you save the photo of the flyer to your desktop and open it with a program that lets you blow it up, you can see the saw-teeth on the example in the flyer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top