To fully restore or not to fully restore: Kretschmer-Tredway Lincoln Axe

R

roc99

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Jul 11, 2014
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Picked this up on the bay last week and I wanted to ask everyone's opinion on fully restoring a vintage axe. Here is what it looked like when first received (Note: these photos are from the auction)





Just to clean it up, I let it soak in vinegar for about 12 hours, then handsanded from 120 up to 1200. Here is the result:




Now, here is the question. I'm going on the assumption that there are three options as far as moving forward. I can, A) put on a new haft and leave the head as is; B) touch up the red paint in the embossed area from the previous owners, rehaft; or C) go full out and try to return it to original form, bluing the head, then the original yellow in he embossed area.

I know which way I'm leaning but this is my first restoration of one of my "grail" axes, so I don't want to be hasty.

Thanks!
 
Seems to me there is too much bit missing, too many scratches, and whatever else making it immediately apparent that it's not off-the-shelf new and tough to get back to original form. I guess I wouldn't do anything else but maybe it depends on what you plan to do with it.
 
i would personally only remove the remaining red pain and rehang as is, you cant attach more steel to the bits and blueing it would only count as "adding more paint"... my 2cents
 
Looks like she's seen a rough life and lots of use! I'd leave the bit of red paint on the head, hang it, and put it up on the wall as a conversation piece.
 
Guitarist7.62 said:
Hang it and leave the red paint. Makes a nice conversation peice.
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I second that. The artwork stamps are what really make the value and conversation piece of what's left. For you to try to clean up the edges properly there'd be nothing left. As is the clumsy grinding etc is a similarly good subject for discussion/conversation of how not to do things and that only adds to the overall appeal of this thing. You could put another piece of wood on this but that would be a lot of work and merely detract from the head itself. Lovely wall hanger and would not wind up in my basement or garage but somewhere in a brightly lit display area near the front door.
 
Guitarist7.62 said:
Sure would look nice above the fire place....
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... without the red paint which isnt original! :P

You could remove it using a paint remover that will not damage the steel, the patina already is ruined anyways, at least clean it proprelly, im almost certain the red paint isnt original.
 
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